Youth Uprisings Challenge Corruption Across Asia’s Nations

Across Asia, youth-led movements are igniting significant protests against corruption and government mismanagement. From the streets of Manila to Kathmandu and Jakarta, tens of thousands are demanding accountability from leaders who have been accused of siphoning public funds and perpetuating elite privileges. These uprisings reflect a growing frustration among young citizens unwilling to accept business as usual.

In the Philippines, exactly 53 years after former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. declared Martial Law, a wave of protests erupted in Manila’s Luneta Park. Demonstrators gathered to voice their anger over a scandal involving billions of pesos allegedly misappropriated through “ghost” flood control projects that were contracted but never completed. According to Agence France-Presse, by mid-morning on Sunday, at least 13,000 protesters had assembled, with more joining as they marched down Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), a site synonymous with the 1986 People Power revolution that ousted the elder Marcos.

Aly Villahermosa, a 23-year-old nursing student, expressed the sentiments of many, stating, “This theft of public funds is truly shameful. If there’s a budget for ghost projects, then why is there no budget for the health sector?” The public outcry has prompted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to acknowledge the anger, calling for peaceful demonstrations while placing the military on high alert. The Department of Finance estimates losses of 118.5 billion pesos (approximately $2 billion) between 2023 and 2025. Greenpeace has suggested that the total may reach closer to $18 billion.

The political fallout has already begun, with House Speaker Martin Romualdez, a cousin of the president, resigning amid intensifying investigations into corruption. Additionally, construction executives have implicated nearly 30 lawmakers and public works officials in bribery schemes.

Protests in Nepal and Indonesia

In Nepal, youth-led protests, referred to as the Gen Z protests, recently forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign. Protesters accused his administration of corruption, censorship, and economic mismanagement. Efforts to suppress dissent included a ban on numerous social media platforms, which only fueled unrest. Violence erupted, leading to the deaths of more than 70 individuals and leaving hundreds injured. Following the upheaval, Sushila Karki, a former chief justice, assumed the role of interim prime minister, pledging to prioritize transparency, reform, and fresh elections in 2026.

Indonesia has also seen significant unrest, particularly spurred by public outrage over lavish parliamentary perks amid rising living costs. A monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah (around $3,000) for lawmakers sparked mass protests in Jakarta and other cities. The demonstrations prompted President Prabowo Subianto to reshuffle his cabinet, removing several ministers, including the finance chief. Reports of fatalities during the protests have intensified demands for governmental accountability and a reevaluation of public priorities.

Across these nations, the common threads of the protests are clear: a demand for accountability and an end to impunity. The uprisings in the Philippines, Nepal, and Indonesia serve as crucial stress tests for their respective democracies. As disillusionment with political elites grows globally, the actions of Asia’s youth illustrate that patience with corruption has limits, and that citizens are reclaiming their power to instigate political change.