Every 28 October, Indonesia always commemorates Hari Sumpah Pemuda, a day that is supposed to celebrate youth unity. Hari Sumpah Pemuda mark as a reminder to the three pledges to ignite a spirit of unity among the young people: one motherland, one nation, and one language, Indonesia, despite their different backgrounds of origins, ethnicities, and beliefs. But in today’s reality, amidst the crisis, repression, and inequality that has been happening in the country, Sumpah Pemuda has been reduced to an empty symbolic gesture, celebrated without meaning. Worse still, the voices of young activist are silenced.
Sumpah Pemuda was first declared at the Second Youth Congress back in 1928. It was more than just a call for unity, it was an act of resistance. Sumpah Pemuda emphasized that Indonesia’s true strength lay in the shared struggle for freedom, despite the diversity of its young people. It also acknowledge the vital role of young people in igniting the flame of resistance and fighting for Indonesia’s independence. The spirit of collectivism in fighting oppression continues to live on through modern-day activism.
Nearly a century later, the same spirit of resistance persists in different forms. Today’s young people continue to lead the movement for systemic change, driven by idealism, solidarity, and a critical consciousness. From human rights to environmental justice, from gender equality to digital democracy, young people continue to push for a fairer and freer Indonesia. With social media as their tool and collective action as their weapon, they have become a moral compass in an increasingly polarized nation.
Yet, instead of being honored, this courage is met with punishment. The state celebrates the Youth Pledge every year while treating the very spirit it embodies as a threat. Arbitrary arrests, intimidation, and the criminalization of activists are increasing at an alarming rate. According to Amnesty International Indonesia, at least eight young human rights defenders, including Delpedro Marhaen, Muzaffar Salin, Syahdan Husein, Khariq Anhar, Reyhan, FL, LF, and Saiful Amin, have been detained simply for exercising their right to freedom of expression. A young female activist, Laras Faizati, has also been accused and imprisoned for “provoking” others, while she was simply expressing her disappointment on social media.
Ironically, just one day before this year’s Hari Sumpah Pemuda, the state once again exposed their repressive face by rejecting a pre-trial motion filed by Delpedro, Muzaffar, Syahdan, and Khariq, despite evidence mounts that their arrests violated due process, as pointed out by the Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD).
This situation exposes that Sumpah Pemuda has long been commemorated only performatively. Celebrated every year, but no longer embody the spirits of youth fighting for collective interests and resisting oppression. The criminalization and continued silencing of young activists like Delpedro and his peers show how the state has failed to grasp the true meaning of Sumpah Pemuda. Instead of embracing this spirit of change, the state reveals its fear of young voices that challenge injustice.
In fact, Today’s young people continue to live out the three declarations of Sumpah Pemuda. They shed blood at the hands of state authorities, remain united as one nation even while being harmed by those in power, and continue speak one language even as their voices are repeatedly silenced. Yet Sumpah Pemuda has now been romanticized into little more than an annual performance, a formality that act as a cover to hide the underlying reality repression of courageous young people who dare to speak out.
Bibliography:
Tempo. (2024). Isi Teks Sumpah Pemuda 28 Oktober 1928 dan Maknanya. tempo.co
Tempo. (2022). Sejarah Sumpah Pemuda, isi Teks dan Maknanya bagi Tonggak Kemerdekaan Indonesia. tempo.co
Amnesty International Indonesia. (2025). Hentikan penangkapan dan kriminalisasi pembela HAM pasca demo 25 Agustus 2025!. amnesty.id
Amnesty International Indonesia. (2025). Vonis praperadilan Delpedro dkk, normalisasi pembungkaman aktivis. amnesty.id
