TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bayu Wardhana, the secretary general of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia, demanded an apology from President Prabowo Subianto for likening journalists to 'londo ireng' (black Dutch), which he deemed discredits journalists as a critical group.
The term 'londo ireng' in Prabowo's remark refers to traitors, defectors, or parties who prioritize foreign interests over their own nation.
"The President is advised to apologize for this and improve his speeches," Bayu said via WhatsApp on Friday, July 24, 2026.
According to Bayu, labeling journalists as 'londo ireng' is baseless, since they work to report facts, not foreign interests. For example, when journalists report on food poisoning cases in Prabowo's flagship free nutritious meal program.
He urged the head of state to view the reporting as constructive criticism, rather than a personal attack. "Don't attack the messangers, but make improvements on the poor facts, for example, by improving the management of the free nutritious meal program," he said.
According to Bayu, Prabowo's remarks about journalists and other critics being 'londo ireng' are on par with lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea's insult to journalists a while time ago. Thus, he urged Prabowo to improve his speeches and issue an open apology.
Prabowo delivered the statement during a speech at the peak event marking the 28th anniversary of the National Awakening Party (PKB) on Thursday, July 23, 2026.
"We know there are Indonesians who are happy to serve and devote themselves to other nations. That is what we used to call 'londo ireng,' who fought with the Dutch against us," said Prabowo at the Jakarta Convention Center, Jakarta, on Thursday night, July 23, 2026.
"These 'londo ireng' are still around, except now they wear different clothes. [They are] journalists, observers, activists, NGOs [non-governmental organizations]," he added.
Prabowo also criticized journalists for reporting on collapsed schools even though the government had repaired 67,000 other schools throughout the year. According to him, journalists intentionally sought the government's shortcomings by reporting only negative things.
"Oh, they think we don't understand, I won't mention which media. If I did, you would already know. We are a democratic country, we are not against criticism, but we are not children."
Read: Prabowo Accuses Critics, Journalists of Being 'Londo Ireng'
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