KATHMANDU: Fromer office-bearers of the Federation of Nepali Journalists and representatives of the civil society have protested the brutal suppression of the government over the Gen Z protests staged in different parts of the country, including New Baneswor, Kathmandu.

They expressed profound shocks over the killing of 19 youths during the demonstrations.

“We condemn the brutal and barbaric shooting incident that occurred in front of the Federal Parliament building against the young students who were peacefully protesting on the streets demanding an end to the corruption, bad governance, and chaos that has increased in the country in recent decades, as well as the withdrawal of the social media ban imposed by the government”, states the appeal issued by the civil society representatives.

Expressing heartfelt condolences to all loved ones who lost their lives during the demonstration, they have also extended deep condolence to all parents and relatives who are mourning the loss of their children.

The representatives also urged immediate action to prevent the situation from becoming even more serious and dangerous. They called for a high-level judicial inquiry commission with full authorities to investigate into the incident, demanding concrete measures to address the critical issue of controlling corruption and ensuring good governance.

The appeal demands arrangements to ensure truth, justice, and reparation for the families of the deceased, and free health care for the injured, saying, “We call upon all young people to maintain restraint and to raise their voices peacefully to prevent any infiltration during the protest”.

They have demanded the immediate suspension of security chiefs and chief district officials involved in the incident from the center to the district on Monday, the secretary at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology responsible for implementing the unconstitutional orders, as well as officials from the telecommunications authority and concerned bodies and also fair investigation into the incident.

They have also urged for the treatment of the injured journalists along with enabling a safe and uninterrupted environment for news collection and dissemination.

The signatories of the appeal include FNJ’s former chairpersons Taranath Dahal and Govinda Acharya, former vice-chairpersons Ramesh Bista and Khil Bahadur Bhandari, Reporters’ Club Nepal chairperson Rishi Dhamala, and senior journalist Rajan Kuinkel