Yusril: Government Does Not Ban Screening of 'Pig Feast' Film
Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra claims that the government has never instructed a ban on screenings of the documentary film “Pig Feast: Colonialism in Our Time.” Yusril does not deny that watch-together events, or nobar, for the film have been dispersed in several regions, particularly on university campuses.
However, according to him, the prohibition on screenings of the film by Dandhy Laksono and Cypri Paju Dale relates to procedures within each respective institution. “Not all campuses have banned the screening of this documentary. At the University of Mataram and UIN Mataram in Lombok, the nobar for the film was banned due to purely administrative procedural issues,” Yusril said in a written statement on Thursday, 14 May 2026.
Meanwhile, he added, screenings held at other campuses in Bandung and Sukabumi proceeded without any obstacles. “Given this pattern, the dispersal of nobar events for the film ‘Pig Feast’ is not an instruction from the government or law enforcement authorities, which are usually centralised,” Yusril stated.
Yusril opines that the criticism in the documentary regarding national strategic projects, or PSN, in South Papua is a normal matter. “Although it does contain provocative narratives. The title of the documentary itself is indeed controversial. ‘Pig Feast: Colonialism in Our Time’ appears to be provocative,” Yusril said.
Nevertheless, Yusril urges the public not to overreact merely because of the film’s title, which he considers deliberately designed to attract public attention. “Just let the public watch it, and afterwards, feel free to hold discussions and debates. In this way, the public becomes critical, and pro and contra views can emerge,” he said.
For Yusril, the criticism presented in the film Pig Feast can also serve as a lesson for the government. “The government can draw wisdom from the film to evaluate any on-the-ground steps that need improvement,” Yusril stated.
The documentary film Pig Feast depicts the impact of land and industrial expansion on the loss of customary forests, traditional food sources, and local sovereignty in Papua. This 90-minute film highlights the struggles of indigenous communities in Papua, such as in Merauke, Boven Digoel, and Mappi, against the expansion of national strategic projects (PSN).
Currently, the film can only be accessed through public screenings and discussions with communities, campuses, or citizen groups. However, various screening events have been banned and dispersed.
In Ternate City, North Maluku, for example, on Friday, 8 May 2026, soldiers from the Ternate District Military Command 1501 dispersed a watch-together and discussion event.
District Military Commander 1501/Ternate Lieutenant Colonel Jani Setiadi reasoned that the dispersal was based on discourses and social media complaints deeming the film provocative. “This is not my personal opinion. If you don’t believe it, I can show you many views from the public on social media about its provocative nature,” Jani said in Ternate on Friday.
Dispersals were also carried out by several campuses, such as UIN Mataram, Mandalika University, and the University of Mataram. At the University of Mataram, for instance, the event was dispersed before the Pig Feast film could be screened by the organisers. Vice Rector III of the University of Mataram Sujita stated that the screening was not permitted without any reason given.
She claimed to have watched the film and concluded that its content was unsuitable for screening in a campus environment. Because, she assessed, its content discredits the government.
Therefore, he said, based on a joint decision, the University of Mataram rejected the screening of Pig Feast to maintain campus conduciveness. “This film is not good to watch; it’s better to have a watch-together for football,” Sujita said at the University of Mataram on 7 May 2026.
Meanwhile, at Padjadjaran University, the planned watch-together and public discussion event for the film Pig Feast on Saturday, 16 May 2026, was reportedly rejected for permission. The event was organised by the Postgraduate Student Association of Unpad.
Based on a notification letter from the Directorate of Student Affairs at Unpad seen by Tempo, they could not grant permission for the event as it coincided with Ascension Day of Jesus Christ and the joint holiday.
Director of Student Affairs at Padjadjaran University Inu Isnaeni Sidiq confirmed the letter. According to Inu, per the letter dated 13 May, the campus rejected permission for 16 May because it fell on a holiday.
“We ask that it not be held on a holiday or joint leave day. Why? Because our staff also need to holiday,” Inu said when contacted by Tempo on 14 May 2026.