Black September Issue: Observer Confident National Police Can Maintain National Security
Political and intelligence issues analyst, Boni Hargens, believes that the ‘Black September’ issue is not surprising, as the narrative did not emerge suddenly without basis. He stated that September is a month that historically holds strong emotional and political resonance for the Indonesian nation.
“The month of September is indeed laden with important historical moments in Indonesia, and that is precisely what attracts certain parties to exploit them,” Boni told reporters in Jakarta on Friday, 18 September 2026.
Boni Hargens emphasised that many significant events in Indonesian history occurred in September, making it a symbol that is easily exploited for specific agendas.
“One example is the Semanggi II Tragedy (24 September 1999), which involved large-scale student demonstrations opposing the Draft Law on the Management of Emergency Situations (RUU PKB). The protests were met with a repressive response from authorities, resulting in the deaths of several students, including Yap Yun Hap from the University of Indonesia,” he noted.
Boni Hargens suggested that masterminds and actors may be using this historical framework to provide legitimacy or a sense of shock to their planned actions. He also believes that the naming of “Black September” is designed to trigger public anxiety and create psychological pressure that exceeds the actual scale of any planned movement.
Boni provided two key arguments as to why the public should not fall into excessive anxiety regarding this discourse.
His first reason is that security forces are already experienced. The National Police (Polri), alongside the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), possess a strong track record in handling political unrest.
“The second reason is that fear actually strengthens the movement itself. Excessive fear regarding the Black September discourse only reinforces the effect of the movement. The narrative of fear is part of the destabilisation strategy that the perpetrators aim to achieve,” Boni continued.
The Black September discourse is a phenomenon that needs to be understood proportionally—not ignored entirely, but also not exaggerated to the point of causing counterproductive social anxiety.
“Even though this discourse utilises historical moments, it is not an indication of an unmanageable threat. Rest assured, Polri, BIN, and TNI have proven capabilities and experience in maintaining national security,” he concluded.