Johnny Blades – An Indonesian filmmaker says the crackdown by authorities on his West Papua documentary in some parts of the country is a threat to democracy.

The Pesta Babi documentary looks at the social and environmental impacts of land seizures for big agri-business ventures in Papua – and the Indonesian military's role in it.

West Papuan leader Benny Wenda is urging Pacific leaders to strip Indonesia of its MSG and PIF roles as deadly clashes and fresh claims of violence and killings deepen tensions in the region.

Andrew Mathieson – West Papuan separatists in the occupied territory's eastern region allege eight gold miners they shot and killed on Thursday were undercover members of Indonesian security forces.

The eight men were attacked working in the far-flung village of Korowai in the province of Highland Papua that borders Papua New Guinea.

Ajit Niranjan – An expedition to document the end days of the last tropical glaciers in Oceania has revealed sombre footage of "planetary destruction on fast-forward".

Pesta Babi (Pig Feast), the controversial Papuan documentary film critical of a major development project impacting on the environment in the southeastern Melanesian region, is stirring public debate and a "crackdown" across Indonesia.

Gamaliel Kaliele, Teminabuan, Jubi – The Indigenous Nasawat community in South Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua, has rejected a village forest scheme currently being formulated by the local regency administration.

Aida Ulim, Jayapura, Jubi – One of the directors of the documentary film Pig Feast: Colonialism in Our Time, Cypri Paju Dale, said the film is not merely a work of art or an ordinary social critique, but a testimony to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Land of Papua.

Sorong – The documentary film "Pig Feast: Colonialism in Our Times" (Pesta Babi: Kolonialisme di Zaman Kita), after being watched at more than 1,800 joint screenings (nobar), was officially broadcast on the Jubi TV Editorial YouTube channel on Friday 22.

Archbishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi of Merauke has censured a documentary about development projects in Indonesia's easternmost region of Papua for presenting a one-sided narrative that excludes the perspective of the Catholic Church.

A teacher and six students from SMP N 1 Senior Highschool Sinak were reportedly apprehended without warrant and subsequently tortured by military personnel during an operation in Sinak District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua Province, on 25 March 2026. According to information received, the arrests occurred whilst classes were in progress on the school premises.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) has claimed responsibility for the deaths of eight gold panners in the Korowai region of Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands, on Wednesday, May 20.

Jakarta (Agencies) – Separatists in eastern Papua region have shot and killed eight gold miners they claimed were undercover members of the security forces, the military said Thursday.

The miners were attacked while working in the far-flung district of Yahukimo, Papua Pegunungan province on Wednesday, military spokesman Lt. Col. Wirya Arthadiguna said in a statement.

Timika – "The recent drone attack on a Catholic church in Intan Jaya has claimed civilian lives and severely traumatized the local population. As Friars Minor of the Justice and Peace Commission, we express our deep concern about the increasing violence against places of worship and unarmed residents.

Arjuna Pademme, Jayapura, Jubi – The West Papua National Liberation Army Regional Command XVI Yahukimo, or TPNPB Kodap XVI Yahukimo, has claimed responsibility for killing eight people it alleged were security personnel disguised as illegal gold miners in Korowai.

Officers of the Demta Sub-district Police detained 30-yea-old Agustinus Burame in the Demta District, Jayapura Regency, Papua Province, on 4 May 2026. While held in police custody, he was allegedly beaten by three police officers, sustaining serious injuries to his head and body (see photos below, source: independent HRD).

Piter Lokon, Dekai, Jubi – The Yahukimo Police in Papua Highlands released Kone Kobak, the International Diplomacy Chair of the West Papua National Committee, or KNPB, for the Yahukimo region, on Wednesday (20/5/2026).

Jakarta – An Instagram [archive] post featuring a poster claims that the director of the documentary "Pesta Babi" (Pig Feast), Cypri Paju Dale, admitted his work was funded by foreign parties. This narrative emerged after authorities disrupted public screenings of the film across several regions.

