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| Flag of Indonesia | |
|---|---|
| Name | Flag of Indonesia |
| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Adoption | 17 August 1945 |
| Design | A horizontal bicolor of red (top) and white (bottom) |
| Designer | Unknown (derived from historical banners) |
Flag of Indonesia.
The national banner of the Republic of Indonesia is a horizontal bicolor of red over white with a proportion commonly reproduced as 2:3; it is a primary symbol of Indonesian identity alongside Coat of arms of Indonesia, National anthem of Indonesia, Pancasila, Jakarta and the declaration of independence on 17 August 1945. The flag appears at state ceremonies in venues such as the Istana Merdeka, military parades involving Tentara Nasional Indonesia, and sporting events under delegations like the Indonesian Olympic Committee.
The flag's simple two-color composition—red above white—parallels historic standards from the Majapahit Empire and maritime banners used in the Dutch East Indies era; the red has been interpreted as representing courage linked to figures such as Sutan Sjahrir and Sukarno, while the white is associated with purity and is evoked in symbols like the Garuda Pancasila. Artistic treatments reference textile traditions from regions including Java, Sumatra, Bali and Kalimantan, and echo motifs found in royal insignia of Majapahit and travel accounts by explorers such as F. R. van der Palm. The flag's colors are also shared with neighbouring national flags like Poland, Monaco, and historic banners of Naples—a fact discussed in diplomatic exchanges involving ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Indonesia) and regional protocols within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Pre-modern and colonial histories feature red-and-white standards among polities like Majapahit Empire, sultanates of Aceh, Sultanate of Ternate and trading ports of Banten and Cirebon, with references in records by Tomé Pires and Marco Polo. During the Dutch colonial period under the Dutch East India Company and later the Dutch East Indies, various flags including the Prince's Flag and the Stadtholder's Flag were used, sparking nationalist responses by activists such as Sukarno, Mohammad Hatta, Tan Malaka, and commuter associations in Batavia and Surabaya. The modern adoption occurred amid the Indonesian National Revolution and diplomatic negotiations with the Netherlands culminating in events like the Linggadjati Agreement and later the Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference.
On 17 August 1945, leaders including Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta raised the red-and-white during the proclamation of independence at a ceremony in Jakarta near the Jakarta Railway Station and the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence locale. Legal codification followed through decrees by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and later statutes administered by ministries including the Ministry of Home Affairs (Indonesia) and Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Indonesia), with specifications on dimensions, color shades, and display in regulation documents analogous to conservations conducted by institutions such as the National Archives of Indonesia and the Supreme Court of Indonesia when resolving disputes over misuse and reproduction.
Variants include naval jacks and war ensigns used by the Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Laut), civil ensigns for merchant fleets registered with the Directorate General of Sea Transportation, and provincial or municipal banners for regions like West Java, East Java, Central Java, Aceh and Papua. The Presidential standard used at the Istana Negara differs by inclusion of the Garuda Pancasila emblem and ringed ornamentation similar to presidential flags of states such as France and United States. The flag also appears in institutional forms for organizations including Indonesian Red Cross Society, Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana and student groups such as those from Universitas Indonesia and Institut Teknologi Bandung.
Regulations govern hoisting at national ceremonies like the anniversary of independence at the Monas and regional commemorations in Bali and Yogyakarta; protocol prescribes half-mast procedures during national mourning decreed by the President of Indonesia and coordination with agencies such as Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana for disaster response ceremonies. Traditions include flag-raising drills by cadets of institutions like Sekolah Calon Perwira and Taruna Nusantara, and ceremonial practices mirrored in diplomatic receptions at missions such as the Embassy of Indonesia, The Hague and the Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations.
The red-and-white motif pervades popular culture from folk performances like wayang kulit and regional textiles such as ikat and batik to contemporary art exhibitions at venues including the National Gallery of Indonesia and the Jakarta Arts Council. The flag features in literature by authors like Pramoedya Ananta Toer and appears in films produced by studios such as Perfini and directors like Usmar Ismail. It functions as a political symbol during movements involving parties like Partai Nasional Indonesia and protests in cities like Surabaya and Medan, and is used in commercial branding by corporations including Garuda Indonesia and sporting identities like Persija Jakarta; international portrayals occur in diplomatic exchanges with states such as Australia, Japan, United States and China.
Category:Flags of Indonesia