Nepalese army committed to democratic norms: Spokesman

ISTANBUL

The Nepalese army is "committed to democratic values and norms," and talks are going on to form an interim setup, a Nepalese army spokesman told Anadolu on Thursday.

The comments by Brig. Gen. Raja Ram to Anadolu came in the wake of “Gen Z” protests that ousted the elected government of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

Mass protests erupted after the Oli government imposed a ban on social media platforms last week. The government had wanted these multinational platforms to open offices in the landlocked nation.

However, within 24 hours since Monday, when the protests engulfed the capital, Kathmandu, Oli resigned on Tuesday, and later that day, Army chief Gen. Ashok Raj Sigdel addressed the nation, urging calm and dialogue as a way out of violence.

The Nepalese army, security agencies, and civil bureaucracy in a separate statement had called for a peaceful resolution of problems facing the country as protestors stormed parliament, the presidential office, and the supreme court, as well as attacked offices and residences of politicians.

On Tuesday night, the military was deployed across the nation, prohibitory orders were issued, and a curfew was imposed. The forces later made arrests and recovered arms as well.

At least 31 people have died since, including two in army fire on Thursday. Hundreds have been injured when troops thwarted a jailbreak attempt.

Some 15,000 prisoners have reportedly escaped jails.

However, Ram told Anadolu over the phone: “The main focus of security forces is to maintain the law and order situation.”

“It is to facilitate the daily life of our people and protect infrastructure, including government buildings,” Ram said.

The security agencies, he stressed, “are just supporting to maintain law and order.”

On demand by protesters, led by “Gen Z,” to form an interim setup, Ram said: “Interaction with different sections of society is still going on.”

“We will end talks as early as possible,” he said.

Most of the victims in the latest violence in Nepal have been youth.

Before stepping down, the Oli government lifted the ban on social media platforms, and thousands of people held online discussions on Wednesday to decide on an interim leader.

Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki is one of the names to lead any such setup.