Video shows protest against local leader in Indonesia's Central Java, not Nepal unrest

Published on September 18, 2025 at 09:29
4 min read
By Sachin BAGHEL, AFP India

Violent demonstrations fuelled by frustration with the economy and corruption toppled Nepal's government and left dozens of people dead in September, but a video shared online of protesters attempting to tear down a gate was not filmed in the Himalayan nation. The clip in fact shows a protest against a local leader's controversial tax hike in Indonesia's Central Java in mid-August.

"The crowd demanding a coup in Nepal got out of control, broke the gate of the parliament building and entered," reads the Hindi-language caption of an Instagram video shared on September 9, 2025.

The video, which is overlaid with Hindi text reading "The crowd became uncontrollable in Nepal", shows protesters attempting to tear down a gate before security personnel use a water cannon on them.

Screenshot of the false X post captured on September 18, 2025, with a red X added by AFP

The video was also shared in similar Instagram and Facebook posts after protesters in Nepal breached the fence of parliament and torched the main building, following a day of demonstrations triggered by a social media ban that spiralled into wider discontent over corruption in the country (archived link).

At least 73 people were killed in the worst unrest since the end of a decade-long civil war and the abolition of the monarchy in 2008 (archived link).

The "Gen-Z" movement ousted the country's government and thousands of young activists used the social media app Discord to name 73-year-old former chief justice Sushila Karki as their choice of next leader (archived link).

The video circulating online, however, was filmed in Indonesia -- demonstrators in the clip can be seen carrying the Southeast Asian nation's red and white flag.

A reverse image search on Google using keyframes from the falsely shared video led to a longer version posted on Instagram on August 14 (archived link).

"The atmosphere is tense in Pati regency, Central Java during protests on August 13, 2025.," reads its Indonesian-language caption.

Screenshot comparison of the falsely shared video (left) and the Instagram video from August 2025 (right)

According to a Channel News Asia report, up to 100,000 people had rallied in Pati regency on August 13 to protest a controversial tax hike by the Regent Sudewo and call for his immediate resignation (archived link).

Demonstrators tried to storm the regional administration office and hurled water bottles and broken tiles at police, who used tear gas and water cannons to try to disperse protesters.

Footage of the protesters gathered at the gate of the local government office can also be seen in a live broadcast from the rally, uploaded by Indonesian newspaper Kompas on YouTube on August 13 (archived link).

Screenshot comparison of the falsely shared video (left) and the Kompas video (right), with similarities highlighted by AFP

The scene was also captured, from a different angle, by Tribunnews (archived link).

Features in the circulating video, such as a tower in the background and a pillar, also correspond to Google Street View imagery of the regional administration office (archived link).

Screenshot comparison of the falsely shared video (left) and Google Street View imagery of Pati regency (right), with corresponding features highlighted by AFP

AFP has previously debunked similar false claims linking footage from Indonesia to the protests in Nepal.

Is there content that you would like AFP to fact-check? Get in touch.

E-mail