Pig Feast Filmmakers Respect Mama Yasinta's Police Report
The collaborative team behind the documentary ‘Pig Feast’ stated it respects Mama Yasinta Moiwend’s decision to report the film to the Jakarta Metropolitan Police over its use of her image. The production group, comprising Ekspedisi Indonesia Baru, Greenpeace Indonesia, Jubi Media, LBH Papua Merauke, Pusaka Bentala Rakyat, and Watchdoc, described Mama Yasinta as a long-standing Malind indigenous leader advocating for her community long before the documentary’s production.
In a written statement on 30 May 2026, the team urged the public not to condemn her actions, adding: “We ask the public not to judge or condemn her, as we continue to understand the reasons behind this shift in stance.”
Mama Yasinta, a mid-aged environmental advocate from the Marind-Anim tribe in South Papua’s Merauke, featured in the film and its promotional poster, received the 2025 S.K. Trimurti Award from the Alliance of Independent Journalists for her work defending indigenous land rights against a food estate project.
According to the production team, since a video of her objections went viral on 23 May, she has been unreachable. They stated they are trying to communicate with her and her family, adding: “We hope for public attention to this issue while we continue solidarity efforts to resolve the significant challenges in Papua.”
In the video, Yasinta expressed disappointment at her image being used without consent in the film and promotional materials. She also mentioned she had taken a job with a company to renovate her home and no longer works with LBH Papua Pusaka, an organisation that advocates for indigenous rights. She claimed she was unaware her participation would go viral and be used in the documentary.
“I’ve gone viral everywhere, and they made ‘Pig Feast’ without my permission or knowledge. That’s what I’m deeply disappointed about,” she said in a written statement on 24 May 2026.
On 29 May, Yasinta visited the Jakarta Metropolitan Police’s General Criminal Investigation Directorate to discuss the documentary’s use of her image, stating: “Why was my face displayed publicly without my consent?”
Her claims have sparked debate amid reports of repression against screenings of ‘Pig Feast’, with some netizens suggesting her statements were made under duress. Director Dhandy Laksono responded on 25 May via Instagram: “Even if everything said is entirely her own will, isn’t everyone entitled to make their own choices?”