Protesters fly pirate flags as Indonesia marks milestone

Independence Day becomes focus for public display of anger

- MAROOSHA MUZAFFAR

On Sunday, Indonesia will celebrate 80 years of independence – a moment that its leader Prabowo Subianto has said should be marked by citizens proudly displaying the country's red and white national flag.

But it’s been a very different kind of flag that has been flying off shelves ahead of Independence Day - one with a classic pirates’ skull and crossbones wearing a distinctive yellow straw hat.

Disgruntled Indonesians have drawn on the Jolly Roger from Japanese anime One Piece as a symbol of rebellion, and the flag is now appearing everywhere, from graffiti on streets to people’s car windows and balconies.

One Piece, a hugely popular Japanese manga and anime that also received a Netflix adaptation in 2023, has a massive fanbase in Indonesia. Protesters are drawing inspiration from the cartoon’s story about a group of pirates who band together against the forces of an authoritarian regime.

The use of the symbol appears to have begun on Indonesian social media platforms earlier this year alongside student protests, dubbed “Dark Indonesia”, that swept across cities in response to budget cuts and growing military influence in civilian affairs.