Military Commander Disbands Pig Feast Film Screening in Ternate, Komnas HAM: Not TNI's Authority
Several TNI personnel reportedly disbanded a watch-together (nobar) event for the film Pig Feast in Ternate, North Maluku, on Friday (8/5/2026). The disbandment was carried out directly by Commander of Military District 1501/Ternate, Colonel Inf Jani Setiadi.
In an Instagram post from the account @wachtdoc_insta, Jani claimed to have monitored social media regarding numerous rejections of the film by Dandhy Laksono and Cypri Dale, which depicts the struggles of indigenous Papuan communities and is considered provocative.
“What I highlighted was its provocative title. The provocative banner. That’s all,” he said while halting the screening held at Benteng Oranje in Ternate.
In his statement, it was noted that the nobar event was ultimately disbanded by the TNI. The reason for the disbandment was cited as an effort to maintain conducive conditions.
Chair of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), Anis Hidayah, stated that the film is a work of art inseparable from freedom of expression. The nobar event was also described as part of freedom of opinion and expression.
“It shouldn’t have been disbanded, and the government shouldn’t be reactive. In this case, the TNI has no authority to disband a community watch-together event, and usually after a nobar, there’s a discussion,” she told reporters on Sunday (10/5/2026).
According to her, the TNI’s action in disbanding the nobar event constitutes a desecration of democracy. This is because all such activities are considered protected by the constitution.
“Things like this shouldn’t happen; society should have a safe space to watch films and discuss, as it’s part of rights guaranteed in the constitution,” she said.
Pig Feast is known as a documentary film by Dandhy Laksono and Cypri Dale that discusses indigenous land conflicts and environmental damage in South Papua. The film highlights indigenous resistance against major government and corporate projects.