The Rise of the One Piece Flag, Cyber Ansor NU Emphasizes the Need to Maintain the Dignity of the Red and White Flag!
Jakarta – Indonesia’s independence was achieved through the long struggle of heroes and the unity of all Indonesians, not by fictional pirate characters. Raising flags featuring anime characters or foreign cultures is considered inappropriate in the context of national independence celebrations.
The Ansor Cyber Agency, the Digital Division of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), reminded that as the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia approaches, the urgency of maintaining the dignity of the Red and White Flag as a symbol of national sovereignty must not be replaced.
The chairman of the Ansor Cyber Agency, Ahmad Luthfi, said that national symbols such as the Red and White should not be overshadowed by any popular culture.
“National symbols like the Red and White must not be overshadowed by any popular culture,” he stressed.
Ahmad Luthfi invited the public to emulate the values taught by the 4th President of the Republic of Indonesia, KH Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur, who upheld freedom of expression while remaining within the framework of national responsibility.
Meanwhile, the National Awakening Party (PKB) also expressed deep concern over the phenomenon of raising the One Piece flag ahead of the 80th anniversary of Indonesian Independence. Anna Mu’awanah, a member of the PKB faction in the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), expressed concern about the erosion of national values due to this trend.
“This phenomenon raises public questions and concerns about the potential shift in national values that should be maintained with full awareness of history,” said Anna.
According to him, the pirate symbol has negative connotations in various countries and is inappropriate to be displayed during the sacred month of Indonesian independence.
On the other hand, legal expert and national anti-corruption activist Mohammad Trijanto, SH, MM, MH, views this phenomenon not only as a violation of social norms, but also as an act of degrading state symbols which could have implications for criminal law sanctions.
“Replacing the Indonesian flag with a fictional pirate flag from a foreign culture is an act of constitutional abuse and a degradation of national dignity. This is not a matter of creativity; it’s a violation of the law,” Trijanto said in an official statement.
Meanwhile, Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono (Ibas) as Deputy Chairman of the MPR RI responded to the phenomenon that is currently being widely discussed, namely the raising of the One Piece anime-themed flag ahead of the 80th anniversary of Indonesian independence.
“We understand the spirit of creativity and love for popular culture. However, we must always remember that the Red and White Flag is a symbol of the unity and sovereignty of the Indonesian nation,” said Ibas.
According to Ibas, who also leads the Democratic Party faction in the Indonesian House of Representatives, the Red and White Flag has a deep significance, not just a colored material object.
The Red and White flag is a symbol of the nation’s long journey of struggle, a reminder of the noble values of Pancasila, and a symbol of unity that unites all components of Indonesian society.
“I urge all levels of society to continue to prioritize respect for national symbols. This attitude is crucial to maintaining the spirit of national unity, especially during this historic moment of the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia,” he said.
Echoing Ibas, Minister of Culture (Menbud) Fadli Zon urged the public to be wiser in displaying independence commemorative attributes by emphasizing the importance of raising the Red and White flag as the main symbol in welcoming Indonesian Independence Day.
“We must focus on the future, this is a commemoration of Indonesian independence, so our flag must be the primary feature. We must avoid any misperceptions, so I think it would be wise to prioritize the display of red and white symbols everywhere,” said Fadli Zon.
Fadli hopes this historic moment will be filled with a strong spirit of nationalism and respect for national symbols. [RWA]
