Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day arrived with all the familiar trappings of patriotism, from polished state ceremonies to spirited neighborhood fun games. Yet beneath the celebratory veneer lay an uneasy reality. Punctuated by sharp political satire, street protests, a devastating earthquake in Flores, and ongoing violence in Papua, the occasion prompted a nagging question: Who is actually experiencing the promise of independence?

President Prabowo Subianto has given his government an "OK" report card as it nears two years in office, but not everyone agrees, with some civil society groups raising white…

Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day arrived with all the familiar trappings of patriotism, from polished state ceremonies to spirited neighborhood fun games. Yet beneath the…