The pirate flag from anime ‘One Piece’ is Indonesia’s newest protest symbol—and officials are cracking down

Jolly Roger’s skull and bone with a straw hat – from the Japanese anime series “One Piece” – was fluttering from an increasing number of trucks, cars and homes.

Officials warn of “provocation”-which many see as a protest against President Prabu Subanto’s policies-will not fly alongside the red and white flag in the country.

The pirate banner was seized by the drunk truck drivers earlier this summer, but recently entered into a movement on the Internet and realism.

“I personally raised the flag of one piece because the red and white flag is very sacred so that it cannot be raised in this corrupt country.”

“I think freedom of expression in Indonesia exists, but it is very limited. Expressing your opinion has become more dangerous.”

government officials say that the use of flag is an attempt to divide the nation.

They warn that he may be prevented from flying next to the colors of Indonesia, or it is raised on August 17 – the eighty -independence anniversary after Japan surrendered at the end of World War II.

“It is necessary that we refrain from creating a provocation with unrelated symbols.”.

The ministers cited a law prohibiting a higher symbol of the national flag as a basis for any punishment.

Under this law, the intention of desecrating, insulting, or deteriorating science bears the maximum imprisonment sentence for a period of five years or a fine of about 31,000 dollars.

Foreign Minister Brasilio Hadi said on Tuesday that Brabu has no problem in “expressing creativity”, but the two sciences should not be placed “side by side in a way that calls for comparison,” according to local media.

“Just carton”

A presidential spokesman did not respond to a question by Agence France Presse about his position on pirate science, which was placed two days ago.

Experts say that the non -happy Indonesians use the flag as a way to express an ingredient indirectly anti -government, as some Papo economic and defensive policies caused concern about the democratic decline.

“Symbols such as pirate science allow people to direct frustration without spelling it,” said Didi Dinarto, an Indonesia analyst at Global Counsel.

“It reflects general feelings stating that parts of the country have been kidnapped.”

Others, like the food seller Andre Sapotra, who moved the pirate banner under the Indonesian flag in his home for a week, says they want to be able to determine the symbols they show.

“I want to be free to express my opinion and express myself.”

“This is just a cartoon science from Japan.”

Online culture was a popular channel for the lack of Indonesian satisfaction against imaginative and favorite government corruption.

The Japanese anime is popular in Indonesia, and in the manga series “One Piece”, the best -selling created in 1997, the science is opposing the government of the authoritarian world.

In February, the protests known as “Dark Indonesia” began against the widespread cuts in Brabu, which lit a slogan published on social media showing the legendary black Garoda bird along with the phrase “emergency warning”.

Other marches were also postponed in 2016 and 2019 via the Internet, and Didi says that the government may be concerned that “this follows the same book of digital play.”

There is also a gap between generations, where the oldest local population views the Indonesian flag as being obtained hard after centuries of colonial rule, while younger Indonesians see that the new movement is an expression of disappointment.

Police raid

Ismail Fahmy, founder of the Indonesian company, told the media: “They only want Indonesia to improve, but … they can not express it only through the flag of” one piece “.

The police in Panin Province, the neighboring capital, Jakarta, and West Java Province, threatened the most populated population in Indonesia, to take action if the flag is transferred next to the country’s colors.

A Central Java printing business owner told Agence France -Presse, provided that his identity was not disclosed that his facility was raid by the ordinary surface police on Wednesday evening to stop its production from the hacker logo.

The rights groups called for excessive response and say that the Indonesians are allowed to attach knowledge under the law.

Othman Hamed, CEO of Amnesty International in Indonesia, said: “Raising the science of” one piece “as a critic of freedom of expression and guaranteed by the constitution.

Despite the government’s threats, some Indonesian youth are still ready to risk walking from the protest board.

Kharb said on Wednesday: “Last night, my friend and I went throughout the city while raising the flag of one piece.”

“If the government is not afraid of suppressing its people, we will not be afraid to fight bad policies.”