KATHMANDU – Nepal and Indonesia are 2,000 miles apart, yet there are striking similarities between the deadly protests that recently erupted in both countries. In both cases, Gen Z-led demonstrations have toppled or shaken governments.
Although people under 30 make up roughly half of the population in both Asian democracies, the immediate triggers of their anger were different.
In Nepal, the Gen Z protests began with the government’s social media restrictions. In Indonesia, they were sparked by outrage over lavish perks granted to government officials.
Yet in both places, frustration over job shortages, rampant corruption, and rising economic inequality turned young people into the main driving force.
“Young people are being pushed into precarious forms of employment, and even educated youths don’t feel secure,” said Vedi Hadiz, professor of Asian Studies at the Asia Institute, University of Melbourne.
According to the World Bank, nearly 14 percent of Indonesians aged 15-24 were unemployed last year. In Nepal, the figure is even higher at 20 percent.
This has forced many young people to migrate to India or the Middle East in search of work, where they often end up as laborers.
Adding to the anxiety was U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of 19 percent tariffs on Indonesia and 10 percent on Nepal.
“Our ultimate goal is to bring transparency to the government and replace the old leaders, who have done nothing for the country for years, with new leadership unconnected to entrenched networks,” said 28-year-old IT security analyst Sahaj Shrestha during a protest in Kathmandu on Tuesday.
Many young Nepalis see Kathmandu’s 35-year-old mayor, Balen Shah, as a symbolic leader. The former rapper is active on social media and speaks out forcefully against corruption, social injustice, and government failure. Some have even called for him to become the country’s next leader.
Shah, however, said he did not participate in the protests but emphasized the need to listen to the demonstrators’ demands. After Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday, Shah urged protesters to remain patient and composed, writing on Instagram: “Now it’s your generation’s turn to lead the country. Be ready!”
