In One Piecethe world -renowned manga conceived by Eiichirō Oda, the theme of freedom is widely treated from different points of view. “There are things that cannot be stopped: the inherited will, people’s dreams, the flow of time. As long as people have thirsty for freedom, these things will last forever”, even goals D. Roger, known by all in the manga as the king of pirates, recognizes its importance. And that’s why, in recent months, more and more often The Jolly Roger of the Monkey D. Luffy crewthe protagonist of the history of Oda, I wave next to other flags during events in the square or popular protests.
This is what is happening in the last period in Indonesia where, with the approach of the‘Anniversary of the declaration of independence from the Netherlands that took place on 17 August 1945 And culminating with the signature of the Dutch-Indonesian peace treaty in 1949, some motions of protest are taking hold in the streets of the country of Southeast Asia. According to what reported by Jerota Globethe symbol of the Mugiwara, i.e. the straw hat pirates, was in fact sighted on the back of some trucks, hanging on the light poles, waved on the roofs of the houses and, more generally, exposed in several public spaces.
The reactions of Indonesian politics
The virality of this trend has not gone unnoticed even to politicians, who made some conflicting statements, collected by Antara News. Among the most critics there is Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, vice -president of the Chamber of Representatives and exponent of the Conservative Party Gerindra who sees in these actions as a “attempt to undermine national unity “. Budi Gonawan echoes him who invites to remember the institutional importance of the celebration of 80 years of independence. It is not of the same idea Deddy Yevri website, a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of struggle, asserting that “these public criticism expressions are part of a democratic society”. Bima Arya Suugerto, Minister of Internal Affairs also sees in the Jolly Roger. “A way of people to express their expectations”accepting them as a starting point for reflection.
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However, as reported on its social profiles by Angelo “Sommobuta” Cavallaro, Essayist and Content Creator specialized in manga and anime, the news has rebounded in an unclear way on the internet, not to mention real fake news. In fact, multiple newspapers made that the flag symbol of One Piece was put out and banned in Indonesia, while the politicians of the different sides agree that The protest is protected by democracy because it is peaceful and non -violent.
The case of Feedom Flotilla
In general, this is not the first time that the skull with straw hat appears alongside national flags, hoisted towards the sky by those who manifest for peace. It had already occurred in 2023, for example, in several Pro-Palestine events. Also on one of the boats of the Freedom Flotilla, an international expedition that in July of this year tried to force the blocking of humanitarian aid imposed on Gaza before being blocked by the Israeli armythe banner of the Mugiwara was hoisted. The participating activists have exploited one of the best known symbols of pop culture of the last decades to emphasize the cry of hope and justice that he intended to carry on. On the other hand, as Luffy himself says: “If you don’t run risk, you can’t create a future”.
