Public Firmly Rejects Pirate Flags Ahead of Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day

By: Michael Tjandra

As the sacred moment of the 80th Indonesian Independence Day approaches, a wave of trends deviating from the spirit of nationalism is resurfacing. The phenomenon of flying the pirate flag from the anime series One Piece, also known as the Jolly Roger symbol, continues to draw attention from various parties.

This symbol is being flown in several areas, especially on large vehicles such as trucks, alongside or even replacing the Indonesian flag. This phenomenon is not only a manifestation of ignorance but also opens up space for provocation and potential national disintegration.

Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, believes that the massive flying of the Jolly Roger symbol is not merely a whim or a creative expression. He revealed that several intelligence agencies have reported indications of a systematic movement using non-state symbols to divide unity. Such actions, he believes, are extremely dangerous, especially amidst a national situation focused on promoting progress and stability following political consolidation.

Dasco emphasized the importance of maintaining unity and rejecting all symbols that could potentially trigger social conflict. He also did not dismiss the possibility of external influence deliberately creating disruptions amidst national development efforts. In this context, the raising of the Jolly Roger flag is more than just entertainment—it could function as a disguised propaganda tool that attacks the foundations of nationalism.

Echoing this sentiment, Firman Soebagyo, Deputy Chairman of the Golkar Faction in the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), assessed the raising of the pirate flag as a provocative act. He viewed such practices as part of an effort to provoke the public and undermine the state’s authority.

According to Firman, the act of raising a non-state flag that resembles a symbol of resistance against the government should not be taken lightly, especially when it occurs ahead of the sacred moment of independence, which should be a momentum for strengthening the nation.

Firman even believes that such an act could be categorized as a form of treason on a symbolic scale. Therefore, he urged the authorities to act decisively, interrogate the parties involved, and investigate the true motives. He also believes that rehabilitative measures are crucial to educate the perpetrators and prevent similar incidents from recurring.

Meanwhile, a sociologist from Parahyangan University, Garlika Martanegara, sees this phenomenon as a reflection of a decline in national awareness among the public. According to him, the public’s tendency to consume information from social media without verification has exacerbated the national literacy situation. People, especially the younger generation, often fall prey to viral trends without understanding the historical context, laws, and national values.

Garlika believes that the Jolly Roger symbol is often associated with freedom and resistance against oppressive systems, as depicted in the anime One Piece.

However, in the Indonesian context, this meaning is irrelevant and even risks fostering ideological misunderstanding. He also highlighted the weakness of character and nationalism education in schools, which has led the younger generation to become increasingly distant from legitimate national symbols.

According to Garlika, when the pirate symbol is flown alongside or even replaces the Red and White in the context of independence, the public needs to ask: what values are actually being celebrated?

Is independence the result of struggle and sacrifice, or is it the spirit of anarchism packaged in pop culture? False interpretations of symbols become dangerous when not grounded in an understanding of history and the constitution.

Under Indonesian positive law, the Red and White flag holds a very clear position as a national symbol that must be respected. Law Number 24 of 2009 expressly prohibits all forms of insult, harassment, and demeaning of the national flag.

Flying a foreign, fictional, or non-state flag at the same level as or higher than the Red and White, especially in a state context such as Independence Day, is not only inappropriate but can also trigger legal and social consequences.

Symbols like the Jolly Roger flag lack legal and historical legitimacy in the context of Indonesian independence. Viewing it as a form of social criticism, let alone juxtaposing it with the spirit of the nation’s struggle, is a distortion of meaning that needs to be corrected. Expressions of freedom are certainly legitimate in a democracy, but must remain grounded in national norms, laws, and values.