Megawati Says She Wept Watching "Pig Festival" Documentary Film
The Chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Megawati Soekarnoputri, expressed deep sadness about Indonesia’s current condition after watching the documentary film “Pesta Babi: Colonialism in Our Time.” She shared this sentiment whilst speaking at the National Policy Dialogue forum titled “Maritime Sovereignty Based on Marine Biological Wealth: Orchestrating Knowledge, Innovation, and Geopolitics in Indonesia’s Blue Economy” at the Senate Hall of Universitas Gadjah Mada on Friday, 22 May 2026.
At the forum, Megawati highlighted various environmental issues and national development directions that she believes increasingly depart from the spirit of national sovereignty. She criticised the extractive approach to managing natural resources, which she argued has caused environmental damage, agricultural land conversion, and neglected indigenous peoples’ rights. She emphasised the importance of respecting customary law and the rights of local communities in natural resource management.
“I cried yesterday watching the Pesta Babi film. It is true. How many forests have been converted into only palm oil plantations, for what purpose? There are traditional practices there, there is customary law, there are territorial laws. They ask to be respected, is that wrong?” she stated, as quoted by UGM on Sunday, 24 May 2026.
According to Megawati, as a great nation, Indonesia must possess food sovereignty and be able to manage national natural resources independently. However, national development must be directed towards sustainability. She advocated for reviving the concept of planned universal development to maintain continuity of the nation’s development vision. “If the president changes, development direction should not change entirely. We must have a long-term development pattern for the nation’s future,” she said.
The documentary film “Pesta Babi” depicts the impact of land and industrial expansion on the loss of indigenous forests, traditional food sources, and the sovereignty of local citizens in Papua. The approximately 90-minute film, directed by Dandy Dwi Laksono and Cypri Jehan Paju Dale, highlights the struggle of indigenous communities in Papua, such as in Merauke, Boven Digoel, and Mappi, against expansion and military involvement in national strategic projects.
The screenings of “Pesta Babi” in various regions have been marked by intimidation from military personnel and local officials through forced dispersal of film screenings and discussions. At Universitas Mataram, the Vice Rector III Sujita banned the film from being shown on campus, stating that the documentary’s content discredits the government. “This film is not good to watch; it is better to watch football,” Sujita said at Universitas Mataram on 7 May 2026.
In contrast to Megawati, PDIP Central Leadership Council Chairwoman Puan Maharani, who was the previous Chair of the House of Representatives, stated that the forced dispersal of film screenings related to the sensitive content of “Pesta Babi.” She acknowledged the film’s title and content are indeed sensitive but admitted she had not watched it. Nevertheless, Puan said parliament would follow up by requesting an explanation from the filmmakers regarding the documentary.