Amnesty International criticized the Indonesian government's stance on the display of the One Piece flag as a potentially divisive act. The phenomenon of displaying the flag depicting a skull from the Japanese anime series became widespread on social media ahead of the 80th Anniversary of the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia.
Prior to this, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad urged the public not to juxtapose the One Piece flag with the Red and White flag. According to him, the flag display could be used by certain parties to divide the unity of the nation.
"The flag is used by some parties to then do things that in our opinion could divide the nation," Dasco said at the Parliamentary Complex in Jakarta on Monday, August 4, 2025.
In response, Director of Amnesty International Indonesia Usman Hamid asserted that peaceful expression through the display of the flag is not seditious, let alone an attempt to divide the nation.
According to Usman, the government's and authorities' response to the phenomenon seemed excessive, especially conducting raids and threatening criminal charges against citizens who displayed the One Piece flag.
"Displaying the One Piece flag as a medium for conveying criticism is part of the right to freedom of expression and opinion guaranteed by the Constitution and various other international instruments that have been ratified by the Republic of Indonesia," Usman stated in his official statement on Monday, August 4, 2025.
He also highlighted the actions of the authorities in confiscating the One Piece flag in Tuban and removing the One Piece mural in Sragen. Usman referred to these actions as a form of repression that leads to intimidation and curbing the freedom of the public to express their opinions. "The state must not be anti-criticism," he said.
Instead of repressing freedom of expression through raids, Usman stated, the government should focus more on addressing the root causes of public unrest so that they choose to display the One Piece flag. "The authorities must see this phenomenon as part of freedom of expression," he said.
As a country party to various international human rights instruments, including the ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights), Indonesia is obliged to protect and provide a safe space for the public to express their opinions peacefully.
"The state should be present to protect, not to disregard let alone play a role in silencing legitimate critical voices of citizens," Usman stated.
In addition, Ubedilah Badrun, a sociology lecturer at Jakarta State University, also stated that the display of the pirate flag with a straw hat does not need to be overly responded to by the government. especially interpreted as an attempt to rebel and so on.
"But interpreted in political sociology, that every sign that appears massively in public arenas, including on social media, is a symbol of the citizens' expression to convey something," Ubedilah said when contacted on Sunday, August 3, 2025.
According to him, the display of the One Piece flag is a means of political and social expression for the public, especially the younger generation. Young people, he continued, are more familiar with popular cultural symbols to express their concerns. "All these symbols have meanings as a sign of criticism or resistance to the government," he said.
Previously, through the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Budi Gunawan, the government warned of criminal consequences for actions that defile the honor of the Red and White flag. He referred to Article 24 paragraph (1) of Law Number 24 of 2009 concerning the National Flag, Language, and State Symbol, which prohibits the hoisting of the national flag below another symbol or emblem.
"The government will take firm and measured legal action if there are elements of intention and provocation to ensure the order and authority of national symbols," Budi said on Friday, August 1, 2025.
The former Head of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) stated that the government appreciates the creativity of expression to commemorate the independence day. He also urged that these forms of expression do not cross boundaries and defile national symbols.
In addition, the Banten Regional Police threatened to take firm action against citizens who intentionally hoist the pirate One Piece flag during the 80th Anniversary of Indonesian Independence Day. "If there is evidence of a violation and they are not [using] the Red and White [flag], of course we will take firm action," said Banten Regional Police Deputy Chief Brigadier General Hengki in Tangerang on Saturday, August 2, 2025.
– Ade Ridwan Yandwiputra, Dian Rahma Fika, Sapto Yunus, and Amelia Rahima Sari contributed to the writing of this article.