Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has pointed out how American owned social media companies, like Google, Facebook, and YouTube, exploited political turmoil to overthrow governments. In a statement on violence sweeping Nepal, the former President has said that the role played by such social media platforms should not be underestimated.
Expressing deep concern over the situation in Kathmandu, Nepal, the former President has condemned the recent violence while calling for the restoration of peace and stability in the country.
Wickremesinghe has said: “First of all, I condemn all kinds of killings, including those of the youth that has occurred in Nepal. Similarly, the burning of the former Prime Minister’s house and the killing of the former Prime Minister’s wife is an extremely sad situation. I express my condolences over that murder.
The ex-President noted that the attacks on ministers, particularly the Foreign Minister, were a continuation of the tragedy, emphasising that women’s rights had been gravely violated and that such acts had tarnished Nepal’s international reputation.
The former President said the situation in Kathmandu “should not have gone this far” and that the shooting by the police was an “unacceptable course of action”.
Citing reports, he said the unrest could have been controlled without gunfire on the very first day and warned of the dangers of such developments escalating further.
He also highlighted the influence of global social media platforms, saying:
The UNP leader argued that Nepal’s crisis stemmed from long-standing issues that were neglected while politicians focused on day-to-day politics.
“Everyone was focused on day-to-day politics, according to the South Asian tradition, without finding solutions to the acute problems. This has caused great frustration among the younger generation.”
The decision to impose a complete social media ban, instead of addressing the root causes, he said, had triggered widespread frustration among the youth.
He strongly condemned the burning of Nepal’s Parliament and court buildings, describing it as “a great disrespect to Nepal’s democracy.”
He further added: “However, in the end, what was left was a Nepal without a Constitution. It is the responsibility of the military that took power to establish peace in the country and hold elections according to the Constitution.”
Reflecting on Sri Lanka’s historic ties with Nepal, he noted that as the birthplace of the Buddha, Nepal holds a special place. He condemned the violence as “barbaric acts” which cannot be tolerated in such a country.
“It is possible to think that the incompetence shown in state governance has also led to this situation,” he noted.
Quoting the teaching of Buddha, Wickremesinghe urged Nepal’s current leaders to follow a path of harmony.