Overview

• The anime Jolly Roger from One Piece has become a widespread protest emblem, appearing on vehicles, homes and beneath red-and-white flags during the 80th Independence Day celebrations.
• President Prabowo’s office and State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi have deemed the pirate flag permissible as a form of expression if the national flag is given precedence.
• Local police units in East Java, the Riau Islands and elsewhere have conducted raids to seize One Piece flags and question displayers, though enforcement remains erratic.
• No individuals have faced criminal charges for flying the pirate emblem since it is not outlawed, despite warnings from hardline lawmakers about potential legal consequences.
• Human-rights organizations have criticized the seizures as violations of free speech and say tough responses have only amplified the protest’s reach.