Dandhy Invites TNI and Police to Watch and Discuss the Film 'Pesta Babi'

Documentary filmmaker Dandhy Dwi Laksono, director of the film titled “Pesta Babi”, has invited ranks, including TNI and Police leaders, to watch and discuss the film “Pesta Babi”, which is considered to have created uproar and is provocative.

He said that if his film is deemed to discredit, why do the TNI and Police not prove it and seek direct explanations from the director, rather than carrying out forced dispersals.

“I would be happy to come if someone facilitates this,” Dandhy told Tempo via voice message on Sunday, 10 May 2026.

However, he conditioned that the location of the joint viewing event attended by TNI-Police ranks should be in a place that can also be accessed by the public.

The aim is for the wider community to also understand the meaning and message behind the making of this approximately 90-minute documentary film.

“So, let’s watch together and discuss, whether TNI, Police leaders, Ministry of Defence officials, or those involved in projects in Papua; we happily invite them,” he said.

Previously, forced dispersal actions of joint viewing and discussion events for the film “Pesta Babi” occurred in several regions in Indonesia. In Ternate, North Maluku, the event was forcibly dispersed by soldiers from the Ternate 1501 Military District Command.

The Commander of Kodim 1501/Ternate, Lieutenant Colonel Jani Setiadi, reasoned that the dispersal was based on discourses and complaints on social media that considered the film “Pesta Babi” provocative.

“This is not my personal opinion. If you don’t believe it, I will show many provocative traits according to the public, according to social media,” said Jani in Ternate on Friday, 8 May 2026.

Meanwhile, in West Nusa Tenggara, three universities banned the joint viewing and discussion event for this film. The three universities in question are the State Islamic University of Mataram; Mandalika University; and Mataram University.

At Mataram University, for example, the event was dispersed before the film “Pesta Babi” was screened by the organisers. The Vice Rector III of Mataram University, Sujita, said that the screening was not permitted without any reason.

She claimed to have watched the film and concluded that its content was inappropriate to be shown in the campus environment. Because, its content was deemed to discredit the Indonesian government.

Therefore, she said, based on a joint decision, Mataram University rejected the screening of “Pesta Babi” for reasons of maintaining campus conduciveness.

“This film is not good to watch, it’s better to have a joint viewing of football,” said Sujita at Mataram University on 7 May 2026.

Tempo has sent a confirmation message to the Head of the TNI Headquarters Information Centre, Major General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah, regarding the invitation for joint viewing and discussion of the film “Pesta Babi”. However, until this report was published, Aulia has not responded to the message.

The documentary film “Pesta Babi” depicts the impact of land expansion and industry on the loss of customary forests, traditional food, and local sovereignty in Papua.

The film spotlights the struggles of indigenous communities in Papua, such as in Merauke, Boven Digoel, and Mappi, against expansion and military involvement in national strategic projects (PSN).