Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Bima Arya Sugiarto, said he sees no issue with citizens raising the One Piece flag in the lead-up to the country’s 80th Independence Day celebrations, describing it as a form of creative expression.
Speaking during a working visit to Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Bima told reporters that such acts reflect public sentiment, imagination, and even critique.
“In a democratic country, expression is natural, as long as it does not conflict with the Constitution,” he said, as reported by Antara.
The former mayor of Bogor suggested that the flying of the One Piece flag, known as the Jolly Roger from the anime, may even be a subtle critique of the current state of the nation.
“If that expression reflects expectations or criticism, we should see it as input,” he added.
Bima compared the act to the display of other organizational flags, such as those of the Indonesian Red Cross or the national scout movement.
“There’s no rule against flying flags, unless they belong to banned organizations or represent prohibited ideologies,” he said.
Nevertheless, Bima emphasized that during official Independence Day observances, only the national red-and-white flag should be flown.
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One Piece Pirate Flag Rises Across Indonesia Ahead the Independence Day
The appearance of One Piece flags, featuring the iconic straw hat skull symbol associated with the anime’s protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy has gone viral across Indonesia in recent weeks. Photos and videos shared on social media show the flags being raised in various locations nationwide.
One Piece, created by Japanese manga artist Eiichiro Oda, debuted in 1997 and has since evolved into a global media franchise, including a long-running anime series and a live-action adaptation produced by Netflix.
In the world of One Piece, the Straw Hat Pirates are known for challenging tyranny and standing up for the oppressed. These values, some Indonesians say resonate deeply amid their disillusionment with domestic politics.
For many Indonesians, the flying of the One Piece Straw Hat Pirates flag goes beyond fandom. It has become a symbolic form of social commentary, a critique of a political system that some believe no longer serves the people
Thus, the appearance of the One Piece flag in public spaces across the countries just days before the Independence Day has become a powerful new language to channel their protest in this evolving digital age.
(Raidi/Agung)
