In Indonesia, One Piece Flag Becomes Emblem of Protest Against Injustice

KOMPAS.com - As Indonesia prepares to celebrate its 80th Independence Day on August 17, a surprising sight has emerged in several regions: the Jolly Roger pirate flag from the popular Japanese anime One Piece being flown alongside the national red-and-white flag, the Merah Putih.

These flags, depicting a skull-and-crossbones symbol, have been spotted atop homes, on flagpoles, and even attached to trucks. Residents have also painted the emblem on walls and streets across various cities.

The trend has gained traction on social media, where calls to hoist the One Piece flag have gone viral.

For many Indonesians, the flag has become a creative and peaceful form of protest, expressing growing public frustration with the government.

A Symbol of Nonviolent Resistance

Galang, a local resident, attached the One Piece flag to his bicycle, which he uses daily.

“I’m not afraid to fly it. It’s not a flag for apolitical group, it’s a symbol of nonviolent resistance,” he told Kompas TV on Saturday, August 2.

Galang said the flag represents public calls for stronger government action against corruption, particularly the recovery of stolen assets to improve social welfare.

Frustration with Goverment 

Maulana, a truck driver waiting in line at Ketapang Port in Banyuwangi, East Java (one of the main ferry crossings to Bali) also flew the flag.

He said he had been stuck in the queue for three days and used the One Piece emblem to voice his frustration with poor infrastructure and lack of government support for ordinary citizens.

“This is a protest from the people. I feel like the fifth principle of our national philosophy, social justice for all, no longer applies to the people,” he said, referring to Indonesia’s foundational Pancasila ideology.

Maulana urged the goverment to resolve the traffic congestion that has disrupted logistics and increased delivery costs.

“This traffic jam is exhausting. I’ve been stuck here for days, and daily expenses are piling up,” he said.

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Not a Provocation, Says Supporter

Anchy, a father of two from Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, posted the One Piece flag on his social media. He stressed that it was not meant as provocation.

The anime’s storyline, he noted, features the “World Goverment” (WG), a fictional authoritarian regime known for corruption, nepotism, and indifference to the plight of the lower class. In contrast, the pirates in the series are portrayed as rebels fighting for justice.

“The pirates, who are often seen as criminals, actually stand with the people and fight against oppression in One Piece. That’s what I hope to see in real life,” Anchy told Kompas.id on Saturday, August 1.

Goverment Warns of Legal Consequences

Despite its symbolic nature, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Budi Gunawan, said flying the One Piece flag could carry criminal consequences.

He cited Law No. 24 of 2009 on National Symbols, which prohibits displaying any emblem above the national flag or in a manner that dishonors it.

“This is about protecting the dignity of our national symbols,” Budi said. “The law clearly states: ‘No one may fly the national flag beneath or with any other flag or symbol.’”

He warned that pairing or overshadowing the Merah Putih with the Jolly Roger could be deemed a violation.

Even so, Budi acknowledged the public’s creativity and freedom of expression, so long as it remains within the bounds of the law. He urged citizens to refrain from provocative actions and to respect national symbols during the independence celebrations.