By Markus Kogoya*
For years, Papua has often been the stage for various narratives about conflict, suffering, and underdevelopment. Many people come to Papua with cameras, document the situation, and then present Papua as filled only with sadness and no hope. As a result, the public outside of Papua sees Papua more from the perspective of conflict than from the growing progress. Yet, today, Papua is moving forward through various development initiatives that are slowly beginning to be felt by communities in various regions.
Therefore, the release of the documentary “Pesta Babi” has raised significant questions among the public. Many Papuans believe the film does not present a complete picture of the current state of Papua. They consider the film to be more provocative than offering solutions and a constructive spirit. The narrative it creates has the potential to reinforce the stigma that Papua is always associated with tension and rejection of national development.
In reality, many Papuans currently hope that development will continue. They want Papuan children to receive a better education, adequate access to healthcare, and ample employment opportunities in their own land. The community’s hopes are simple: to live in peace, prosperity, and be valued as an important part of Indonesia.
The government, through various national strategic programs, is working to accelerate equitable development in Papua. Infrastructure such as roads, bridges, ports, schools, health facilities, and food security programs continues to be promoted to open up isolated areas and improve community welfare. This policy cannot be perfectly implemented, but the overall goal is very clear: to provide a better future for Indigenous Papuans.
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, General (Ret.) Djamari Chaniago, has also emphasized that Papua’s development must be carried out with an approach that emphasizes welfare, dialogue, cultural respect, and improving the quality of public services. This means that the state is not only present through physical development, but also strives to build trust and a future for the Papuan people as a whole.
In that context, narratives that tend to fuel suspicion of development can actually damage the spirit of a community that is trying to recover. Papua needs positive energy, not propaganda that deepens fear and distrust. Papuans have lived with the stigma of conflict for too long. Now is the time for Papua to be known for its educational progress, youth creativity, cultural richness, and economic potential.
The controversy surrounding the film “Pesta Babi” intensified when the Papuan indigenous woman, Yasinta Moiwend, also known as Mama Sinta, admitted that she did not understand that the activities she participated in would be made into a documentary with a specific narrative. This confession led the public to question the ethics of film production involving indigenous communities. When someone feels exploited without a complete explanation, the issue is no longer just a documentary, but also concerns respect for the rights of the Papuan people themselves.
Mama Sinta even expressed her disappointment that her name and face were used without her explicit consent. She also emphasized that Papuan society actually needs jobs and a better life. This statement demonstrates that grassroots communities need real solutions more than narratives that continually fuel anger and unrest.
The Archbishop of Merauke, Bishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi, MSC, expressed a similar sentiment, reminding the public not to blindly accept the film’s contents. As a religious figure who understands the lives of the Papuan people firsthand, Bishop Mandagi believes the film does not present a balanced perspective. He questioned why the church and pastors, who have lived with the Papuan people for years, were not directly questioned.
Bishop Mandagi’s criticism is important to heed because Papua is not just about environmental issues or social conflict. Papua also speaks of brotherhood, tolerance, development, and the hopes of a people who want to progress alongside the Indonesian nation. Many Papuans are now beginning to enjoy the benefits of development, from improved access to transportation to new economic opportunities that were previously difficult to obtain.
Papuan youth leader Paulinus Ohee also warned the younger generation not to be easily influenced by provocative narratives that could divide society. According to him, certain parties are exploiting Papua’s social conditions to build negative opinions about Indonesia. Therefore, the younger generation of Papuans must be intelligent, critical, and able to view issues objectively.
Today, Papua is moving toward major change. Many young people Papua is beginning to achieve success in education, sports, the arts, and entrepreneurship. The government also continues to open up space for indigenous communities to participate in regional development. All of this demonstrates that Papua has a bright future if stability and unity are maintained together.
It is time for all parties to stop selling Papua with a narrative of pain and prolonged conflict. The world needs to see Papua as a growing land of hope, not merely an object of controversy. What the Papuan people need today is support, optimism, and cooperation to ensure that future generations live better, more peaceful, and more prosperous lives within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
*The author is a Youth Literacy Activist in Jayapura