Screenings of 'Pig Feast' Film End in Forced Dispersals in Several Regions

Joint viewing events (nobar) for the documentary film titled ‘Pig Feast’ by Dandhy Laksono in several regions were forcibly disbanded by the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and university officials.

At least two locations saw the dispersal of the film screening events: at the University of Mataram (Unram) in West Nusa Tenggara and in Central Ternate, North Maluku.

The documentary ‘Pig Feast’ 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 records the struggles of Papuan communities in defending their ancestral lands.

The first dispersal incident was carried out by the Vice Rector III for Student Affairs at Unram, Sujita, along with dozens of campus security guards, on Thursday (7/5) around 18:55 WITA.

Sujita reasoned that the documentary film, which examines the impacts of deforestation and the seizure of customary lands in Papua, was not suitable for viewing. He then asked the students to cancel the screening.

“I think this film is not good to watch,” he told reporters on Friday (8/5).

Sujita claimed the dispersal of the ‘Pig Feast’ nobar was carried out on the orders of Unram Rector Sukardi. He then suggested that students watch a football match or another film instead.

“I refuse for the sake of maintaining conduciveness and so there is no offence between us,” he said.

“Better we watch another film or football,” he added.

Meanwhile, in Central Ternate, Dandim 1501 Ternate Lieutenant Colonel Inf Jani Setiadi led the dispersal of the nobar event organised by the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Ternate together with the Society of Indonesian Environmental Journalists (SIEJ) North Maluku.

Jani reasoned that the material of the film screened at the Pendopo Benteng Oranje, Gamalama Village, Central Ternate, on Friday (8/5) at 20:00 WIT, was deemed to have received many rejections because it was provocative in nature.

“We saw on social media, there are many rejections of this film event, because many consider it provocative from its title,” he said.

Jani claimed the negative assessment of the film’s content came from the public and not from TNI assumptions. He asked the nobar event not to proceed, considering that SARA issues in North Maluku are very sensitive and easily politicised.

“This is not my personal opinion. But if you don’t believe it, I will show you, many consider it provocative according to the public, according to social media,” he said.

Meanwhile, AJI Ternate Chair Yunita Kaunar condemned the actions of the authorities. According to her, this event is part of the freedom of expression and the right of citizens to obtain information as guaranteed by the constitution.

“This is not just a dispersal of a film nobar, but a real form of intimidation against democratic space and freedom of expression for citizens. Authorities should not be the party that determines what works can or cannot be watched by the public,” she stressed.

On the other hand, Member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Major General TNI (Ret.) TB Hasanuddin criticised the dispersal of the nobar event for the documentary film Pig Feast in Ternate, North Maluku, carried out by the TNI.

He assessed that the action potentially violates the constitution and exceeds the main duties and functions of the TNI. He said that to date, there is no court decision or legal evidence stating that the film violates laws and regulations.

“The dispersal carried out by Dandim 1501 potentially violates the constitution and the TNI’s main duties and functions. In a democracy, space for discussion and conveying information must be protected as long as it is not proven to violate the law,” he said in a written statement on Monday (11/5).

Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai emphasised that the prohibition of screenings or nobar of films cannot be done unilaterally without a legal basis and court decision.

According to Pigai, restrictions on film works can only be carried out through legal mechanisms regulated in laws and regulations.

Therefore, parties without legal authority are not justified in prohibiting the screening of films in public spaces.

“A film can only be banned according to a court decision, according to the law,” said Pigai.