Nepal parliament set on fire after PM resigns over anti-corruption protests
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has resigned among the worst Nepal troubles for decades, when the audience’s anger has died of 19 anti-corruption demonstrators in confrontations with the police on Monday.
Tuesday, crowds set fire to Parliament in the capital Kathmandu, sending thick black smoke that swings in the sky. Government buildings and political leaders have been attacked across the country.
Three other deaths were reported on Tuesday. In the middle of chaos, prison officials said 900 detainees had managed to escape two prisons in Western districts in Nepal.
The demonstrations were triggered by a ban on social media platforms. It was lifted on Monday – but at that time, demonstrations had swollen in a mass movement.
The head of the Nepal army published on Tuesday a statement accusing the demonstrators of taking advantage of the current crisis by damaging, looting and setting fire to public and private property.
He said that if the troubles continued, “all security institutions, including the Nepal army, are determined to take control of the situation”, in force from 10:00 p.m. local time (4:15 pm GMT; 17:15 BST), without detailing what could cause.
The fires and smoke rise from the palace of Singha Durbar, which houses the government and the parliament buildings, while the demonstrators stormed the locals in Kathmandou [EPA/Shutterstock]
Although the Prime Minister has resigned, it is not clear that will replace it – or what will then happen, by person apparently in charge. Some leaders, including ministers, would have taken refuge with the security forces.
Until now, the demonstrators have not stated their requests apart from rallying under the broader anti-corruption. The demonstrations seem spontaneous, without organized leadership.
Inside the parliament, there were jubilant scenes while hundreds of demonstrators danced and chant slogans around a fire at the entrance to the building, many holding the flag of Nepal.
Some entered inside the building, where all the windows were broken. Graffiti and anti-government messages have been painted outside.
Muna Shreshta, a resident of Kathmandu, was among the large crowd outside the Parliament.
Corruption was a long-term problem, she told the BBC, adding that it is “a long time, our nation, our Prime Minister and anyone in power changes, because we have to change”.
“It happened now and we are more than happy to see this and fight for that. I hope this change will bring you something positive.”
Ms. Shreshta thinks that workers’ taxes should be used in a way that will help the country to develop.
Last week, the government of Nepal ordered the authorities to block 26 social media platforms not to comply with a deadline to register.
Platforms such that Instagram and Facebook have millions of users in Nepal, who are on them for entertainment, news and business.
The government has justified its prohibition in the name of the fight against false news, hate speeches and online fraud.
But young people criticized this decision as an attack on freedom of expression.
Although the ban was hastily lifted on Monday evening, the demonstrations had already taken an unstoppable momentum, targeting the political elite and plunging the nation into chaos.
A Minister of the Government said they had raised the ban after an emergency meeting late Monday evening to “respond to generation Z requests”.
In the weeks preceding the ban, a “Kid Nepo” campaign, highlighting the sumptuous lifestyles of the children of politicians and the allegations of corruption, had taken off on social networks.
Thousands of young people first tried to storm parliament on Monday. Several districts have been placed under curfew. Most of the deaths occurred around the buildings of the Parliament and the Government that day.
Tuesday, demonstrations continued tirelessly. A crowd of Kathmandu burned down the headquarters of the Nepalese Congress Party, which is part of the power coalition, and the room of its chief, Sher Bahadur Deuba.
The KP Oli Chamber – a fourth 73 -year -old Prime Minister who headed the Communist Party – was also burnt down.
He said he had resigned to open the way to a constitutional solution to the current crisis.
“Given the unfavorable situation in the country, I have resigned in force today to facilitate the solution to the problem and to help to resolve it politically in accordance with the Constitution,” Oli wrote in his letter to President Ramchandra Paudel.
An assistant from Paudel told the news agency in Reuters that the president had accepted the resignation and started the “process and discussions for a new leader”.
