ASIATODAY.ID JAKARTA – The massive wave of protests rocking Nepal, which left 19 people dead and forced Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli to resign, is believed to have been inspired by the Gen-Z–driven demonstrations in Indonesia last August.
According to Sanjeev Sanyal, Economic Advisor to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the uprisings in both countries show striking similarities. From the use of popular culture symbols to the dominance of young activists, the protest playbook appears to be repeating itself across South and Southeast Asia.
Key Parallels Between the Indonesia and Nepal Protests
1. Triggers
Indonesia: sparked by outrage over lawmakers’ housing allowance of Rp50 million per month amid economic hardship.
Nepal: triggered by the government’s controversial social media ban, seen as silencing freedom of expression.
Both began with elite-driven policies that fueled widespread public anger.
2. Demands
Indonesia: protests expanded from opposing housing allowances to broader “17+8” demands, including anti-oligarchy, anti-corruption, and the abolition of outsourcing.
Nepal: started with calls to lift the social media ban but quickly escalated into demands for the resignation of top officials and accountability for corruption.
3. Gen-Z at the Forefront
Indonesia: dominated by students, young workers, artists, and digital activists.
Nepal: Gen-Z mobilized the movement through social media before the government briefly blocked it.
4. Symbols of Resistance
Indonesia: the anime series “One Piece” became a symbol of defiance against the political elite.
Nepal: protesters adopted the same symbol, alongside the national flag and patriotic chants targeting political leaders.
5. Government Response
Indonesia: President Prabowo Subianto responded with a cabinet reshuffle, cancellation of housing allowances, and deployment of security forces.
Nepal: Prime Minister Oli called for dialogue across political parties but also deployed the military to secure vital institutions.
19 Dead as Nepal’s Political Crisis Deepens
Since early this week, the protests in Nepal have escalated into violent clashes, leaving 19 people dead. Demonstrators torched parliament buildings, stormed officials’ residences, and even targeted the Prime Minister’s private home. Senior figures including Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress, Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung, and Central Bank Governor Biswo Paudel were among those attacked by angry mobs.
Although the government eventually lifted the social media ban, the unrest had already transformed into a nationwide movement against corruption and political mismanagement.
“The same toolkit is being used too often in this region. The question is, how organic are these movements really?” Sanyal wrote on X, linking the protests in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and now Nepal. (AT Network)
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