Indonesian man arrested for using national flag as a dog’s scarf: ‘where’s the criminal element?’
- Ahead of Indonesia’s Independence Day, the man attached flags on his bike and other vehicles, and put one on the dog in the plantation where he worked
- Indonesia has strict laws for the flag and other state symbols, but a prominent lawyer has questioned the ‘criminal’ intent of the man’s action
Indonesian police have arrested a man who tied the national flag to a dog and has been named a suspect of insulting the honour of the national flag, ahead of the country’s Independence Day on August 17.
Robert Herry Son, was arrested on Thursday by authorities in Bengkalis, Riau Province, following the incident at a palm oil plantation where he is believed to work.
A fellow employee allegedly saw a dog with an Indonesian flag tied to it, complained to Son, who was a deputy head at the plantation, and asked for it to be removed, Bengkalis police chief Setyo Bimo Anggoro said, after a video of the incident went viral on TikTok.
According to police, Son initially saw nothing wrong with the incident and told the worker to “leave it there, it’s no problem, it’s just to celebrate Independence Day”, although he has since apologised for his actions.
Son had allegedly bought a number of Indonesia’s red and white flags to affix to his motorbike and other vehicles. With one leftover, he then decided to tie it around the neck of the dog.
Indonesia celebrates Independence Day on August 17, commemorating the country’s independence from the Dutch. Offices, vehicles and homes are usually festooned with red and white flags in the weeks leading up to the holiday.
