TAPOL is greatly concerned by intimidation surrounding the release of the documentary film 'Pig Feast: Colonialism in our Age' (Pesta Babi: Kolonialisme di Zaman Kita). With millions of views online, it has raised the issue of West Papua like almost nothing else before it. However, its release on YouTube was in part prompted by the widespread intimidation and shutting down of film screenings by the military and militia groups, and, in a darker turn, people involved in the production or who were starring in the documentary itself.
Intimidations and denial lead to film becoming viral
The release of the film has added to the national conversation on West Papua and has worried those in power. The film follows four people and their indigenous communities across the region, detailing their indigenous livelihoods, worldviews and ceremonies, and how these are being threatened by the vast scale of Strategic National Projects (Proyek Strategis Nasional (PSN)) in the region.1 It has had over 14 million views on YouTube (where it can be seen in Indonesian or with English subtitles) as of 17th June, a startling figure given it was only made available on 22nd May,2 and also has been watched at over 2,000 film screenings across Indonesia.3
The security forces, both police and military, university authorities, and other groups have made threats against these screenings and have attempted to shut them down as well as accompanying discussions. These shutdowns have been happening all over Indonesia, including in Sorong, Mataram, Yogyakarta and Ternate. At least 50 screenings had been shut down as of 11th June,4 with some of the screenings being labelled as 'provocative' by the authorities and the director Dandhy Laksono labelled as a 'foreign agent'.5 Some of the screenings were broken up with the claim that the film had not received approval of the Censor Board for its certification, despite the fact that, as a documentary, it was exempt.6 Journalists covering the film have also been targeted, with rotten chicken heads sent to a reporter from independent media outlet Floresa, as well as intimidating texts sent by the police to an editor, for social media posts related to their coverage of the film.7 The authorities have tried every excuse in the book to try and keep a lid on the spread of the film's message.
Despite this, Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra, had stated that "The government has never banned people from watching the film".8 Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army, General Maruli Simanjuntak, said there was no central policy of shutting down film screenings, though did also mention that it was up to local commanders and that screenings could be shut down if needed to "maintain regional safety".9 Yet despite the attempts to suppress screenings, it has had the effect of propelling the film into the national conversation, where even former President, Megawati Sukarnoputri, weighed in, saying that she "...cried yesterday watching Pesta Babi. That is the reality."10
Yasinta Moiwend's apparent volte-face
One of the dramas that has been getting a lot of coverage has been the apparent changing of opinion of Yasinta Moiwend, one of the primary figures featured in the film. Known as Mama Yasinta, she has been a strong defender of her indigenous community of Wanam in Papua Selatan Province against PSNs, both locally and also at the national level. She spoke at a pre-launch screening of the film in Jayapura in March on needing to "stay strong, regardless of what happens to us, we must resist".11 From 23rd May, her family reported that they had lost contact with her.12 There had been reports of her arriving at a military base, then appearing in several videos claiming the filmmakers of Pig Feast had used her image without permission. She had flown to Jakarta, and on 29th May, had reported Merauke Legal Aid (LBH Papua Merauke), who were involved in the film production, to the police. Her family and civil society organisations suspect that Mama Yasinta had been under duress and her very presence in Jakarta, which she could not support on her own13 are signs of outside involvement.
Conclusion
These events show that greater knowledge of West Papua has a critical effect on its wider discussion in Indonesia and around the globe. Efforts to suppress screenings have in fact made the film go viral. But these shutdowns should never have happened in the first place. We call on the Indonesian government to unambiguously allow screenings and discussions of the film to take place. There should be no mixed messages on whether the film can be shown or not. Nor should there be acts of intimidation against the filmmakers, participants in the film and journalists seeking to cover the film. The clear intimidation of Mama Yasinta to force her to disown the film is unacceptable, and the identities and actions of those doing this behind the scenes must be revealed.
London, 25th June 2026
1. M. Hariyadi, Asia News, '"Pesta Babi": The film on the exploitation of Papua that Prabowo wants to ban', 11th May 2026, https://www.asianews.it/news-en/%E2%80%9CPesta-Babi%E2%80%9D:-The-film-on-the-exploitation-of-Papua-that-Prabowo-wants-to-ban-65416.html
2. Figures taken from the Youtube video page: 'Pesta Babi, Kolonialism di Zama Kita (Full Movie)', https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpdrWgDRVf8&t=3728s&pp=ygUKcGVzdGEgYmF2aQ%3D%3D, Correct as of 12:29, 17th June 2026
3. H. Sousa, Indonesia at Melbourne,"Pig Feast': a test case for alternative media, Papua, and Indonesian democracy', 11th June 2026, https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/pig-feast-a-test-case-for-alternative-media-papua-and-indonesian-democracy/
4. '"Pig Feast": a test case for alternative media, Papua, and Indonesian democracy'
5. H. Souisa, ABC News, 'Menjaga Ruang Pertemuan Rakyat: Di Balik Nobar Pesta Babi dan 'Antek Asing', 20th May 2026, https://www.abc.net.au/indonesian/2026-05-20/nonton-bareng-pesta-babi-dan-diskusi-antek-asing/106693212
6. A. Saubani, Republika, "Pesta Babi' Dinilai Bukan Film yang Harus Lulus Sensor LSF Seperti Kata TNI', 18th May 2026, https://news.republika.co.id/berita/tf7u4u409/pesta-babi-dinilai-bukan-film-yang-harus-lulus-sensor-lsf-seperti-kata-tni
7. Floresa, 'Kepala Ayam dan Telur di Kantor Kami', 9th June 2026, https://floresa.co/dari-redaksi/87853/2026/06/09/kepala-ayam-dan-telur-di-kantor-kami
8. West Papua Voice, 'Indonesia Responds to Controversial Documentary Film Pesta Babi', 15th May 2026, https://westpapuavoice.ac/politics/indonesia-responds-to-controversial-documentary-film-pesta-babi/
9. F. Waku, 'TNI Bubarkan Nobar Film Pesta Babi, KSAD Jenderal Maruli Simanjuntak: Tak Ada Instruksi', 19th May 2026, https://www.tribunnews.com/nasional/7831578/tni-bubarkan-nobar-film-pesta-babi-ksad-jenderal-maruli-simanjuntak-tak-ada-instruksi
10. H. Baharudin, 'Officials tried to silence Papua film Pesta Babi. It drew millions of views on YouTube instead', 26th May 2026, https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/officials-tried-to-silence-papua-film-pesta-babi-it-drew-millions-of-views-on-youtube-instead
11. BBC Indonesia, 'Mama Yasinta laporkan LBH ke Polda Metro Jaya, siapa dia dan apa kaitannya dengan film Pesta Babi?', 30th May 2026, https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/articles/cg5plj1q1p2o (Accessed 8th June 2026)
12. BBC Indonesia, 'Film Pesta Babi: Menelusuri jejak Yasinta Moiwend di Jakarta – Siapa saja orang-orang yang bersamanya?', 8th June 2026, https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/articles/cp9p978z49ko
13. H. Souisa, 'Pig Feast explores Indigenous land rights in West Papua but key leader Mama Yasinta changed her tune', 12th June 2026, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-12/documentary-pig-feast-colonialism-in-our-time-west-papua/106775606