Indonesia has reportedly filed a formal protest with the United Kingdom following an incident involving British adult film actress Tia Emma Billinger, also known as Bonnie Blue, which was deemed to have desecrated Indonesia’s national Red and White flag at the Indonesian Embassy in London.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang said the incident took place on Dec 15 and circulated widely on social media, prompting the Indonesian Embassy in London to report the matter to the UK Foreign Office and local police, according to Indonesian news agency Antara.
Mewengkang said Indonesia deeply regretted the incident and emphasised that the national flag is a symbol of the country’s sovereignty, dignity and honour, and must be respected at all times, including overseas.
She added that freedom of expression cannot be used as a justification for actions that insult national symbols or undermine mutual respect in international relations, while also calling on the public to remain calm.
Billinger was deported from Indonesia earlier this month and banned from re-entering the country for 10 years over immigration violations linked to a separate case in Bali.
Although authorities later found no evidence that she had violated Indonesia’s Pornography Law, immigration officials said the ban was imposed after determining that Billinger and her associates had produced commercial content while holding visitor visas. The move, they said, was part of efforts to protect Bali’s tourism image and uphold local cultural values.
