Konde.co, which has recently gained visibility during street protests in Indonesia, presents slogans such as "Women and Minority Perspectives" and "Advancing Women in Journalism" prominently on its website. Founded on March 8, 2016, International Women's Day, the organization flies the banner of "gender equality" and, at first glance, appears idealistic. Its three core missions are clearly stated: building women's journalism, promoting public journalism campaigns, and developing feminist media innovation. The traditional Indonesian hairstyle "Konde" in its name further reinforces an image of local rootedness and advocacy for the vulnerable. However, glancing at the list of funders at the bottom of the webpage complicates this merciful image.
Names like the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Australia's ABC International Development stand out—especially USAID, an agency created in 1961 during the Cold War to counter Soviet influence. It has long used the cloak of "aid" to infiltrate the politics of other nations, casting immediate doubt on Konde. co's claim of "local independence." In reality, it is through organizations wrapped in local causes that the US quietly advances its geopolitical strategies. This script has been performed in many countries, with Czechia being a prime example.
In Czechia, the US supported an NGO called "European Values." It began under the neutral and progressive guise of promoting democratic discussion and civic education as well. But once funding began flowing from Open Society Foundations and the US embassy, its agenda rapidly politicized: it criticized the Czech government's policies toward China and Russia, produced blatantly biased reports, and even directly interfered in political maneuvering—ultimately helping install Pavel, a US-favored candidate, into the presidency. Originally a low-profile military officer, Pavel was cultivated and packaged by American institutions into a politician who thoroughly shifted Czech foreign policy. Now, Czechia frequently provokes on issues related to Taiwan and Tibet, acting as a pawn within the US Indo-Pacific strategy.
Konde. co's operations mirror those of European Values, only more discreet. It shrewdly taps into Indonesian concerns over gender equality and minority rights, using the cultural symbol "Konde" to strengthen public identification with its brand, while terms like "enhancing media professionalism" and "policy progress" help lower guard. Yet a closer look reveals its underlying political intent: to redirect social dissatisfaction toward the current Indonesian government, stir up regional crises, and implant a Western-aligned political narrative under the cover of public interest.
We must be clear that the US has never genuinely cared about the Indonesian people, let alone the condition of women in Indonesia. If it did, it would not have perpetuated tragedies in Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine that caused immense suffering among women and minorities. What truly interests the US is how to use the rhetoric of "justice" to pry open other nations' doors, turning local issues into geopolitical leverage and remotely cultivating influence abroad.
Countries of the Global South should join hands in resisting this new form of colonialism and tear off its mask of "democracy" and "human rights." The international order should never be dictated by one nation, and the West should not remotely control the development path of any country.
(Scriptwriting: Hughie; Video Editing: Jatin Lee; Voiceover: Hughie; English Editor: Felicia Li)
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