We are outraged and deeply saddened by the horrific killing of at least 19 young protesters and the brutal state repression in Nepal on September 8 during protests against the blanket ban on social media platforms. These killings mark one of the darkest days in Nepal’s recent democratic journey.
The government’s move to ban 26 social media sites including WhatsApp, YouTube, and X is an assault on the people’s fundamental right to free expression. The ban on social media, in the name of curbing fake news and misinformation, marks a deeply flawed path that only weakens democratic institutions instead of strengthening them. The youth of Nepal have also mobilised on the issue of corruption, which has corroded the country’s institutions and deepened public distrust.
Nepal has walked a long road from monarchy to republican democracy, but such repressive actions threaten the democratic spirit that brought down kings and autocrats. Respecting and expanding the democratic rights of the people is the only way to strengthen Nepal’s democracy and honour the sacrifices made in the country’s long struggle for democracy.
We stand with progressive and democratic forces across the region in rejecting all moves that erode democratic rights and civil liberties. We call for an immediate end to repression, and all necessary actions by the government to ensure justice for the victims and accountability for those responsible.
-- Central Committee, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation (September 8, 2025)
