El Presidente and Prabowo: A Reflection on Power and Oligarchy

The video game series Far Cry 6 centers on a fictional nation named Yara (heavily inspired by Cuba), ruled with an iron fist by a dictator known as El Presidente. Through highly centralized policies, the state monopolizes natural resources and blatantly exploits its citizens. All of this is masked by manipulative rhetoric claiming that full civic participation will usher in prosperity, when in reality, it serves only the interests of a select elite. Through the eyes of the protagonist, Dani Rojas, players are called to join a rebel faction to overthrow the regime. This resistance is born out of deep disillusionment with sweet campaign promises that ultimately translated into public deception, the silencing of the press, and the funding of paid propagandists to launder the state’s image on the global stage.

The rebel faction, Libertad, subsequently launches an underground movement, uniting various groups to dismantle this absolute power. Naturally, this struggle demands a steep price. El Presidente’s regime retaliates with sheer brutality: from massacres and the forced disappearances of journalists to systematic intimidation. Ultimately, Dani and Libertad succeed in toppling the dictator. However, the narrative concludes with a bitter truth: the fall of the old ruler merely creates a vacuum for new opportunists eager to seize the throne. It serves as a stark reminder that overthrowing one authoritarian regime often only gives rise to a similar one wearing a different face.

This dystopian narrative feels strikingly relevant to the current socio-political dynamics in Indonesia under the Prabowo-Gibran administration. Although democratically elected through a process paved with a myriad of promises, the post-election reality reveals a series of arrogant policies heavily dictated by oligarchic interests. These indications are glaringly apparent in the lack of transparency surrounding fuel price hikes, the depreciation of the Rupiah to historic lows, and the creeping repression of freedom of expression. This climate is further exacerbated by the recent arrests of students and journalists, alongside the use of force by security personnel against demonstrators from the University of Indonesia on June 12th.

by @dimzm5

A sharp irony emerges when contrasting the fictional tale of Yara with the reality unfolding in Indonesia. In Far Cry 6, the citizens share a steadfast collective consciousness regarding the regime’s systemic corruption. They refuse to submit and choose to fight on, even when lured with lucrative government positions or the promise of a lavish lifestyle.

Conversely, Indonesian society finds itself increasingly polarized and fractured. On one hand, many remain resolute in their fight for the people’s rights. On the other hand, a significant number have chosen silence, easily co-opted after tapping into the flow of funds from government initiatives, such as the budget from the National Nutrition Agency. The funds intended for the Free Nutritious Meals (Makan Bergizi Gratis or MBG) program have allegedly failed to reach the marginalized communities that genuinely need them. Even more alarming, certain factions consciously turn a blind eye, continuing to champion a program that is heavily tainted with indications of money laundering as a genuine, pro-people policy.