Papua Advisory Board: Papua Is Not Empty Land
A member of the Steering Committee for the Acceleration of Special Autonomy Development in Papua Province, Alberth Yoku, has highlighted the film ‘Pesta Babi’ (Pig Party) as a reflection of the failure to understand indigenous communities in Papua’s development. According to him, development that ignores customary land rights and local culture will only provoke community resistance.
The Papuan religious figure stressed that every piece of land, river, mountain, beach, and forest has a name, history, and value that must be respected before the government or investors carry out development programmes. ‘Papua is not empty land. The land belongs to clans and extended families, to tribal chiefs and their people. There are even guardians there,’ Alberth asserted while delivering his remarks at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, Ciputat, South Tangerang, on Wednesday, 29 July 2026.
Alberth said the government cannot implement development unilaterally without involving indigenous communities as the owners of the territory. He stressed that every programme must begin with respect for customary land rights to avoid conflict or rejection. He argued that indigenous communities should be positioned as partners in development, not merely as affected parties. The people of Papua, he said, can contribute land and natural resources as capital.
Meanwhile, he continued, the government or business actors would contribute programmes and capital within a partnership scheme. The capital Alberth referred to includes funds, technology, and equipment related to the partnership. ‘We (the Papuan people) will contribute land, fish, shrimp, gold, timber, stone, and sand as capital,’ he said.
On a separate occasion, the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) has yet to decide on a protection request submitted by Papuan indigenous figure Yasinta Moiwend, known as Mama Yasinta. LPSK Deputy Chair Sri Suparyati said the agency is still reviewing the request. ‘There is no decision yet,’ Sri said when contacted on Sunday, 14 June 2026.
Mama Yasinta submitted the protection request on Friday, 5 June 2026. Previously, she reported the Director of the Merauke Legal Aid Institute, Johnny Teddy Wakum, and film director Dandhy Dwi Laksono to the Metro Jaya Regional Police on Friday, 29 May 2026. Mama Yasinta accused both of violating Article 65 in conjunction with Article 67 of Law Number 27 of 2022 concerning Personal Data Protection.
The film ‘Pesta Babi’ features Mama Yasinta as one of the figures defending her customary land. However, she later claimed she never gave permission for her activities to be used as film material. This admission circulated widely on social media and sparked discussion amid strong repression against the film’s screening.
The Head of Public Relations of the Metro Jaya Regional Police, Commissioner Budi Hermanto, said Mama Yasinta’s report has been registered under number LP/B/3843/V/2026/SPKT/Polda Metro Jaya. ‘The police are still investigating the case,’ Budi said on Tuesday, 2 June 2026.