Several Nepalese government buildings and homes of politicians have been set on fire. AP news agency reports this on Wednesday morning. Among other things, the parliament building, the presidential palace and the official residence of the prime minister, went up in flames.
The arson are a further escalation of the protests that started out of anger about a ban on social media, which was imposed by the government last Thursday. At the demonstrations that followed, at least 22 (mainly young) demonstrators were killed by police violence, including children in school uniform.
Although the government moved in the ban on social media on Tuesday and the prime minister resigned, the protests continue unabated. The anger is now focusing wider on corruption and the political elite. Young people in particular speak of unfair opportunities. While the so -called ‘Nepo Kids’ of rulers lead privileged lives, a large part of the youth suffers from unemployment: almost one in five Nepalese between 15 and 29 years old is without work.
In the capital Kathmandu, armed soldiers in the streets patrolled on Wednesday. The army reported in a statement that 21 people were arrested.
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