Anime Pirate Flag Raised in Indonesia Amid Independence Day Dissent

Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day has become overshadowed by an unusual protest movement involving the One Piece anime pirate flag. Instead of being purely celebratory, the national mood is divided, with the flag emerging as a powerful yet unconventional symbol of frustration and dissent against the government.

The flag, featuring a skull and crossbones wearing a straw hat (the Jolly Roger of Monkey D. Luffy in One Piece), has appeared on homes, trucks, motorcycles, cars, and even beneath Indonesia’s national red-and-white flag. In the anime, the flag represents hope, freedom, and defiance against authoritarianism, themes resonating with many Indonesians amid rising prices, youth unemployment, and perceptions of poor governance.

Radityo Dharmaputra, a lecturer in Surabaya, explained that the flag embodies satire and growing societal dissatisfaction, despite government claims of progress. Truck drivers in East Java were among the first to use it, initially in protest against truck-weight restrictions. The movement has since spread, with ordinary people—including in villages and semi-rural areas—embracing it as a symbol of disappointment and resistance.

Newly sworn-in President Prabowo Subianto had promised rapid economic growth and social change. However, challenges such as high youth unemployment (16% among 15–24-year-olds), budget cuts, and foreign investment withdrawal have fueled public frustration. Earlier in 2025, the “Dark Indonesia” online movement (#IndonesiaGelap) gained traction, with citizens voicing discontent over military involvement in government and economic pessimism. Student protests followed, which Prabowo dismissed as being funded by “corruptors.”

The pirate flag has become a visible continuation of this discontent. For some, like truck driver Adi from Malang, it represents grief and anger. Adi lost family members in the 2022 Kanjuruhan Stadium disaster, where tear gas fired by police caused a deadly crush killing 135 people. He says justice has not been delivered, restitution remains unpaid, and broader issues such as inflation deepen his resentment.

Authorities, however, view the flag as a potential threat to national unity. Political and security affairs minister Budi Gunawan warned of “firm action” if the flag was flown on Independence Day, while lawmakers called it an attempt to divide the nation. Yet analysts such as Yohanes Sulaiman argue that government overreaction has backfired, boosting the flag’s visibility and making officials appear heavy-handed and even laughable.

Amnesty International condemned raids in East Java and Riau Islands where pirate flags were seized and citizens questioned, calling it a clear violation of free expression. The rights group stressed that flying an anime flag is neither treason nor a crime. No one has been formally charged, as the act is not illegal.

Despite official warnings, truckers and citizens continue displaying the flag openly. President Prabowo himself has downplayed the controversy, calling it an “expression of creativity.” Analysts believe the government’s sensitivity stems from fear of renewed unrest like the earlier Dark Indonesia protests, and that mismanaging such symbolic dissent could deepen public distrust.

Ultimately, the flag protest highlights widespread dissatisfaction across different layers of Indonesian society—ranging from economic hardship to unresolved tragedies—while exposing a gap between government optimism and public reality. What began as a truckers’ protest has evolved into a broader grassroots expression of disillusionment with the country’s direction, right at a time when Independence Day was meant to showcase unity.