The young people of Nepal have had enough of their corrupt government. In September, the ruling elite banned 26 social media platforms including Facebook and YouTube. This was the last straw for a generation that watches politicians steal money while regular families struggle to survive.
The ban came after videos showed the children of government officials flaunting their wealth online. These so-called “Nepo Kids” were showing off luxury cars and expensive vacations while average Nepalis make just $1,400 per year. One in five young Nepalis cannot find work, and many families depend on money sent home from relatives working in other countries.
Generation Z protesters took to the streets across the nation. They targeted government buildings and the homes of corrupt politicians with their anger. The demonstrations quickly spread from the capital to rural areas as fed-up citizens joined the movement.
The violence escalated as protesters stormed parliament and attacked other government facilities. Politicians who have grown rich off the backs of hardworking Nepalis finally faced consequences for their greed. The military was called in to restore order after the situation spiraled out of control.
Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli was forced to resign along with several of his ministers. The government quickly reversed the social media ban as they realized they had pushed the people too far. An interim leader was put in place to try to calm the crisis.
This uprising shows what happens when governments ignore their people and crush basic freedoms. The Nepali politicians thought they could silence criticism by banning social media platforms. Instead, they created a revolution that brought down their leadership.
The protesters were right to demand accountability from their leaders. No government should be allowed to ban free speech while officials live like kings. When politicians become corrupt and out of touch, the people have every right to rise up and demand change.
Nepal must now hold free and fair elections to restore trust in government. The new leaders must end the corruption and create real jobs for young people. This uprising proves that even in small nations, freedom-loving citizens will not accept tyranny from their so-called representatives.
