[STATEMENT] People’s Movements in Asia Speak Truth to Power

Across Asia, people’s movements militantly express their outrage and reclaim their futures from corrupt and repressive regimes through different forms of protest. This growing surge fights back against systems of oppression, exploitation, and destruction that have long plagued the region. These experiences teach us that when people unite, change happens.

Protests arise from demands against government corruption and repression amid ever-deepening political and economic crises. Ordinary citizens struggle with stagnant wages, rising consumer taxes and prices of basic goods, environmental degradation, and many other issues.

In Nepal, youth first protested against government policies banning several social media platforms. These actions quickly grew into widespread protests against corruption and nepotism in government. The movement culminated in the election of a new prime minister after the incumbent stepped down amidst intensifying protest actions.

In Indonesia, long-standing issues of poverty and exploitation flared into widespread protests when the government passed new policies that increased lawmakers’ allowances and imposed additional taxes on consumers. Protests escalated after a harsh government crackdown that resulted in deaths, arrests, and the harassment of Indonesian citizens.

In the Philippines, people’s organizations lead militant protests against corruption in infrastructure projects such as flood control programs. They demand justice and accountability from corrupt government officials and political dynasties. The state has met these actions with violence and mass arrests, targeting even minors and bystanders unconnected to the protests.

We strongly condemn the violent response of governments in all these countries. The harsh reality is that when people protest to change the status quo, those in power will use any means, even violence, to protect the privileges and comforts that the current system provides the ruling elite. Grassroots defenders who oppose destructive large-scale mining projects, dams, and other forms of development aggression face repressive measures such as extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, criminalization, and militarization.

Despite these dangers, the experiences in different Asian countries prove that collective action remains an effective tool for those who seek to change the world. To achieve meaningful change, we must rely not only on the limited spaces that the current system provides, but also on the collective power of the people we unite with—whether in our communities, countries, regions, or across the globe.