Indonesia space institute under siege by flat Earthers

JAKARTA: As the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (Lapan) strives to advance the country’s technology and aeronautical field, it faces an anachronistic problem that has been emerging recently: flat Earth believers.

The group, which became a social media phenomenon last year, believes the Earth is flat instead of round. Its members often cite modern conspiracy theories, as well as literal, non-mainstream readings of the holy scriptures, as the basis of their statements.

Believers of the theory have been swarming Lapan’s social media accounts for months, including a Facebook group of which the institution head Thomas Djamaluddin is a member.

Their only purpose: to challenge the simple fact that the Earth is spherical.

This has forced Thomas to purge the group of any users that push this archaic point of view by deleting their comments and blocking them from the group.

“This attempt is meant to (keep) the discussion useful for others to learn (about aeronautics and space). The fairy tale of a flat Earth is a public duping attempt,” Thomas wrote in the group on Oct 9.

Lapan spokesman Christianus Dewanto said on Tuesday that he regretted the appearance of such challenging comments after Lapan had welcomed flat Earthers to its offices for a discussion.

First expressed during the time of the Ancient Greeks, the flat Earth misconception has often reared its head over the centuries.

In Indonesia, the misconception has found its supporters, with a Facebook group named Indonesian Flat Earth Society having attracted more than 20,500 members, as of Tuesday. — The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network