On 10 May 2026, security forces allegedly shot dead Mr Nopison Tebai, a 21-year-old high school student, during a joint security operation in Dogimani and Idadagi villages, Dogiyai District, Dogyai Regency, Central Papua Province. The shooting occurred near a football pitch beside the Dogiyai District Office whilst local residents were attending Sunday church service.

Andrew Mathieson – Senior West Papuan figures have slammed the most recent Indonesian attacks on the occupied Indigenous territory of Western New Guinea.

Giovanni Torre – At least two civilians were feared dead and two others injured after an aerial bombing at a Catholic church compound in the Central Papua province, West Papua.

The Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News) reported at least two civilians were believed dead and two others injured after the suspected drone attack on Sunday.

Larius Kogoya, Jayapura, Papua – Aliko Walia, an 8-year-old boy who was shot during a military operation in Tenoti Village, Kembru District, Puncak Regency, on 14 April 2026, died at RSUD Mulia in Puncak Jaya Regency on Tuesday (19 May 2026).

Jacobus E. Lato – Indonesian Navy suspended the planned construction of a patrol dock close to a Church in the restive, Christian-majority Papua region following a protest joined by hundreds of Papuans.

The blocking of screenings of the documentary film Pesta Babi: Kolonialisme di Zaman Kita (Pig Feast: Colonialism in Our Time) shows that the authorities are increasingly allergic to criticism. The Indonesian Military (TNI) does not have the authority to ban the screening of a film, yet alone to forcibly stop it.

On 17 May 2026, an Indonesian military drone reportedly dropped grenades on the St Paul's Catholic Church in Mbamogo Village, Agisiga District, Intan Jaya Regency, shortly after worshippers had completed Sunday mass.

At least two civilians were feared dead and two others injured after an aerial bombing at a Catholic church compound in the Central Papua province.

The Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News) reported that at least two civilians were feared dead and two others injured after an aerial bombing at the Catholic church compound by a suspected drone attack.

Arjuna Pademme, Jayapura, Papua – The Solidarity of Paniai Students Across Indonesia in Jayapura, Papua held a free speech forum at the Paniai Dormitory in Jayapura City on Monday (18 May 2026) night, voicing opposition to the proposed establishment of several new autonomous regions (DOB) in Paniai Regency, Central Papua.

Adlu Raharusun, Manokwari, West Papua – Member of Indonesia's Regional Representative Council (DPD RI) for West Papua, Filep Wamafma, said the documentary film Pesta Babi serves as an important educational medium to open public discussion about the various issues currently faced by people in Papua.

Silpester Kasipka, Sentani, Jubi – Jayapura Regency has recorded the second-highest number of malaria cases in Indonesia after Mimika Regency, according to local authorities.

Jayapura Deputy Regent Haris Richard Yocku said there were 71,542 malaria cases recorded in Jayapura Regency in 2025, accounting for approximately 10.1 percent of the total malaria cases nationwide.

Piter Lokon, Dekai, Jubi – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization Regional Defense Command XVI Yahukimo (TPNPB-OPM Kodap XVI Yahukimo) stated that two of its members from the Yamue Battalion, Marten Heluka and Yoper Payage, were killed in a firefight with Indonesian security forces in Dekai, the capital of Yahukimo Regency, on Sunday (17 May 2026) at around

Laurens Ikinia, Jakarta – The eighth floor of the Tempo building in Jakarta became the setting for a gathering rich with meaning.

Sorong – The Papua Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Papua) believes that the statement issued by the XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Command (Kodam) about the documentary film "Pesta Babi" (Pig Feast) potentially exceeds the authority of military and threatens freedom of expression within the democratic sphere.

Johnny Blades – A West Papuan church leader has warned that ongoing killings of young Papuans allegedly by Indonesian security forces have the hallmark of genocide.

