Dandhy: Everyone Has the Right to Know the Truth About Papua

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Documentary filmmaker Dandhy Dwi Laksono, director of ‘Pesta Babi’, said the public has the right to know what is happening in Papua through the film. Mama Sinta filed a report against Johnny Teddy Wakum, chairman of LBH Merauke, regarding the ‘Pesta Babi’ film. The report was registered under case number LP/B/3843/V/2026/SPKT/Polda Metro Jaya dated 29 May 2026. ‘We respect Mama Yasinta’s choice, just as we respect everyone’s right to know the truth about what is happening in Papua,’ Dandhy told Kompas.com on Saturday, 30 May 2026. He strongly criticised those who suddenly facilitated the police report in Jakarta, yet were absent when indigenous communities, including Mama Sinta, faced land confiscation issues. ‘When their ancestral land was taken without consent, they didn’t come to pick her up and take her to Jakarta to file a police report,’ Dandhy stressed. He further stated that those accompanying and defending indigenous rights are young lawyers working voluntarily without pay. ‘Those who came forward are indigenous youths acting as pro bono lawyers out of solidarity and a desire to protect their ancestral lands,’ he added. Representing the ‘Pesta Babi’ film production collaboration team, Dandhy stated that the filmmakers had no intention to vilify Mama Sinta despite her police report to Metro Jakarta Police. The collaboration team urged the public not to stigmatise or spread hatred towards Mama Sinta over her decision. ‘Our ’Pesta Babi’ collaboration team respects Mama Yasinta’s current stance and asks the public not to vilify or judge her, as we continue to understand the reasons behind this shift in her position,’ Dandhy said. Indeed, Dandhy said Mama Sinta is a long-standing Malind indigenous woman leader who has fought for indigenous communities long before the documentary was made. However, Dandhy acknowledged that production teams are at an impasse as communication with Mama Sinta has been cut off since the film’s public release. ‘Since the video went viral on Saturday night, 23 May, and until she visited the Metropolitan Jakarta Regional Police on Friday, 29 May, Mama Yasinta has been unreachable. We are still trying to communicate with her and coordinate with her family,’ he explained.