(Image source from: Businesstoday.in)
The Nepal Army announced restrictions across the country on Wednesday, from the morning until 5 pm, followed by a curfew lasting until 6 am the following day to prevent any potential violence that could occur under the pretense of protests. In their announcement, the Army indicated that any kind of protest, property damage, arson, or attacks against people or property during this time would be seen as criminal behavior and would be addressed seriously. These restrictions apply all over the nation from morning until 5 pm, after which a curfew will be enforced until 6 am on Thursday. The Army mentioned that these measures were necessary to prevent possible incidents of theft, arson, and other harmful actions disguised as protests.
"There are also potential risks of sexual assault and violent attacks against individuals," the announcement stated. "Given the security conditions of the nation, we have put these restrictions and curfew into place," it added. The statement made it clear that vehicles and staff involved in critical services, such as ambulances, fire trucks, healthcare workers, and security personnel, would be allowed to move about during the restrictions and curfew. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday just after a large group of protesters entered his office demanding he step down due to the deaths of at least 19 individuals caused by police during the protests by Gen Z over corruption and a government ban on social media. The social media ban was lifted on Monday night. Still, protests persisted even after his departure from office.
Demonstrators set fire to the Parliament, the President's Office, the Prime Minister's residence, government structures, political party offices, and the homes of prominent leaders. Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai spoke to the Gen Z protesters, warning them that their movement might have been compromised by outsiders with ulterior motives. He alerted them that the recent attacks on the Parliament, Singha Durbar, courts, the Home Ministry, political offices, and the homes of leaders were likely not carried out by true protesters, encouraging them to reflect and find out who was accountable.
Bhattarai remembered his long-standing support for alternate politics focused on democracy and good governance, mentioning that he and his 96-year-old father narrowly avoided harm during the unrest. He also noted that many books given to him by young Nepalese living abroad were damaged during the protests, but he managed to save Edward O Wilson's The Human Nature, contemplating the mix of selflessness and selfishness in humanity – a lesson he believed could also benefit Gen Z.
