Deadly crackdown on Gen-Z’s ‘#Sept8’ protests, 19 dead

At least 19 youths have lost their lives in police firing—17 in Kathmandu and two in Itahari, while over 300 are receiving medical attention at different hospitals in Kathmandu, including Trauma Centre, and four at Dharan’s BPKIHS, on Tuesday's Gen-Z protest. Some are in critical condition, according to different media reports. 

A PMO source told the_farsight that police fired 200 live rounds, a number and nature of the ammunition that needs further verification, while the casualty count could go over 25.

On Monday, thousands of youths born between 1997 and 2012, aka Generation Z or Gen-Z, gathered in the streets across the country, including Kathmandu, voicing against corruption and the recent social media ban.

The demonstration in Kathmandu escalated into violence throughout the day after protestors, who multiple reports described as “infiltrators”, stormed into the Parliament building, defying the restricted area of Naya Baneshwor Chowk. They also set fire at Gate No. 2 of the building while burning an ambulance. 

In Itahari, protestors broke through the police cordon and entered the sub-metropolitan office, where they carried out an arson attack.

In the afternoon, Kathmandu Chief District Officer Chhabi Rijal issued shoot-at-sight orders against demonstrators causing damage to public properties. Some footage shared on social media hints to indiscriminate police gunfiring. The PMO source also said that CDO Rijal would be recalled from his post.

Indefinite prohibitory and curfew orders are in effect in Pokhara and Itahari, respectively, and up to 9 AM, Tuesday in Birgunj. Reportedly, at least 40 demonstrators were arrested in Kathmandu and 29 in Pokhara. Additionally, demonstrations were carried out in other major urban centres, including Biratnagar, Birtamode, Janakpur, Hetauda, Bharatpur, Dang and Dhangadhi.

How did the Gen-Z protest start?

On September 4, the Nepal government banned several social media platforms, urging them to register with the government authority, the immediate trigger behind the announced protest. 

Protesters accuse Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli of curtailing free speech with the ban, while completely discarding public concerns whose daily lives are deeply intersected with these platforms. Despite the ban, protestors resorted to Instagram, Reddit, and TikTok—which was already registered and remained unaffected by the ban—to organise and mobilise the protests.

Nature of ‘#Sept8’ protests

The protests were carried out by separate groups with similar agendas and slightly varied demands, and different gathering times—marking a lack of central leadership.

One of the groups, named Generation_Z with ‘gen.znepal’ Instagram handle, had called on Generation Z youths to gather at Maitighar Mandala at 9 AM and march to Everest Hotel in Naya Baneshwor, where the restricted area and police cordon begins.

Their demands included unbanning social media “immediately” and ensuring complete freedom of speech in the upcoming social media bill, resignation of the prime minister on grounds of insensitivity, incompetence, and “unfit for leadership”; establishing an independent, transparent institution that holds corruption, abuse of power and injustice accountable across all tiers of government.

Before the day of the protest, the group had also taken a precautionary approach to avoid being hijacked by different interest groups. They emphasised that the protest was neither pro-monarchy nor against the current republican system, nor backed by any political party, including appealing to Durga Prasain, a central figure in the March 28 protest that had turned violent, to stay away from the protest. The young protesters instead clarified it was a response to deeply rooted corruption and growing economic inequality in the country.

For now, they have postponed their protest programmes indefinitely.

Similarly, another group much popular among social media influencers like ‘Mr Foodie Nepal’ called on Generation Z youths to gather at Maitighar at 11 AM, with demands such as amending constitution to stop political appointments in Judiciary and CIAA, the country’s antigraft body; a provision that requires those in power to seek public opinion before taking “major decisions”, directly elected PM, mandatory retirement of politicians at age 65 and lifting the ban on social media, among others.

Meanwhile, various independent groups started a campaign targeting and publicly shaming the children of politicians and their partners and accusing them of “flaunting” their extravagant lifestyles on social media funded by taxpayers’ money. On the eve of the protest, many social media users and influencers quickly associated themselves with the campaign, expressing and amplifying the anger and resentment on social media.

PM Oli must resign, say party leaders

Following the unfortunate incident, several party leaders have demanded the resignation of PM Oli.

Nepali Congress leaders gathered at the party chair Deuba’s residence, taking stock of the incident and mulling over their participation in the current coalition. Party members called for the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, while others pushed for the party to withdraw from the coalition altogether. 

Lekhak was at the centre of the March protest, where two people were killed, with police admitting firing a large volume of ammunition. Despite numerous past protests that have escalated into violence, Monday’s devastating incident is yet another example of the ministry’s failure to learn from its mistakes. It is learnt that Lekhak has now resigned under mounting pressure.

Similarly, NC General Secretary and lawmaker Gagan Thapa said that PM Oli must take responsibility for the unfortunate unfolding of the protests.

Condemning the act of killing children, lawmaker Sumana Shrestha has remarked that PM Oli has lost his legitimacy [to govern].

Opposition parties, including Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), have also condemned the government’s use of force, demanding the government’s dismissal. RSP has even called for an early election.

Meanwhile, PM Oli has so far maintained silence, with the cabinet deciding to form an independent investigation committee.