Press Release: Rising Corruption and Gen Z Movement (Unofficial translation)
Nepal government’s recent decision to shut down social media has resulted in the restriction of fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution, such as freedom of expression, information, and communication. In a situation where social media has become crucial for enhancing transparency and accountability, as well as for exposing corruption, the sudden closure of these platforms by the government has been noted by Transparency International Nepal as a violation of citizen rights, and it creates an environment conducive to covering up the growing corruption.
Transparency International (TI) Nepal expresses its solidarity with the youth for their spontaneous movement against the government’s imposition of restrictions on social media and the increasing corruption in the context of the International Anti-corruption Day 2024 main theme “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity”.
Instead of pursuing a peaceful resolution to the problems of the corruption that has reached the extreme level and to take action against the corrupt, the government has used power to suppress the voices of the youth leading to the tragic situation where more than a dozen young people have lost their lives. Transparency International Nepal appeals to the government to ensure that the responsible individuals are prosecuted under the law and take the matter seriously to prevent further conflict, which could lead to more loss of lives and property.
Madhan Krishna Sharma
President
September 8, 2082
