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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

Filmmaker Slams Indonesian Universities for Banning 'Pig Festival' Documentary Screenings

From Tempo · (2h ago) Indonesian Critical tone

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Documentary filmmaker Dandhy Dwi Laksono criticizes Indonesian universities for their reactive stance towards screenings of his film "Pesta Babi" (Pig Festival).
  • Laksono argues that campuses, which should be safe spaces for free expression, have become hostile environments for sensitive issues, particularly concerning Papua.
  • Several universities, including UIN Mataram, Universitas Mandalika, and Universitas Mataram, have reportedly canceled or forcibly disbanded screenings of the film, citing concerns about disturbing campus harmony and discrediting the government.

The recent wave of university bans on screenings of Dandhy Dwi Laksono's documentary "Pesta Babi" (Pig Festival) reveals a troubling paradox within Indonesia's academic institutions. While campuses are theoretically bastions of free thought and open discourse, they are increasingly becoming spaces where sensitive topics, especially those related to Papua, are met with outright censorship.

Laksono rightly points out the irony: his film, which explores the impact of land and industrial expansion on indigenous communities and traditional food sources in Papua, is deemed too controversial for university grounds. Yet, the film has reportedly been screened for junior and senior high school students, and even Islamic boarding schools, without incident. This suggests that the fear of disruption or political fallout, rather than genuine concern for academic integrity, drives these cancellations.

Ini paradoks

— Dandhy Dwi LaksonoLaksono describes the situation where universities, meant to be safe spaces for expression, become hostile to sensitive issues.

The justifications offered by university officials, such as maintaining campus "condusivity" and avoiding content that "discredits the government," are particularly alarming. They betray a deep-seated anxiety about confronting critical narratives and a willingness to prioritize political expediency over intellectual freedom. This trend is not just a disservice to students seeking a comprehensive understanding of complex national issues; it actively stifles the very dialogue that universities are meant to foster.

From our perspective at Tempo, this situation highlights a critical disconnect. Instead of providing a platform for nuanced discussion on vital issues like the Papuan conflict and the socio-economic impacts of development projects, these institutions are opting for avoidance. This approach not only fails to address the root causes of conflict and marginalization but also sends a chilling message about the limits of free expression in Indonesia today. The "Pesta Babi" controversy is a stark reminder that the fight for academic freedom and open debate remains an ongoing struggle.

Film ini kurang baik untuk ditonton, lebih baik nonton bareng sepak bola

— SujitaThe Vice Rector III of Universitas Mataram explains the decision to disallow the film screening, deeming it inappropriate for the campus environment.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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