As Indonesia approaches its 80th Independence Day, streets and homes are once again draped in the national color of red-and-white (Merah Putih). This year, however, another flag has joined the celebratory displays; the black-and-white Jolly Roger from the Japanese anime One Piece, placed alongside the national flag in many areas to show protests. Social media users have interpreted its presence as a form of resistance against the Indonesian government's current performance. The movement began on July 30 when a resident of Padang city raised the One Piece flag at a tourist destination in West Sumatra. He explained that the flag carried an interesting story of resistance against inequality, hoping that other fans may receive and amplify the message.
Why the Jolly Roger?
The timing is no coincidence. Public frustration has been mounting over the recent passage of draft laws without adequate punic participation, historical revisionism and denialism of the 1998 mass rapes incident, and the rising number of corruption. Rather than opting for traditional demonstrations, many Indonesians particularly the youth have found a symbolic rallying point in One Piece. While often viewed as entertainment, One piece has always been political to some extent; covering political subjects such as corruption, racism, nationalism, and so much more. The anime talks about justice and freedom and the flag symbolizes a form of freedom that questions the state’s definition of good and evil. The protagonist, Luffy frees a lot of islands from tyrants and can be seen as a symbol of liberation.
For many younger generations that are raised in a digital age, Luffy’s refusal to bow to government forces mirrors their refusal to submit to power that fails the people and their growing dissatisfaction with what many view as an overly centralized government led by Prabowo.
Pop Culture and Symbolism as Protests
Indonesia has long embedded symbolism into its political discourse. In early 2025, different versions of the Garuda; the national emblem were used to showcase aspirations and criticism: the blue Garuda during the #IndonesiaDarurat (“Indonesia Emergency”) movement, and the black Garuda during #IndonesiaGelap (“Dark Indonesia”). Today, the Jolly Roger continues this tradition in a new form. Along the way, pop culture has always been used as a medium to communicate resistance and protests. From the usage of ‘Do You Hear the People Sing’ from Les Misérables in Hong Kong protests to the Hunger Games three-finger salute in Thailand as a protest against militarization and a call for democracy. These cultural references are powerful not because they are subtle, but because they are familiar, viral, and emotionally resonant. In a country like Indonesia, where speech is nominally free, a pirate flag is harder to censor than a manifesto, but the message it delivers lands just as forcefully as a traditional political rhetoric.
Anime Symbolism in Indonesia
Fandom and fiction has played a big role especially in Indonesia, especially as home to a large number of anime communities. These fandoms have been using anime talk to communicate their frustration towards the government and to engage in politics so there is nothing new under the sun with the raising of the Jolly Roger flag at this point. Previously, Indonesian fans of Naruto nicknamed the country “Konoha,” comparing Indonesia’s presidents to the anime’s series of Hokage leaders. They also drew parallels between Indonesia’s ethnic and cultural diversity and the anime’s many ninja clans. Using fiction to interpret political reality is hardly new in Indonesia. What is significant is how this trend makes political discourse more accessible to younger generations albeit in ways unfamiliar to older ones because in fact, these symbols are not always based on fear or oppression but to encourage a democratization of political literacy.
Government and Media Reactions
The people of Indonesia are sharply on this matter, to some it seems harmless and satire yet to some it may be a form of disrespect. According to Article 24 paragraph 1 of Law Number 24 of 2009, everyone is prohibited from raising the national flag under any flag or symbol. As a result, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, Budi Gunawan and Minister of Law and Human Rights, Natalius Pigai have stated that the One Piece flag constitutes a criminal act for undermining the dignity of the national flag. They proposed a formal ban, supported by many members of the House of Representatives who called the flag subversive, provocative, and a threat to national identity. Some even suggested treason charges against those who raised it.
However, public commentators and civil society disagree. Dominique Nicky Fahrizal, a Political observer and social change for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, emphasized that symbolic protest through pop culture is now an inevitable part of political expression. One Piece fan, Arya Nevrianus, dismissed the government’s stance as absurd, asking: “Why are they so afraid of anime and manga?” The real issue, many argue, is a cultural disconnect between officials misinterpreting symbolism due to unfamiliarity with the context of digital and fandom-based protest. Legally, because the Jolly Roger is raised below the national flag, it does not violate any law. It is an act of civil expression, not rebellion. Interestingly, President Prabowo himself took a more moderate stance, claiming that he “has no objection to the flag as a creative expression as long as it is not used to diminish the significance of the Merah Putih.” Because of this, President Prabowo's cabinet's communication patterns are considered confusing due to frequent disagreements between officials. Appropriately, the agreed-upon decisions should be the sole narrative conveyed to the public.
At first glance, a pirate flag may seem trivial and harmless. Despite that, in Indonesia’s political culture, symbols carry weight. As the nation prepares to celebrate its 80 years of independence, the rise of the Jolly Rogers shows a warning to the government that ignorance and denial will only risk amplification. After all, culture cannot be regulated away. The Jolly Roger is just a fictional animation, but it invited Indonesia to confront the public frustrations that have been going on instead of playing defensive. Whether the flag remains a meme or becomes a sustained protest symbol depends fully on the government's actions.