Vice Rector of Mataram University Disbands Screening of 'Pesta Babi' Film

Universitas Mataram (Unram) disbanded a group viewing (nobar) of the documentary film titled ‘Pesta Babi’ by Dandhy Laksono. The disbandment of the event was led directly by the Vice Rector III for Student Affairs, Sujita, along with dozens of campus security guards, on Thursday (7/5) around 18:55 WITA. Sujita reasoned that the documentary, which examines the impacts of deforestation to the seizure of indigenous land in Papua, was not suitable for viewing. He then asked the students to cancel the screening of the film. “I think this film is not good to watch,” he said, quoted from detikcom, Friday (8/5). Sujita claimed the disbandment of the ‘Pesta Babi’ film nobar was carried out on the orders of Unram Rector, Sukardi. He then suggested that students watch a football match or other films instead. “I refuse for the sake of maintaining conduciveness and so there is no offence between us,” he stated. “Better we watch other films or football,” he added. Meanwhile, the organiser, Haerul Ikhwan Ali, felt disappointed with the disbandment action. According to him, the stance of the Unram Rectorate does not align with the principles of freedom of expression in the campus environment. “Unram rejected the screening of the film Pesta Babi without any clear reason or legal basis,” said Ikhwan, who is also the General Leader (Pemum) of the Student Press Institution (LPM) MEDIA Unram. Although disbanded, Ikhwan said the nobar action was still continued outside the campus area. He mentioned that hundreds of people joined in watching the documentary. “Hundreds of people have come to watch, for safety reasons, we had to move it off campus,” he said. The documentary film ‘Pesta Babi’ by Dandhy Laksono highlights the loss of forests in Papua due to 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.