TULUNGAGUNG – A documentary about the Papua land conflict sparked a heated public discussion in Tulungagung, East Java, as students and activists raised concerns over indigenous rights and government development policies.
The Tulungagung branch of the Indonesian National Student Movement, known as GMNI, organized the event on Saturday evening at Jong Java. The group screened the documentary Pesta Babi under the theme “Colonialism in Our Time.”
The event attracted a much larger audience than organizers expected. Students, activists, local residents, and media representatives filled the venue shortly after the program started.
GMNI promoted the gathering with the slogan “Coffee, Watch, Talk, Care.” Organizers aimed to create an open discussion about agrarian conflict, social injustice, and the treatment of indigenous communities in eastern Indonesia.
Taufik Muhammad Hidayat, chairman of GMNI Tulungagung, said the organization held the event because members felt deep sympathy for people who continue to lose their land and living space.
“We organized this event because we truly care about our brothers and sisters in remote areas,” Taufik said.
He said the turnout surprised the committee. Organizers initially expected around 30 participants. However, the discussion drew a far bigger crowd than expected.
Taufik also appreciated the strong support from students and journalists who attended the screening and joined the discussion session afterward.
During the event, participants discussed the social impact of investment projects and resource exploitation in Papua. Several speakers argued that authorities often ignore indigenous voices during development planning.
Achmad Fathoni Al Fahmi, head of GMNI Tulungagung’s organizational division, delivered stronger criticism during the discussion. He questioned the gap between Indonesia’s legal principles and conditions on the ground.
“A country that claims to uphold justice and law still allows people to lose their ancestral land for development and investment projects,” Fahmi said.
He argued that authorities frequently rely on security measures instead of meaningful dialogue when handling land disputes involving indigenous communities.
Fahmi also urged participants to see the documentary as a reminder of the humanitarian dimension behind agrarian conflict in Papua.
“Agrarian conflict is not only about land. It is also about humanity and cultural rights,” he said.
The discussion encouraged participants to reflect on the unequal distribution of development benefits across Indonesia. Several attendees highlighted how natural resources from Papua continue to support economic growth and public facilities in Java.
Audience members responded positively to the event. Many participants asked GMNI to organize similar public discussions more regularly. They said forums like this could help strengthen public awareness of humanitarian issues and social inequality in Indonesia.
The event also showed growing concern among young people about indigenous rights, environmental exploitation, and the social impact of large-scale development projects in Papua.