Jakarta – Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel have disbanded a joint screening of the documentary film "Pesta Babi" (Pig Festival) in Ternate City, North Maluku, because the film was considered to have attracted significant opposition because of its provocative nature.
"We have been monitoring this activity. Then the presence of this activity, we have seen on social media, a lot of opposition to this film activity, because many believe it to be provocative in nature from its title", said 1501 Ternate Military District commander Lieutenant Colonel Jani Setiadi as quoted by Detik on Friday May 8.
Setiadi said 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 me, I will show you, it's very provocative in character according to the public, according to social media", he said.
He also asked that the joint screening not go ahead considering that issues of ethnicity, religion, race and intergroup relations (SARA) issues in North Maluku are highly sensitive and easily politicized. But he allowed the organisers to continue the discussion part of the event as scheduled.
Meanwhile, Ternate Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Chairperson Yunita Kaunar condemned the TNI's actions. According to Kaunar, the activity was part of freedom of expression and citizens' right to obtain information, as guaranteed by the Constitution.
"This is not simply the closing down of a film screening, but a clear form of intimidation against democratic space and citizens' freedom of expression. The authorities should not be the ones determining what works the public can or cannot watch", Kaunar asserted.
Kaunar believes that the presence of the officers right from the beginning of the event, including documenting the committee and participants, created fear and psychological pressure. According to Kaunar, this approach reminds the public of past practices of silencing criticism.
Aside from this, Kaunar continued, the TNI's justification for potential conflict cannot be used as a basis for closing down the event because it was peaceful and contained no element of provocation.
"If every critical work is considered a threat and then silenced, then democracy is in a dangerous situation. The state should not be afraid of discussions and documentary films", Kaunar said.
The joint film screening accompanied by a discussion was organised by the North Maluku Society of Indonesian Environmental Journalists (SIEJ) and the Ternate city AJI at the Benteng Oranje Hall in Gamalama Village, Central Ternate on Friday at 8 pm local time.
The film, a result of collaboration between Watchdoc, Jubi Media, Greenpeace Indonesia, the People's Earth Heritage Foundation (Pusaka) and the New Indonesia Expedition, takes up the issue of deforestation and strategic national projects (PSN) in Papua. The film also highlights the military's involvement in state agendas. (sfr)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Bubarkan Nobar 'Pesta Babi' di Ternate, Ini Alasan TNI".]