Since the start of the year there's been no stop to violent incidents in Indonesian-ruled Papua region – known internationally as West Papua.

Antara, Salman Mardira, 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.

News Desk, Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Regional Police has been urged to take over the investigation into a shooting allegedly involving officers from the Bokondini Police Sector in Tolikara Regency, Papua Highlands.

The shooting, which killed Elki Wunungga, occurred in Mairini Village, Bokondini District, Tolikara Regency, on April 14, 2026.

Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Bilal Ramadhan, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) through the XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Command (Kodam) has stated that the tendentious narrative in the film "Pesta Babi" (Pig Feast) by director Dandhy Dwi Laksono and his colleagues has the potential to disrupt social harmony in the Papua region.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Despite being banned at several campuses, the University of Indonesia's Student Executive Board (BEM UI) is planning to hold a discussion and screening of the documentary film Pesta Babi: Kolonialisme di Zaman Kita (Pig Feast: Colonialism in Our Time). The event will take place at the Prof. Dr.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – A member of the Indonesian Military (TNI) attended a student-organized screening and discussion of the Papua documentary Pesta Babi at Udayana University on Thursday evening, raising concerns among organizers over military presence at an academic event.

News Desk, Jayapura, Jubi – The National Commission on Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia (Komnas HAM RI) stated that the government is obligated to protect freedom of expression, artistic freedom, and cultural rights.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, claimed that the government has never instructed a ban on the screening of the documentary film Pesta Babi: Kolonialisme di Zaman Kita (which literally translates into the Party of Pigs: Colonialism in Our Era).

Disruptions and intimidation targeting screenings of a documentary on indigenous people in Papua are increasing across Indonesia, raising concern among rights groups and Church leaders over shrinking space for dissent and free expression.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – Crackdowns by the Indonesian Military (TNI) on public screenings of a documentary exploring land conflicts and the TNI presence in Papua have intensified concerns over shrinking space for free expression and the military's expanding role beyond defense under President Prabowo Subianto.

Larius Kogoya, Jayapura, Jubi – A teenager killed during a police operation in Dogiyai and later identified by security forces as a member of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) was in fact a high school student, according to a local civil society representative.

Aida Ulim, Jayapura, Jubi – Students from Dogiyai Regency, Central Papua, currently studying in Jayapura have issued a public statement regarding the series of incidents that took place in Dogiyai between March 31 and April 2, 2026.

Aida Ulim, Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan women attending a free speech forum organized by the Dogiyai Student Association in Jayapura voiced opposition to what they described as ongoing violence against women and children in Papua.

The gathering took place in the Lingkaran Abepura area, Abepura District, Jayapura, on Monday (May 11, 2026).

Jakarta – An alliance of hundreds of Papuan students from the Front Against Militarism and Investment held a protest action in front of the Human Rights Ministry offices on Monday May 11. Starting at 10 am, they delivered loud speeches urging the Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai to meet them in person.

Dian Rahma Fika Alnina, Jakarta – A coalition of Papuan students under the Front Against Militarism and Investment has accused Minister of Human Rights Natalius Pigai of failing to address a series of human rights violations in Papua.

Jayapura – Voices of concern have come from Papuan students in the East Java student city of Malang, highlighting the ongoing state violence in the land of Papua. Military operations continue to target civilians, people have been killed and injured and there has been a massive displacement of civilians.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Human Rights (HAM) Natalius Pigai said that resolving the conflict in Papua requires high-level political decisions and the involvement of multiple parties.

Dian Rahma Fika Alnina, Jakarta – Papuan student alliance from the Anti-Militarism and Investment Front stages a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Human Rights office in Jakarta on Monday, May 11, 2026.

Jakarta – The ban on the screening of the film "Pesta Babi" (Pig Festival) is a clear violation of the 1945 Constitution, a violation of the right to freedom of expression and the public's right to obtain and access works of art and information.