Nepal’s parliament set on fire as anti-corruption protests escalate
A historic parliament building has been set ablaze as violent protests rage for a second day, with 22 people killed and a Prime Minister resigning.
Nepal’s parliament has been set ablaze as violent anti-corruption protests rock the nation for a second day, prompting the Prime Minister to resign.
Crowds took to the streets in the capital city of Kathmandu for a second day on Tuesday, as demonstrators called on the government tackle corruption following a social media ban.
At least 22 people have been killed in the unrest, the worst Nepal has seen in decades.
Hundreds of people breached the parliament area on Tuesday and “torched the main building”, a spokesman for the parliament Secretariat, told AFP.
Photos and video footage shows Singha Durbar, the main administrative building for the Nepali government in flames, while black smoke billows from the building.
Other government buildings and the houses of politicians were also attacked.
Tough-talking Nepali leader Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, who served as prime minister four times, resigned on Tuesday after protesters set fire to his house.
The 73-year-old head of the Communist Party of Nepal wrote in his resignation letter that he hoped it would help “towards a political solution and resolution of the problems”.
Amid the unrest, officials confirmed at least 800 inmates escaped from two different jails in the nation’s western districts.
Kaski District police office said 773 inmates escaped on Tuesday after protesters entered the jail, the BBC reports.
Meanwhile, 127 prisoners were able to escape from Tulsipur Jail, the Area Police office for Tulsipur, in the nation’s Dang province, said.
At least 19 people were killed and 400 people were injured, including over 100 police officers, when protests, led by those in Generation Z, broke out on Monday. Police tried to crush the rallies, deploying rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannon, and batons. Amnesty International said live ammunition had also been used against protesters.
At least three more deaths were reported on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 22.
The violent clash first broke out after several social media sites, including Facebook, YouTube and X, were made inaccessible in the country. Nepal later lifted the social media ban following Monday’s protest.
In a statement on Tuesday, Nepal’s army chief warned “all security institutions, including the Nepal Army, are committed to taking control of the situation,” if unrest continued, effective from 22.00 local time.
“We appeal to all citizens to support the army in this effort,” it added without providing further details.
Nepal’s President called for national unity on Tuesday, urging “all parties to exercise restraint”.
“I urge everyone, including the protesting citizens, to co-operate for a peaceful resolution of the country’s difficult situation,” President Ramchandra Paudel said in a statement, after protesters set fire to parliament as well as his office.
“I appeal to all parties to exercise restraint, to not allow further damage to the country, and to come to talks.”
Home minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned at a cabinet meeting on Monday evening following the protests, local media reported.
Social media ban
Monday’s protest came after the government blocked 26 unregistered social media platforms.
The government said two dozen social network platforms had been given notices to officially register in Nepal.
Officials said the blocked platforms had failed to register and submit to government oversight.
Popular platforms such as Instagram have millions of users in Nepal who rely on them for entertainment, news and business.
After the ban, videos contrasting the struggles of ordinary Nepalis with the children of politicians flaunting luxury goods and expensive vacations went viral on TikTok, which was still operating.
Cabinet spokesman and Communications and Information Technology Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung said on Tuesday the government had lifted the ban
“We have withdrawn the shutdown of the social media. They are working now,” he told Reuters.
Dissatisfaction has grown with political instability, corruption, and slow economic development in the Himalayan nation of 30 million people.
People aged 15-40 make up nearly 43 per cent of the population, according to government statistics – while unemployment hovers around 10 per cent and GDP per capita is just $1,447, according to the World Bank.
The country became a federal republic in 2008 after a decade-long civil war and a peace deal that saw the Maoists brought into government, and the abolishment of the monarchy.
Since then, a revolving door of ageing prime ministers and a culture of horse-trading have fuelled public perceptions that the government is out of touch.
UN rights chief ‘appalled’ by violence.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk is “appalled by the escalating violence in Nepal”, his office said in a statement on Tuesday.
“I plead with security forces to exercise utmost restraint, and avoid further such bloodshed and harm,” Turk said. “Violence is not the answer.”
Mr Turk stressed that “dialogue is the best and only way to address the concerns of the Nepalese people”, adding that “it is important that the voices of young people are heard”.
He said had the right to peacefully express their frustrations, adding there were “concerning reports of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force by the security forces”.
“I call for urgent, thorough, transparent and impartial investigation into such acts.”
Mr Turk stressed protesters too must refrain from violence.
“I am disturbed by reports of public buildings, businesses and private residences being attacked and, in some instances, set ablaze,” he said.
“Equally, I am concerned by reports of physical attacks on senior government officials,” he added.
Mr Turk said his office stood “ready to support dialogue and trust-building measures that can help de-escalate tensions and restore confidence”.
India’s Modi appeals for peace
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for calm in neighbouring Nepal on Tuesday.
“The violence in Nepal is heart-rending. I am anguished that many young people have lost their lives,” Modi said in a statement posted on social media platform X.
“The stability, peace and prosperity of Nepal are of utmost importance to us. I humbly appeal to all my brothers and sisters in Nepal to support peace.”
– With AFP
Originally published as Nepal’s parliament set on fire as anti-corruption protests escalate
