University of Indonesia Student Union to Hold Screening of 'Pesta Babi' Documentary

Despite being banned on several campuses, the University of Indonesia Student Union (BEM UI) plans to hold a screening and discussion of the documentary ‘Pesta Babi: Colonialism in Our Time’. The event will take place in the Prof. Dr. Soemantri Brodjonegoro hall, UI campus, Depok, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

According to a poster uploaded on the @bemui_official Instagram account, the screening and discussion will feature two speakers: Muhamad Ramdan Andri Gunawan Wibisana, Professor of Environmental Law at the UI Faculty of Law, and Asep Komarudin, a campaigner for Greenpeace Indonesia.

BEM UI explained that the purpose of screening the film by Dandhy Laksono and Cypri Paju Dale and holding a discussion is to create a space for dialogue, especially in critically responding to narratives surrounding national strategic projects (PSN). The discussion forum will be a space for civil society and students to strengthen solidarity, particularly in rejecting neocolonial practices disguised as national strategic projects and demanding justice for indigenous communities in Papua, BEM UI stated on Friday, May 15, 2026.

BEM UI argues that the implementation of PSN in Papua is increasingly threatening indigenous forests through deforestation for the sake of government food self-sufficiency. However, these forests are the living space for indigenous communities in South Papua.

They believe that the implementation of PSN in Papua should not only be seen as development but also as a real form of appropriation of living space while ignoring the constitutional rights of indigenous communities in Papua. ‘This policy, which adopts the principle of utilitarianism, reflects the state’s failure to uphold the sovereignty of indigenous communities and instead sides with corporate and oligarchical interests,’ said BEM UI.

The documentary ‘Pesta Babi’ depicts the impact of land and industrial expansion on the loss of indigenous forests, traditional food, and the sovereignty of local communities in Papua. The 90-minute film highlights the struggle of indigenous communities in Papua against the expansion of PSN carried out by the government.

In several places, discussions and screenings of the film ‘Pesta Babi’ have been dispersed by authorities and campus officials. At the University of Mataram, for example, the campus administration prohibited the screening of the film, citing the need to maintain campus harmony. The Vice-Rector III of the University of Mataram, Sujita, admitted to having watched the film ‘Pesta Babi’. According to him, the film discredits the government. ‘It’s not good to watch; it’s better to watch a football match together,’ said Sujita on Thursday, May 7, 2026.

In contrast to the University of Mataram, UI stated that it would not prohibit campus residents from holding discussions and screenings of the film ‘Pesta Babi’. The Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation, Students, and Alumni at UI, Hamdi Muluk, said that discussion is part of academic freedom. According to Hamdi, campus residents can distinguish between provocative and non-provocative films because they have critical thinking skills. ‘We won’t be influenced. If it’s shown in elementary school, then the military district command will prohibit it. But at a university, there’s no need to prohibit it,’ said Hamdi on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.