Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Bilal Ramadhan, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) through the XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Command (Kodam) has stated that the tendentious narrative in the film Pesta Babi (Pig Festival) by director Dandhy Dwi Laksono and his colleagues has the potential to disrupt social harmony in the Papua region.
"Don't let one-sided narratives pit the public against the government's strategic programs, which are actually aimed at improving welfare in Papua" said XVII/Cenderawasih Military Command information head (Kapendam) Colonel Tri Purwanto on Friday May 15.
According to Purwanto, the public needs to be careful in selecting information, especially regarding content that has not gone through the official censorship process.
He emphasised that every film shown widely to the public must comply with Law Number 33/2009 on the Screening of Films, including obtaining a Censorship Certificate (SLS) from the Film Censorship Board (LSF).
"Content that has not gone through the official censorship process is feared to convey an unbalanced narrative and could potentially trigger the distortion of information in the community", said Purwanto.
He added that the security situation and social stability in Papua must be maintained amidst various development programs currently underway in several regions.
Therefore, the XVII/Cenderawasih Kodam is urging that discussions on issues in Papua be conducted through educational, legal and constructive forums.
"We urge that discussion spaces be shifted to more educational, legal, and constructive forums", said Purwanto.
The XVII/Cenderawasih Kodam also stated that it will continue to monitor the situation to ensure public order is maintained.
Furthermore, the authorities are urging community leaders, traditional leaders, youth and all elements of Papuan society not to be easily provoked by invitations that could potentially disrupt regional security.
Purwanto emphasised that the TNI's presence in Papua is not only focused on security aspects, but also supports development and community welfare.
According to Purwanto, soldiers have been actively involved in various social activities ranging from free healthcare services, supporting education for children in remote areas, building public facilities, to supporting food security and community empowerment programs.
"These various programs demonstrate the TNI's commitment to continue being present with the Papuan people through a humanistic and caring approach to create a safe, peaceful, and prosperous Papua", said Purwanto.
Earlier it was reported that Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections (Menko Kumham Imipas) Yusril Ihza Mahendra asserted that the government had never issued a directive or policy banning the screening of the film Pig Festival: Colonialism in Our Time (Pesta Babi: Kolonialisme di Zaman Kita).
Mahendra stated that the ban on public screenings at the University of Mataram and the Mataram State Islamic University (UIN) in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), was due to administrative issues.
"Not all campuses banned the screening of the documentary. At the University of Mataram and UIN Mataram, Lombok, public screenings were prohibited due to administrative procedures alone. Meanwhile, at other campuses in Bandung and Sukabumi, the public screenings proceeded without any obstacles", said Mahendra said in a written statement on Thursday May 14.
According to Mahendra, this pattern indicates that the disbandment or suspension of public screenings is not a directive from the government or centralised law enforcement officials.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "TNI Sebut Narasi Film "Pesta Babi" Berpotensi Ganggu Keharmonisan Sosial Papua".]
