00:00At least one person has died and around 80 others were injured in Nepal as a powerful
00:15protest movement called the Gen Z revolution took place on the 8th of September. It started
00:21as an online outcry against government corruption and recent restrictions on social media. But on
00:298th September it has turned into large protests in the streets of Kathmandu. Thousands of young
00:35people are standing up against the government led by Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli. They say the
00:41government is trying to silence their voices by limiting access to social media platforms
00:46like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
00:59The protest began because of growing frustration over corruption and economic inequality in
01:06Nepal. However, the immediate cause of the protest was the government's decision to ban
01:11several major social media platforms. According to the administration, these social media companies
01:18have not followed orders to open offices in Nepal and register properly to pay taxes. The government
01:25issued an order to the Nepal Telecommunication Authority , which directed all internet
01:31service providers to block the social media platforms. But many young people see this as
01:37an attack on freedom of expression. They believe the government is trying to silence anyone who
01:42speaks against it. This is why they are protesting not just online, but also in the streets.
01:55The Gen Z revolution began on social media, where young activists organised and shared information.
02:02Even after the government imposed phone and internet blackouts, activists found ways to keep the protest
02:08alive. They turned to apps like TikTok and Reddit to spread the word. Thousands of young people gathered
02:15in Kathmandu's Maitigar Mandala and marched towards the parliament building, chanting slogans against the
02:22government and its new policies. Some protesters managed to breach restricted zones and break through
02:29police barricades. As tensions increased, the police responded with gunfire, injuring several demonstrators.
02:36The situation became so serious that the government imposed a curfew in key areas of the capital,
02:43especially around parliament.
02:53The movement was not limited to students and young activists. Scores of Nepali journalists
02:58also joined the protests, carrying placards with messages like,
03:02No ban. Freedom of expression is our right. And democracy is being hacked. Dictatorship is coming
03:09back. The protests were organised by former office bearers and members of the Federation of Nepali
03:15journalists, the main body representing journalists in Nepal. Taranath Dahal, former president of the
03:22federation, said, We are here to protest against this government order. He argued that the social media ban
03:29is a direct attack on the right to free speech. The government insists that the ban is necessary to
03:43enforce administrative rules and tax laws. They claim the social media companies failed to meet deadlines
03:50to open offices and register in Nepal. A Supreme Court ruling on August 17 required social media
03:58companies to follow these registration rules. Despite this, the social media bill titled,
04:04The Operation, Use and Regulation of Social Media in Nepal, has not yet been passed by the parliament.
04:12Still, the government argues that companies must register and pay taxes to operate in Nepal.
04:27The decision to block over two dozen social media platforms sparked widespread anger. For many in
04:33Nepal, especially the younger generation, social media is not just for fun. It is a space where they
04:39express opinions, share news, and organize for social causes. Young people, especially students and
04:47activists, believe this move is a way to control what they see and say. Despite efforts to shut down
04:54these digital platforms, protests continue to grow in size and intensity.
