Importance Score: 72 / 100 🔴
Doctored Video Misrepresents Politician’s Speech Amidst Indonesia Military Law Protests
A viral video circulating online has been falsely claiming that Indonesian politician Adian Napitupulu incited student rallies against the newly enacted military law in Indonesia. The misleading posts surfaced in March, coinciding with widespread protests. However, the footage actually captures Napitupulu delivering a speech in February, expressing support for a party leader under investigation for corruption. This misinformation attempts to link Napitupulu and his party, PDIP, to the demonstrations against the controversial legislation.
The deceptive online posts, shared on platforms like SnackVideo starting March 26, 2025, feature Indonesian text superimposed on the clip. The text falsely asserts: “Adian Napitupulu will mobilise even more students. It turns out that a PDIP member is the one behind the protest against the TNI Bill.”
In the video, Napitupulu can be heard addressing a crowd, saying, “Freedom! Freedom! Ladies and gentlemen, all comrades in struggle, thank you for your effort and patience since this morning.”
This audio is overlaid on a static image of demonstrators protesting the TNI (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, or Indonesian Military) bill, which was officially passed into law on March 20.
The legislation, primarily championed by President Prabowo Subianto’s coalition, broadens the military’s mandate beyond national defense.
Critics argue the new law raises concerns about a resurgence of authoritarian practices reminiscent of the Suharto era. During Suharto’s rule, former General Prabowo served, and the military was often used to suppress dissent.
Napitupulu’s political party, PDIP, initially voiced opposition to the bill but later shifted to support the amendments. Puan Maharani, the Speaker of the House and daughter of PDIP chair Megawati Sukarnoputri, formally endorsed the legislation.
Screenshot of the false post, taken April 4, 2025
User comments suggest widespread belief in these deceptive posts across SnackVideo and TikTok, with some garnering tens of thousands of views.
One user commented, “This is PDIP’s plan, they want to overthrow President Prabowo Subianto,” while another urged, “Arrest these people immediately, they are clearly provocateurs.”
Speech Unrelated to Military Law Protests
A reverse image search utilizing keyframes from the viral video led to an authentic news report featuring similar footage. The report, published by Indonesian media outlet Viva on February 20, 2025, clarifies the actual context of Napitupulu’s remarks.
The YouTube video from Viva is titled: “[FULL] Adian Speaks in Front of the KPK After Hasto Becomes a Suspect.”
The video depicts Adian Napitupulu advocating for the release of Hasto Kristiyanto, a high-ranking PDIP official who had been detained for allegedly obstructing an inquiry into a bribery case involving a party member.
Screenshot comparison of the false post (L) and the news report from February
In the video, Napitupulu is further heard stating, “This shows our secretary general that he is not alone. That he is not walking alone, not fighting alone.”
He continues, “Our presence from this afternoon until tonight sends a message to our chairperson that PDIP remains united. We can still stand together.”
Crucially, at no point in the speech does Napitupulu reference the revisions to Indonesia’s military law.
Protest Image Origin
KompasTV, another Indonesian media outlet, also documented the February protest from a different perspective, providing further confirmation of the video’s context.
Additional reverse image searches revealed that the photograph used in the misleading posts originated from a CNN Indonesia news report dated March 24, 2025.
That CNN Indonesia report covered demonstrations against the military law that occurred in Surabaya, a major port city, highlighting the chaotic nature of those protests.
Screenshot comparison of the picture in the false posts (L) and the photo in CNN Indonesia’s report