President Prabowo's 'Black Dutch' Rhetoric Sparks Democracy Concerns

President Prabowo Subianto's recent use of the term "londo ireng," or "black Dutch," to describe journalists, academics, and civil society groups has sparked significant concern among Indonesian civil society organizations. The Masyarakat Transparansi Indonesia (MTI) views this labeling not as a slip of the tongue, but as a continuation of a pattern aimed at delegitimizing critical voices throughout his nearly two-year tenure.

MTI's Executive Director, Ahmad Jilul Qurani Farid, emphasized that "criticism is the oxygen of democracy, not treason." He argued that when the head of state repeatedly labels reporters, academics, and NGOs as "londo ireng" or "foreign agents," the discourse shifts from a debate of ideas to a systematic effort to undermine public oversight. This tactic, MTI contends, dangerously narrows the space for public participation, which is essential for governmental accountability.

The "londo ireng" incident is not isolated, according to MTI. The organization has documented at least seven other instances since President Prabowo took office in October 2024 where he has employed negative labels, political insults, or stigmatizing accusations against citizens. These include labeling individuals as "foreign agents" at a Gerindra party event (Feb. 15, 2025) and a School of the People gathering (Aug. 22, 2025). He also questioned the motives of protesters opposing the TNI Law in Hambalang (April 6, 2025), accusing them of being paid. Further instances involve claims of "foreign forces" sowing division during Pancasila Day celebrations (June 2, 2025), accusations of "treason and terrorism" during August 2025 demonstrations (Aug. 31, 2025), and insinuations about who was funding protests at PENAS XVII Gorontalo (June 24, 2026), culminating in the "londo ireng" remark at the PKB anniversary (July 23, 2026).