Controversy over the Use of the Term Londo Ireng and its Impact on Society

JAKARTA - The mention of Londo Ireng uttered by President Prabowo Subianto has shaken the public. A number of observers consider this statement to be degrading, insulting, and delegitimizing the profession of journalists in the field.

"The Ireng londo-londo is still there until now. Only he is now wearing another shirt, right? What is a journalist, journalist? Observer, NGO. We have to ask the NGO, who is your salary? Who pays your electricity? Who pays your cellphone? "Said Prabowo in his speech at the 28th PKB Summit, on July 23.

Prabowo's statement immediately sparked a debate among the public. The Londo Ireng that Prabowo expressed was identical to the enemy in the blanket, or Indonesian people who were not patriotic. Political communication expert at Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang Zen Amirudin said that the use of this phrase was not just a choice of words, but a political metaphor that contained historical and psychological meanings.

In the midst of the controversy about Londo Ireng lately, the term has a very long history. You could say, it has taken root since the Dutch colonial period in Indonesia.

Literally, Londo Ireng can mean black Netherlands. In the old days, the colonialists, especially the Dutch, were called Londo, while ireng in Javanese means black. However, the term is not intended for native Dutch, but for soldiers from West Africa who served in the Dutch East Indies Army (KNIL) in the 19th century.

They are known as Zwarte Hollanders or Black Dutch in Dutch. These soldiers came from the Dutch Gold Coast region, which is now part of Ghana, as well as a number of other West African regions such as Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Ivory Coast, and Benin.

Over time, the meaning of the term has evolved. Londo Ireng is more often used as a metaphor to describe someone who is considered to defend the interests of foreign parties more than the interests of his own people.

The use of this term is usually found in social criticism and political statements, so that its meaning is no longer directly related to ethnic identity.

Political communication expert at Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) Zen Amirudin said that in its development, the use of the term Londo Ireng is often associated with the image of an enemy in a blanket.

The term, said Zen, not only refers to the past history, but also becomes a political metaphor that carries a message about betrayal from within one's own group.

"This metaphor evokes the collective memory of the nation about the trauma of betrayal from within," Zen said, quoted by the UMM website.

"When a head of state uses it, the message becomes very clear, namely the existence of domestic actors who consciously or unconsciously facilitate foreign domination and harm the sovereignty of the nation," continued Zen.

He continued, in political communication, the use of this kind of term has a certain impact, especially when directed to civil society groups that carry out oversight functions of the government.

In the current political developments, groups such as journalists, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and activists often face accusations of bringing foreign interests when criticizing the government.

Labeling like that, according to Zen, needs to be wary because it can affect public confidence in civil society groups that have a role as a watchdog of the government.

"State sovereignty must indeed be guarded from foreign infiltration. However, do not let every critical voice from journalists and NGOs be easily simplified as Londo Ireng actions. A healthy democracy requires an objective check and balances mechanism," he concluded.

In the end, Londo Ireng has a meaning that is meaningful according to the context of its use. Historically, this term is actually related to a group that helps colonialism, while in the modern political realm the term is often used as a symbol to describe parties that are considered not in line with national interests.