KSAD Denies Ordering the Ban on the Pesta Babi Screening: It Was the Local Government

Jakarta, VIVA – The Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General TNI Maruli Simanjuntak has stressed that there was no instruction to disband a group screening (nobar) of the Pesta Babi documentary. He said the disbandment was carried out at the request of the regional government (Pemda).

“That is really just to be asked clearly, because there was a disbandment from the regional government for the security of the area. That is the responsibility of the regional coordinator, between government officials there who think there is a risk of unrest. Yes, it is them, there was no direct instruction,” Maruli told reporters at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, 19 May 2026.

“Not the TNI. It is the regional government; the regional government decided on that, so there is no instruction, you know,” he added.

Maruli stated that his side did not have an issue with the film Pesta Babi. Moreover, he said, there are many good programmes for the public that the TNI has already carried out.

“People have their opinions, please go ahead, but I also dare say that our programmes are also many. Those are people’s opinions that we are employing in this way—this is not the TNI’s interest. It is a reserve for the country,” he said.

For information, the documentary film Pesta Babi has recently been widely discussed by the public. The film has sparked debate because it raises issues of the indigenous communities in Papua.

It is not only about its storyline; this documentary has been widely discussed after incidents of banning screenings in several regions. For instance, in Ternate. The screening of this documentary was banned by the TNI.

Various reasons for banning screenings have been given, ranging from permit issues to the film’s narrative that is deemed provocative. Amid the heated discussion about this documentary, what exactly does the documentary Pesta Babi discuss overall? Here is its summary.

Pesta Babi is a documentary directed by Dandhy Dwi Laksono and Cypri Dale that tells the struggle of the indigenous communities in South Papua against government and corporate projects that transform their forests and customary lands into oil palm, sugar, and large-scale food projects.