Indonesian Military Disbands Documentary Screening in Ternate, Citing Provocation Concerns

In Ternate, North Maluku, Indonesian military (TNI) personnel intervened to disband a public screening and discussion of the documentary 'Pesta Babi' (Pig Festival). The event, organized by the Society of Indonesian Environmental Journalists (SIEJ) Maluku Utara and the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Kota Ternate, was deemed provocative by local military commander Letkol Inf Jani Setiadi. The primary concern cited was the film's title and its potential to inflame sensitive religious and ethnic issues (SARA) in a region known for its delicate social fabric.

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Kami memonitor kegiatan ini. Kemudian keberadaan kegiatan ini, kami melihat di media sosial, banyaknya penolakan akan kegiatan film ini, karena banyak yang menilai ini bersifat provokatif dari judulnya.

Commander Setiadi stated that the decision was based on monitoring social media and observing widespread public rejection of the event due to its perceived provocative nature. He emphasized that this was not a personal opinion but a reflection of community sentiment. While acknowledging the organizers' original plan for a discussion, the military insisted on halting the film screening, suggesting that discussions could proceed without the controversial film. This action reflects a cautious approach by authorities in managing public events that could potentially disrupt social harmony, particularly in areas with a history of inter-communal tensions.

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Ini bukan pendapat pribadi saya. Tapi jika tidak percaya, akan saya tunjukkan, banyak yang sifat provokatif menurut masyarakat, menurut di media sosial.

However, this intervention has drawn sharp criticism from press freedom advocates. AJI Ternate Chairwoman Yunita Kaunar condemned the military's actions as intimidation and a direct assault on democratic space and freedom of expression. She argued that state apparatus should not dictate what content the public can or cannot consume and that the military's presence, including documenting organizers and participants, created a climate of fear reminiscent of past repressive practices. AJI contends that the justification of potential conflict is insufficient grounds for censorship, especially when the event proceeded peacefully. This incident highlights a recurring tension in Indonesia between the need to maintain public order and the fundamental right to freedom of expression and access to information, particularly concerning critical or sensitive topics.

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Ini bukan sekadar pembubaran nobar film, tapi bentuk nyata intimidasi terhadap ruang demokrasi dan kebebasan berekspresi warga. Aparat tidak seharusnya menjadi pihak yang menentukan karya apa yang boleh atau tidak boleh ditonton masyarakat.