MTI Condemns 'Londo Ireng' Rhetoric, Reminds That Criticism Is the Oxygen of Democracy

The use of the term ‘londo ireng’ by President Prabowo Subianto during a speech at the 28th PKB Anniversary in JCC Senayan on 23 July 2026, directed at reporters, journalists, analysts, and non-governmental organisations, has triggered a wave of deep concern from civil society. The narrative is considered not merely a slip of the tongue, but the peak of a recurring pattern of delegitimising critical voices throughout nearly two years of his leadership. Masyarakat Transparansi Indonesia (MTI) assesses that the fundamental problem with the statement lies not solely in the legality of the utterance, but in its highly destructive implications for the quality of democracy. Such demeaning labelling systematically shifts the focus from the substance of criticism to suspicion of the critic’s motives, which in turn narrows the space for public participation as a primary prerequisite for the accountability of power. ‘Criticism is the oxygen of democracy, not betrayal,’ said MTI Executive Director Ahmad Jilul Qurani Farid on Saturday (25/7/2026). He stated that when the head of state repeatedly labels journalists, academics, and civil society organisations as ‘londo ireng’ or ‘foreign stooges’, what occurs is no longer a clash of ideas, but a systematic effort to delegitimise public oversight. MTI noted that the ‘londo ireng’ incident is not an isolated event. Based on a search of mainstream media reports, there are at least seven documented episodes where the President has directed negative labels, political insults, or stigmatising accusations at his own citizens since taking office in October 2024. This pattern spans from accusations of being ‘foreign stooges’ at the Gerindra Party anniversary on 15 February 2025 and during a briefing for Sekolah Rakyat teachers on 22 August 2025, to questioning whether protesters opposing the TNI Law in Hambalang on 6 April 2025 were ‘genuine or paid’. It also includes accusations of divisive ‘foreign powers’ at the Pancasila Anniversary on 2 June 2025, allegations of ‘treason and terrorism’ during the August 2025 demonstrations on 31 August 2025, the claim ‘I know who paid for the demo’ at PENAS XVII Gorontalo on 24 June 2026, culminating in the ‘londo ireng’ diction at the PKB Anniversary on 23 July 2026.