Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Presidential Communication Office Head, Hasan Nasbi, recently affirmed that the Indonesian flag cannot be replaced by any other flag, specifically referencing the "One Piece" flag. Hasan noted that he has not observed the widely discussed Japanese pirate anime flag displayed along public roads.
"But the Indonesian flag is not a choice. It is a necessity. The Indonesian flag cannot be replaced," Hasan declared in a statement while overseeing free health check-ups at SMAN 6 Tangerang Selatan, Banten, on August 4, 2025.
The phenomenon of the "One Piece" flag gaining traction on social media has gone viral ahead of Indonesia's 80th Independence Day celebrations.
The "One Piece" flag, also known as the Jolly Roger, is the pirate symbol from the renowned Japanese anime series by Eiichiro Oda. It has reportedly been displayed on various houses and vehicles, drawing significant public attention.
This black flag, featuring a white skull and crossed bones, has been raised by some individuals as an expression of disappointment with government performance and a form of resistance against prevailing social and political conditions.
Riki Hidayat, a resident of Kebayoran, South Jakarta, intends to display the "One Piece" flag in front of his house on the 80th Indonesian Independence Day. He clarifies that this act is not an act of betrayal against Indonesia. Instead, he views raising the "One Piece" flag as a symbol of protest or an expression of dissatisfaction with a government he believes is failing to adequately protect citizens' rights.
Riki articulated that his stance does not diminish his sense of nationalism. "This is not about losing nationalism," he remarked. According to him, the concept of nationalism loses its meaning if the nation fails to provide adequate protection in return for the taxes paid by its citizens.
"I love the homeland where I can live. But the homeland I love is not the homeland where I pay taxes but do not receive equal rights for the taxes I pay," he explained.
This phenomenon has elicited diverse responses from politicians and government officials. Deputy House Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad perceives the display of the Jolly Roger flag as a systematic attempt to undermine the unity of the Indonesian nation.
"We have detected and received input from security institutions; indeed, there are efforts to disrupt the unity of the nation," he stated at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday, July 31, 2025.
The following day, Dasco urged the public not to conflate the Indonesian flag with the "One Piece" flag, noting that many older generations are unfamiliar with the anime.
– Achmad Ghiffary Mannan, Muhammad Nafis Wirasaputra, Novali Panji Nugroho, and Michelle Gabriela contributed to the report.