Jakarta. The screening of the documentary Pesta Babi: Colonialism in Our Time has sparked controversy, with the military warning that the film could create misleading perceptions about Papua, while the government insists it has never ordered a ban on public screenings.

The documentary by journalist Dandhy Dwi Laksono and filmmaker Cypri Paju Dale criticizes National Strategic Projects (PSN) in South Papua, arguing that they threaten Indigenous land rights, forests, and the environment. The 95-minute investigative film combines historical and anthropological research with investigative journalism and policy analysis.

The controversy intensified after several public screenings and campus watch parties were reportedly disrupted by university authorities and members of the military in different regions of Indonesia.

The Indonesian Army (TNI AD) urged the public to be cautious about what it described as “unbalanced narratives” surrounding Papua, a resource-rich eastern region that has long faced separatist tensions, military operations, and debate over Jakarta’s development policies.

Colonel Tri Purwanto, spokesperson for XVII/Cenderawasih Military District Command, said films screened publicly must comply with Indonesian censorship laws and obtain certification from the Film Censorship Board (LSF).

“We urge the public to be wise in filtering information. Content that has not gone through an official censorship process may contain unbalanced narratives and could potentially create misinformation among the public,” Tri told Antara on Friday.

He also warned that unchecked visual narratives could create misunderstanding and disrupt social stability in Papua, where the government is continuing major development and food security projects.

However, Chief Law and Human Rights Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra denied that the government had issued any directive prohibiting screenings of the film.

“Not all campuses prohibited the documentary screenings. At the University of Mataram and UIN Mataram in Lombok, the screenings were stopped only because of administrative procedures, while at other campuses in Bandung and Sukabumi, the film was screened without any disruption,” Yusril said in Jakarta on Thursday.

Yusril described criticism of government projects as legitimate in a democratic society, although he acknowledged that the documentary’s title and messaging were provocative.

“I consider such criticism reasonable, even though there are provocative narratives. The documentary’s title itself appears intentionally provocative,” he said.

Still, Yusril urged the public not to overreact to the title alone and encouraged open discussion around the documentary.

“Let the public watch the film, then hold discussions and debates afterward. In that way, the public can become more critical, and differing opinions can emerge,” he said.

Yusril added that the government could also use criticism presented in the film to evaluate the implementation of projects on the ground.

The minister rejected the documentary’s suggestion that the projects reflected “modern colonialism,” saying land clearing in South Papua began in 2022 under former president Joko Widodo as part of regional expansion and national food and energy security programs.

“Papua is an integral part of Indonesia. Similar land-clearing projects have also taken place in Kalimantan and other parts of the country,” Yusril said.

Meanwhile, Cypri said attempts to shut down screenings and discussions were likely triggered by the use of the word “colonialism” in the film’s title.

“This film is currently being prevented by certain parties from reaching a wider audience. Many people do not want what is happening in Papua to be known by the broader public or the wider world,” Cypri said in a video uploaded to the Instagram account of Ekspedisi Indonesia Baru on Friday.

According to Cypri, the filmmakers intentionally used the term “colonialism” as an analytical framework to explain what they see as interconnected issues in Papua, including conflict, human rights abuses, underdevelopment, deforestation, and militarization.

“Colonialism, as a framework of thought or analysis, succeeds in bringing all of these problems together and explaining how they are interconnected within a long-standing systemic issue,” he said.