The One Piece Flag Protest: When Anime Becomes a Symbol of Resistance in Indonesia

As Indonesia prepares to mark its 80th Independence Day on August 17, a surprising symbol of dissent has swept across the nation, not a political party emblem or slogan, but a fictional pirate flag from the anime One Piece. For many Indonesians, this pop culture icon has become a powerful protest.

The Anime Flag in Indonesia

In the anime One Piece, the Jolly Roger, a black flag bearing a straw hat-wearing skull, is raised by the Straw Hat Pirates, who fight against tyranny and injustice. In Indonesia, this same flag is now flying from balconies, on cars, and in digital posters. It’s no longer just a fan tribute, it’s a symbol of disillusionment with state power.

For thousands of Indonesians, especially the youth, the Jolly Roger represents freedom, rebellion, and resistance. Its appearance has gone viral across TikTok and Instagram, surfacing not only as decor but as a veiled yet bold political message.

Political Climate Behind the Protest

The growing presence of the anime flag is rooted in widespread dissatisfaction with Indonesia’s political trajectory. Under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, a former general with a controversial military past, many citizens feel the democratic ideals once promised are eroding.

Key issues that have triggered public discontent include:

• Increased military influence in civilian governance, following recent legal revisions.
  
• Public frustration over economic inequalities and lack of transparency.
  
• Rising centralisation of power, which many see as a step backward from Indonesia’s democratic reforms.
  

Earlier this year, protests broke out over budget cuts and the military’s expanding role. Then came President Prabowo’s call to raise the national flag across the country, a patriotic move seen by many as performative, rather than meaningful. In response, citizens chose to raise the Jolly Roger instead, saying it better reflected their hopes and frustrations.

Government Conditions and Reactions

Despite its fictional roots, the Jolly Roger protest has stirred heated debate among officials. Reactions have varied widely across Indonesia’s government and law enforcement, revealing a tension between free expression and state authority.

Although there’s no law outright banning fictional flags, Indonesian law does prohibit placing any symbol above or equal to the national red-and-white flag, particularly on official days like Independence Day.

What the Flag Means to Indonesians

The One Piece flag is more than a fandom emblem, it’s become a vessel for protest, a nonviolent expression of political grievance. It speaks to the belief that even 80 years after gaining independence, many Indonesians, especially those from underrepresented regions like Papua, feel “colonised by those in power”.

Young Indonesians, raised in a digital era shaped by anime and online culture, are using symbolism to reclaim agency. In the story of One Piece, Luffy and his crew defy authoritarian regimes, not with violence, but with determination and unity. That message resonates now more than ever.

As scholar Dominique Nicky Fahrizal notes, the Jolly Roger offers a unique way to raise political awareness. It’s both familiar and subversive, bridging generations and ideologies under one pirate flag.

The mixed reaction from authorities, ranging from crackdowns to cautious tolerance, only further validates its power. Whether it continues past Independence Day or fades with time, one thing is clear: the Jolly Roger has given voice to the voiceless, proving that even a cartoon can shake the foundations of political discourse.

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