TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Popular Reads
Top Results
No results found. Please check your search term and try again
Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search results
Popular Reads
Top Results
No results found. Please check your search term and try again
Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search resultsPrabowo calls some journalists, critics ‘londo ireng’
The term londo ireng, which means “black Dutchman” in Javanese, has historically referred to indigenous Indonesians accused of collaborating with Dutch colonial forces during the country's struggle for independence.
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
President Prabowo Subianto delivers a speech on Thursday during the 28th anniversary celebration of the National Awakening Party (PKB) in Jakarta. Held under the theme “A New Direction for the Constitutional Economic Mandate“, the event reaffirmed the party's commitment to supporting the government in strengthening Indonesia's economy. (Antara/Hafidz Mubarak A)
P
resident Prabowo Subianto on Thursday accused some journalists, analysts and civil society groups of serving foreign interests, invoking a colonial-era term to describe Indonesians he claims work against the country’s interests.
Speaking at the 28th anniversary of the National Awakening Party (PKB) on Thursday evening, Prabowo said his administration welcomed criticism but alleged that some Indonesians remained loyal to foreign powers.
“We are a democracy. We are not against criticism. But we are not children. We know there are Indonesians who enjoy serving and devoting themselves to other nations,” the President said.
“In the past we called them londo ireng, those who fought alongside the Dutch against us. Those londo ireng still exist today,” he said, adding that they could now be found among "journalists, reporters, analysts and NGOs."
The term londo ireng, which means “black Dutchman” in Javanese, has historically referred to indigenous Indonesians accused of collaborating with Dutch colonial forces during the country's struggle for independence.
Prabowo went on to question how some NGOs are funded, asking, “Who pays your salary? Who pays your electricity bill? Who pays for your phone?"
He also accused some media outlets of selectively highlighting negative stories, arguing that despite the government's renovation of 27,000 schools, they continued to feature schools that had yet to receive repairs.
