One day, a celebrity walks into a government building wearing casual clothes, and social media erupts. The next, another public figure is suddenly named an ambassador (“duta”) for something completely unrelated to their expertise. Meanwhile, behind the trending hashtags and viral distractions, real issues persist; corruption cases get quietly dismissed, activists are arrested, and ordinary citizens face injustice with little hope for accountability.

But while some people debate whether a crop top belong in the DPR, another conversation is happening online: should we fight back, or is it safer to run? That’s where two viral hashtags come in, #KaburAjaDulu (just run first) and #LawanAjaDulu (just fight first). On the surface, they seem like harmless internet slang, used jokingly for bad jobs, failed relationships, or uncomfortable situations. But beneath the humor, they reveal something deeper and more unsettling about how Indonesians perceive justice.

For some, #KaburAjaDulu isn’t just a joke, it’s a survival strategy. It reflects a belief that speaking up leads to nothing, or worse, backfires. Whistleblowers, victims of injustice, and even ordinary people feel they must flee, well, not because they are guilty, but because they know the system won’t protect them.