NTB Provincial Government and Unram Rector Explain Dissolution of 'Pig Feast' Documentary Screening

The screening events (nobar) for the documentary film ‘Pig Feast’ by Dandhy Laksono and colleagues at several campuses in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) have been disbanded. The NTB Provincial Government (Pemprov NTB) has responded to the widespread dissolutions.

On Thursday night (7/5), the nobar at the University of Mataram (Unram) was disbanded by the rectorate. A day later, a similar dissolution was carried out by the Rectorate of the State Islamic University (UIN) Mataram on Friday night (8/5). Prior to that, the dissolution of the ‘Pig Feast’ film nobar also occurred at the Mandalika Education University (Undikma) Mataram on Monday (27/4).

Head of the National Unity and Politics Agency (Bakesbangpol) NTB, Surya Bahari, admitted to having coordinated with Undikma and Unram regarding the disbandment of the film nobar. According to him, the dissolution step was taken by the campus authorities considering the impacts that could arise.

“If left unchecked, the impact would be extraordinary if indeed allowed. We have coordinated with Undikma and the rectorate. So, internal coordination first,” said the former NTB DPRD Secretary on Monday (11/5/2026).

Not Banned, NTB Provincial Government Asks for Postponement

Surya emphasised that Pemprov NTB has not issued a specific ban regarding the screening of the film in the community. However, he suggested that group or open screenings of the film be postponed for the time being.

“So, there is no specific ban. But postpone it first. We are concerned about the impact. There is no instruction from the centre yet for a ban,” he said.

According to Surya, the title of the film ‘Pig Feast’ is considered to have an indelicate impression in society. Therefore, he asked parties wishing to hold open screenings to postpone them first.

“Just mentioning the film’s name gives a different impression. It’s just not proper,” he said.

Coordination with TNI-Polri

Surya also admitted that he would coordinate with the Mataram IX/2 Military Police Detachment and the NTB Regional Police to determine whether the screening of Dandhy Laksono’s film needs to be banned or not.

“We also conveyed to Denpom IX/2 Mataram what the film is actually like. Because the title is not good in my opinion. I haven’t watched it yet,” he said.

He admitted wanting to watch the film first before giving an official statement regarding its content.

“Later, I’ll request the film and then we’ll make an official statement. If there’s a ban on campus, that’s still internal to the campus,” Surya stressed.

Reasons for Rector’s Dissolution

Rector of the University of Mataram, Sukardi, spoke out regarding the disbandment of students screening the ‘Pig Feast’ film in front of the Student Activity Unit (UKM) Building on Thursday night (7/5).

According to Sukardi, the disbandment was carried out because the organisers did not provide detailed information regarding the activity plan, including the type of activity and the number of participants who would be involved in the nobar.

“So, to anticipate order and the disbandment of the audience was done after the number of people gathered was very large, including those who are not Unram students,” he said.

Sukardi claimed that at the same time, students from the Unram Faculty of Engineering were also holding a nobar of the same film and did not receive any reprimand from the rectorate.

“So, the disbandment was purely for reasons of order and not to silence expression. So, this incident can serve as material for evaluation for all of us for improving activity organisation in the Unram environment,” he emphasised.

Dissolution at Unram

Previously, the nobar event for the documentary film ‘Pig Feast’ on the Unram campus was disbanded. The rectorate stated that the documentary, which examines the impacts of deforestation to the seizure of customary land in Papua, is not suitable for viewing.

Observations at the location showed that the disbandment occurred before the film could be shown around 18:55 WITA on Thursday (7/5/2026). Unram’s Vice Rector III for Student Affairs, Sujita, along with dozens of security guards, arrived at the nobar location and asked the students to cancel the film screening.

“I think this film is not good to watch,” said Sujita.

Sujita said the disbandment of the ‘Pig Feast’ film nobar was carried out on the orders of Unram Rector Sukardi. She suggested that the students watch a football match or other films instead.

“I refuse to maintain conduciveness and so there is no offence between us,” said Sujita.

“Better to watch other films or football,” she added.

The nobar organiser, Haerul Ikhwan Ali, felt disappointed with the disbandment of the activity. According to him, the stance of the Unram Rectorate does not align with the principles of freedom of expression in the campus environment.

“Unram rejects the screening of the ‘Pig Feast’ film without any clear reasons or legal basis,” said Ikhwan, who is also the General Leader (Pemum) of the Unram Student Press Agency (LPM) MEDIA.

Ikhwan said the ‘Pig Feast’ nobar activity was forced to be moved off-campus. According to him, hundreds of people had already come and wanted to watch the documentary.

“Hundreds of people have already come to watch, for safety reasons, we had to move it off-campus,” concluded the Faculty of Law student.

The documentary film ‘Pig Feast’ directed by Dandhy D Laksono highlights the loss of forests in Papua due to conversion into industrial plantations under the guise of food security and energy transition. The film also records the struggles of the Papuan people in defending their ancestral lands.