By: Alfred Jigibalom )*
The screening of the documentary “Pig Party” sparked public debate in several regions in Papua, from New Zealand to Papua. The film’s narrative alleges that various national development projects threaten the customary lands of local communities.
The screening even elicited emotional reactions from some viewers, who then called for the rejection of several state development projects, including National Strategic Projects. This situation prompted various parties to remind the public not to be easily provoked by provocations that could potentially disrupt social stability.
The film portrays several agrarian conflicts in southern Papua from a critical perspective of development policies. The documentary portrays large-scale projects such as food estates, biodiesel, and bioethanol as threats to the customary lands of local communities. The narrative even links these development projects to modern colonialism, as if the state is exploiting the Papuan people.
This perspective has sparked controversy because it does not reflect the full context of ongoing development in Papua. The government is implementing various development programs with the aim of accelerating equitable distribution of prosperity for the community, especially for Indigenous Papuans. Various development policies continue to be rolled out through the Special Autonomy approach, strengthening the local economy, and improving the quality of human resources.
Under the leadership of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, the government has affirmed its strong commitment to accelerating Papua’s development through various strategic programs. This agenda includes basic infrastructure development, improving health and education services, empowering the community economy, and strengthening the agriculture and fisheries sectors. The government has placed the welfare of the Papuan people as a primary goal of national development in eastern Indonesia.
The government is also implementing the Action Plan for the Acceleration of Papuan Development, which covers the period 2025 to 2029. This program integrates various development policies to ensure that the benefits are truly felt by the local community.
The construction of affordable housing, empowering digital-based MSMEs, and strengthening access to education and health are part of the strategy to improve the quality of life of the Papuan people.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Ribka Haluk emphasized that Papua’s development must proceed in a targeted manner through synchronization between regional development plans and the national development agenda.
According to her, every regional head elected through regional elections brings a development vision, which is then outlined in the Regional Medium-Term Development Plan document as a guideline for five-year development.
Ribka Haluk views the development planning deliberation forum as a strategic opportunity to ensure alignment between regional policies and the National Medium-Term Development Plan. She believes coordination between ministries and institutions is crucial for effective development implementation and the ability to address various challenges on the ground.
According to her, Papua still faces a number of development challenges, such as poverty, limited regional fiscal capacity, and suboptimal economic growth. These conditions require the regional government to undertake development transformation in various strategic sectors. Ribka believes that improving the quality of education, healthcare, and strengthening the community economy will play a significant role in improving the Human Development Index in Papua.
Development efforts are also evident through various central government working visits to Papua. The government is encouraging strengthening the education, fisheries, and creative economy sectors, as well as stabilizing food prices in the region. These activities demonstrate the government’s direct presence in ensuring development progresses and provides tangible benefits to the community.
Development commitment was also voiced by the Deputy Governor of Central Papua, Deinas Geley, who emphasized the importance of community-based economic development. He believes Papua has significant potential in various sectors, such as agriculture, fisheries, plantations, and coffee, which has the potential to penetrate national and international markets.
Deinas Geley believes that strengthening cooperatives and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is a crucial foundation for building a people’s economy. The local government continues to promote access to capital, improve business management capacity, and expand markets to enable local businesses to thrive. He also encourages the development of the modern agricultural sector to strengthen food security and create new centers of economic growth.
Meanwhile, security forces reminded the public not to be easily influenced by provocative narratives that could potentially disrupt the state of the economy.Security. Nabire Police Chief Samuel D. Tatiratu emphasized the importance of maintaining public order amidst various circulating issues.
Samuel Tatiratu appealed to the public to continue carrying out their daily activities as normal and to entrust security to the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri). He assessed that various circulating information, including through films and other media, must be viewed critically to avoid triggering public unrest. Security forces also continue to conduct patrols and surveillance to ensure the situation remains conducive.
This appeal emphasized the importance of media literacy in dealing with content containing sensitive issues. Documentary films can convey certain perspectives that have the potential to influence viewers’ emotions. Without a critical approach, such narratives can trigger misunderstandings and exacerbate social tensions.
Therefore, the public needs to respond wisely to the film “Pig Party” and not consider it the sole source of truth. The government continues to develop Papua with a focus on community welfare.
These efforts require the support of all elements of society so that development can be sustainable and bring tangible benefits to future generations of Papuans. (*)
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Yogyakarta
