August 4, 2025 | 01:24 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The "One Piece" anime symbol, notably utilized by Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka during his 2024 presidential election campaign, is now being characterized as a divisive element in Indonesian society. The recent phenomenon of hoisting the "One Piece" flag in commemoration of the 80th Indonesian Independence Day has ignited widespread discussion on social media and drawn responses from state officials and politicians. Furthermore, individuals displaying these flags have reportedly faced threats of criminal charges.
On social media platforms, the "One Piece" flag, a symbol from the Japanese anime series created by Eiichiro Oda, has gained viral traction after being displayed on various houses and vehicles. This black flag, featuring a white skull and crossbones, is being flown by a segment of the public as an overt expression of their disillusionment with the government's performance and as a form of resistance against the current social and political landscape.
Ironically, during the 2024 presidential campaign, Gibran himself embraced the Jolly Roger symbol of the Straw Hat Pirates. On January 21, 2024, during a presidential debate, Gibran was observed wearing a pin depicting the "One Piece" anime character symbol on his attire.
As reported by Antara, Gibran that evening strategically incorporated symbols rooted in popular culture and his favorite manga and anime characters, namely "One Piece" and "Naruto."
He notably sported the characteristic mini-pin of the Straw Hat Pirates or Mugiwara Pirates during the debate's initial segments. In subsequent portions, he appeared with a jacket adorned with the Uzumaki clan logo from the "Naruto" anime.
However, the government now holds a markedly different perspective when this symbol is employed as a tool for criticism. Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, views the hoisting of the Jolly Roger flag as an attempt to sow discord within the nation. He believes that systematic efforts are being made to undermine the unity and integrity of the Indonesian nation through the display of this flag.
"We have detected and received inputs from security institutions that there are indeed efforts to sow division in the unity and integrity," he stated at the Parliament complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday, July 31, 2025.
The following day, Dasco urged the public to refrain from creating a dichotomy between the revered Red and White flag and the "One Piece" flag, emphasizing that many older generations are unfamiliar with the anime.
Tempo attempted to solicit a response from Acting Vice President's Secretary Al Muktabar and Vice President's special staff Tina Talisa regarding this unfolding phenomenon. However, as of the publication of this news, Tempo's messages via WhatsApp remained unanswered.
Novali Panji Nugroho, Antara, and Dinda Sabrina contributed to the report.
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