TB Hasanuddin Criticises TNI's Decision to Disperse Screening of 'Pesta Babi' Film
Member of the House of Representatives Commission I, retired Major General TNI TB Hasanuddin, has criticised the dispersal of a joint viewing (nobar) event for the documentary film Pesta Babi in Ternate, North Maluku, carried out by the TNI.
He assessed that the action potentially violates the constitution and exceeds the primary duties and functions of the TNI.
“The dispersal carried out by the 1501 Infantry Battalion commander potentially violates the constitution and the TNI’s duties and functions. In a democratic state, spaces for discussion and conveying information must be protected as long as they are not proven to violate the law,” said TB Hasanuddin in a written statement on Monday (11/5).
He explained that Article 28F of the 1945 Constitution explicitly guarantees every citizen’s right to communicate and obtain information.
According to him, the dispersal of the joint viewing event contradicts the spirit of that article.
He stated that to date, there is no court decision or legal evidence stating that the film violates any laws or regulations.
“If there are parties who deem the film’s content inappropriate or provocative, it should be countered with data, clarifications, and arguments. Not by dispersing the event,” he said.
He also emphasised that dispersing public activities is not part of the military operations other than war (OMSP) duties as regulated in the TNI Law.
“In Law Number 3 of 2025 on amendments to the TNI Law, the list of OMSP duties has been regulated. None of the OMSP duties authorises the TNI to disperse joint viewing or public discussion events for any reason,” he said.
According to him, if there are indications of disruptions to public security and order, the appropriate step for the TNI is to coordinate with the police apparatus.
“If there is indeed potential for disruptions to public security and order, the TNI should immediately coordinate with the police, which has the authority to maintain security and public order in accordance with the laws and regulations. The TNI does not need to take direct actions that exceed its duties and functions,” he stated.
The TNI was previously reported to have dispersed the joint viewing event for the documentary film titled ‘Pesta Babi’ in Ternate City, North Maluku, because the film was deemed to have received many rejections for being provocative.
“We monitored this event. Then, regarding the existence of this event, we saw on social media that there were many rejections of this film event, because many considered it provocative from its title,” said the 1501 Ternate Infantry Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Inf Jani Setiadi, as quoted by Detik on Friday (8/5).
Jani stated that the negative assessment of the film’s content came from the public.
“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.
The joint viewing event, accompanied by a discussion, was held by the Society of Indonesian Environmental Journalists (SIEJ) North Maluku together with the Ternate City Independent Journalists Alliance (AJI) at the Pendopo Benteng Oranje, Gamalama Village, Central Ternate, on Friday (8/5) at 20:00 WIT.
The film, a collaboration between Watchdoc, Media Jubi, Greenpeace Indonesia, Pusaka Bentala Rakyat, and Ekspedisi Indonesia Baru, addresses issues of deforestation and national strategic projects in Papua. The film also highlights military involvement in state agendas.