August 4, 2025 | 07:07 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The act of raising the flag of the Japanese animation One Piece in Indonesia is suspected to have been infiltrated by authorities. Kharik Anhar, a student at the University of Riau involved in the act, said there was a warning in a WhatsApp group instructing the head of the neighborhood association (RT) and community association (RW) to report residents who raise the One Piece flag. The report was requested to be forwarded to Babinsa (Non-Commissioned Officer of Village Development) and Bimas (Community Guidance).
Kharik showed Tempo a screenshot containing the warning. He said the message came from his colleague in Bogor, West Java. "This is a clear act of real suppression. Whereas the Jolly Roger flag is a form of criticism against a corrupt system and those within it, why are they angry?" Kharik said when contacted on Sunday, August 3, 2025.
The following is the content of the message in the screenshot, "Good afternoon. Information from the Kodim Intel Agency needs to be delivered to the Babinsa of the South Bogor Sub-District, to be alert to the raising of the One Piece flag which is currently flying in other regions and is being widely reported on social media. Please monitor the news items. Thank you".
The second paragraph of the warning, "Please cooperate with the RT and RW leaders if there are those who raise the flag in the area, please report it to Babinsa and Bimas. Thank you."
Kharik regrets why the government's attitude is excessively prohibitive, even threatening with criminal sanctions. "We reject the subversive labeling against the creativity of the people," he said.
The installation of the animated flag, according to Kharik, was done in accordance with existing regulations and did not neglect to honor the Red and White Flag. "We still respect the national flag. That's why we raised it in accordance with the rules, placing the One Piece flag separately, not higher or parallel," he said.
Kharik is now gathering residents and other students from various regions. He is consolidating the campaign to raise the One Piece flag so that it can be installed massively in front of houses or spread through social media. Currently, there are at least 320 people involved in the campaign to raise the flag of the pirate anime.
Tempo has requested a response from the Head of the TNI Information Center Major General Kristomei Sianturi regarding the directive for sweeping or taking action against residents who raise the One Piece flag. The message sent via WhatsApp on Sunday, August 3, 2025, has not been answered.
Previously, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Budi Gunawan said that raising the One Piece flag before the commemoration of Independence Day on August 17 contained elements of criminal acts. He said that the action was a violation of the honor of the red and white flag.
Budi reminded that the raising of the red and white flag was regulated in Article 24 paragraph 1 of Law Number 24 of 2009 concerning Flags, Languages, and State Symbols, and the National Anthem. The law states that anyone is prohibited from raising the national flag under any other flag or symbol.
The government will take legal action against the act of raising the One Piece flag. "This is our effort to protect the dignity and symbols of the country," he said in a written statement on Friday, August 1, 2025.
Vice Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly Sufmi Dasco Ahmad urged the public to unite in the face of efforts to disintegrate through the installation of One Piece flags. He detected attempts to divide unity. "We must resist such things. Let's unite, fight," he said.
The trend of raising the pirate flag (jolly roger) from the One Piece manga has been rampant lately. The flag bearing a skull and crossbones with a straw hat is a symbol of the Straw Hat Pirates group led by Monkey D Luffy, the main character in the Japanese comic.
One Piece is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The manga series that tells the adventure of Monkey D Luffy becoming the pirate king has been published since July 22, 1997 until now.
For its fans, several stories in the One Piece comic represent resistance to injustice. In some of its stories, Monkey D Luffy and his friends have to face a corrupt government, a sadistic military, human rights violations, genocide, racial discrimination, and attempts to manipulate history.
This comic also produces a number of iconic scenes. For example, when the Straw Hat Pirates burned the world government flag. This was to show support for one of their friends, an archaeologist, who has been pursued by the military since the age of 8 just for studying lost history.
Novali Panji Nugroho and Daniel Fajri contributed to this article.
Editor's Choice: Indonesians Continue to Fly the One Piece Flag Despite Government Threats
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Flying One Piece Flag Does Not Break the Law in Indonesia, Says Expert
8 menit lalu
Legal expert says the One Piece flag can be flown as long as it is positioned below the Indonesian flag and is smaller in size.
Indonesians Continue to Fly the One Piece Flag Despite Government Threats
17 jam lalu
A resident from Riau, Kharik, feels no reason to comply and fear raising the One Piece flag in front of his house.
Indonesia to Send 10,000 Tons of Rice to Palestine
18 jam lalu
Indonesian government will soon send aid in the form of 10 thousand tons of rice to Palestine to help the victims of the genocide committed by Israel.
TPNPB OPM Prohibits Raising Indonesian Flag in Papua on Independence Day
18 jam lalu
National Liberation Army of West Papua-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB OPM) issue a prohibition on the raising of the Indonesian flag in Papua on Aug. 17.
Indonesian Students Win 3 Bronze Medals, 2 Awards at the 55th International Physics Olympiad
18 jam lalu
At the 55th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2025, Indonesian students won three bronze medals & two honorable mention awards.
Macau Open 2025 Final Schedule: Two Indonesians Compete for Championship Title
19 jam lalu
Indonesian shuttlers, Alwi Farhan and Sabar/Reza, are set to compete in the final of Macau Open 2025, both facing opponents from Malaysia.
One Piece Flag is Not a Threat; It Strengthens Indonesian Brotherhood, Says Ansor Cyber Body
19 jam lalu
The Chair of Ansor Cyber Body, Ahmad Luthfi, stated that the pirate flag from One Piece is in line with the values of struggle and unity of Indonesia
Indonesian Police Threaten Residents Who Fly One Piece Flags
23 jam lalu
Indonesia's Banten Police have threatened to take firm action against residents who raise the pirate flag of One Piece during Independence Day.
Bandung Muhibah Angklung Team Plans for a Tour Around Australia
23 jam lalu
Indonesia's Muhibah Angklung Team from Bandung plans to tour several cities in the continent of Australia on 19 August-8 September 2025.
Realization of Investment in Indonesia Reaches Rp477.7 Trillion in Q2, a Positive Sign
23 jam lalu
The Prasasti Center for Policy Studies assesses that the realization of investment in Indonesia reaching Rp 477.7 trillion in the second quarter is a positive sign amid global uncertainty.
