Puan Orders Investigation into the Dissolution of 'Pesta Babi' Film Screenings
House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani has ordered the relevant commissions to request explanations concerning the widespread disbandments of ‘Pesta Babi’ film screenings in various regions over the past few days.
Puan urged that the matter be addressed and followed up promptly, as it has drawn public scrutiny.
“However, it must be followed up appropriately, and therefore we in the House of Representatives will ask the relevant commissions to seek explanations on the issue,” Puan said at the parliamentary complex on Tuesday (12/5).
Puan admitted she was unaware of the content of the film ‘Pesta Babi’. Nevertheless, she assessed that the film’s title was sensitive and thus required anticipation.
“If it indeed creates sensitive issues that are detrimental to society, then of course it must be anticipated properly,” she stated.
To date, at least four locations have seen the disbandment of such screening events, including at the University of Mataram (Unram), Mandalika Education University (Undikma) in Mataram, and the State Islamic University (UIN) Mataram in West Nusa Tenggara, as well as in Central Ternate, North Maluku.
The documentary film ‘Pesta Babi’, created by filmmaker and former journalist Dandhy Dwi Laksono, spotlights the loss of forests in Papua following their conversion into industrial plantations under the guise of food security and energy transition.
The film also documents the Papuan people’s struggle to defend their ancestral lands.
Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai affirmed that prohibiting screenings or nobar events for films cannot be done unilaterally without a legal basis and court decision.
According to Pigai, restrictions on film works can only be imposed through legal mechanisms as regulated by legislation.
Therefore, parties without legal authority are not permitted to impose bans on film screenings in public spaces.
“The film can only be banned according to a court decision, according to the law,” Pigai said.