Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli Hospitalized Following Arrest
Nepal's former prime minister KP Sharma Oli was taken to a hospital after his arrest concerning his alleged role in a fatal crackdown on protests last year. Officials reported that Oli was admitted to a clinic in Kathmandu as part of standard police procedures shortly after his arrest at his residence early on Saturday morning.
Background of the 2022 Protests
The protests in September 2022 resulted in the deaths of more than 70 people, many of whom were protesters shot by police forces. The unrest was initially triggered by a government ban on social media but was further intensified by widespread dissatisfaction with corruption and economic challenges in the country.
Additional Arrests and Investigation Panel Recommendations
Alongside Oli, former home minister Ramesh Lekhak was also arrested on Saturday. Both arrests followed recommendations from a panel appointed to investigate the unrest, which advised prosecuting the two for criminal negligence.
The hospital's information office informed BBC Nepali that Oli was admitted pending medical test results, considering his age of 74 and medical history, including two kidney transplants.
Political Context and Reactions
The arrests occurred one day after Nepal's new prime minister, 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah, was sworn in following elections prompted by the crisis.
Kathmandu Valley police spokesman Om Adhikari told Agence France-Presse,
"They were arrested this morning and the process will move forward according to the law."Neither Oli nor Lekhak, aged 62, have been formally charged at this time.
Oli has previously dismissed the commission's findings, which also called for the arrest of former police chief Chandra Kuber Khapung. He described the allegations as
"character assassination and hate politics"in an interview with the Annapurna Post.
Oli's legal representatives told that his detention was premature and unwarranted at this stage of the investigation. One lawyer stated,
"It is illegal and improper because there is no risk of him fleeing or avoiding questioning."
Public and Political Responses
Supporters of Oli's CPN-UML party have initiated protests in Kathmandu after the party's secretariat decided to organize nationwide demonstrations.
New Home Minister Sudan Gurung, who played a significant role in the protests, expressed support for the arrests on Instagram, stating,
"No one is above the law... This is not revenge against anyone, just the beginning of justice."
Details of the 2022 Gen-Z Protests
At least 19 individuals, including a teenager in school uniform, lost their lives during the so-called Gen-Z protests on 8 September 2022. These protests were sparked by youth opposition to the government's shutdown of social media platforms.
The demonstrations occurred amid widespread frustration over high unemployment, a stagnant economy, and prevalent corruption and nepotism within the political system. The government's crackdown on the protests led to broader nationwide rallies, during which numerous additional deaths occurred, and several parliament buildings, police stations, and shops were set ablaze.
Since then, families of 76 victims have been demanding accountability from officials responsible for the violence.
Political Developments Following the Protests
Oli resigned from his position on 9 September 2022 but later contested the election held on 5 March 2023.
In the election, Balen Shah's Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) achieved a landslide victory, marking the first time in decades that a single party secured a majority in Nepal. This is notable given Nepal's electoral system, which typically makes it difficult for any one party to win outright.
