Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Coalition for Law Enforcement and Human Rights has suggested that Yasinta Moiwend’s recent objections to her inclusion in the documentary film Pig Feast: Colonialism in Our Time may be connected to an ongoing legal case before the Jayapura Administrative Court (PTUN).

Previously, five representatives of the Malind Indigenous community, including Yasinta Moiwend, filed a lawsuit challenging Merauke Regent Decree No. 100.3.3.2/1105/2025.
The decree concerns the environmental feasibility approval for the construction of a 135-kilometer access road as part of a food security project initiated by Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense.

The case was registered with the Jayapura Administrative Court under Case Number 9/G/LH/2026/PTUN Jayapura on March 5, 2026.

The Papua Coalition for Law Enforcement and Human Rights, which is part of the legal team assisting the plaintiffs, stated that lawyers serving on the Merauke Solidarity Advocacy Team, acting as legal counsel for Yasinta Moiwend, cannot be subjected to criminal or civil liability for carrying out their professional duties.

“Yasinta Moiwend is a client of the Merauke Solidarity Advocacy Team, which is currently representing her in proceedings before the Jayapura Administrative Court,” the coalition said in a written press release issued on Wednesday (June 3, 2026).

According to the coalition, the advocacy team has been assisting Moiwend and four other Indigenous representatives in their lawsuit against the Regent of Merauke.

During the proceedings, Indonesia’s Minister of Defense entered the case as an intervening defendant. This was marked by the submission of the intervening defendant’s response to the panel of judges overseeing Case Number 9/G/LH/2026/PTUN JPR, which was filed on May 18, 2026.

The Ministry of Defense’s involvement came after the Merauke Solidarity Advocacy Team and the legal team representing the Merauke Regent had reached the rejoinder stage of proceedings.

The coalition stated that while the advocacy team was preparing its response to the Ministry of Defense’s submission, the public was surprised by the circulation of a video in which Yasinta Moiwend questioned the use of footage featuring her in the documentary Pig Feast: Colonialism in Our Time.

In the same video, Moiwend also stated that she would not travel to Jayapura to attend court hearings in the case.

“Taken together, these developments indicate that those who recorded and disseminated the video were clearly targeting the legal proceedings currently underway at the Jayapura Administrative Court,” the coalition stated.

The coalition further argued that because one of the statements in the video directly referred to the PTUN proceedings, the individuals who recorded and publicized the video had violated professional ethics by failing to coordinate with the Merauke Solidarity Advocacy Team, which remains Yasinta Moiwend’s legal representative.

“What is even more unusual is that, without any revocation of the power of attorney, the Director of LBH Papua Merauke was later reported to the Metro Jaya Police. In fact, the Merauke Solidarity Advocacy Team continues to hold legal authority as Yasinta Moiwend’s counsel in Case Number 9/G/LH/2026/PTUN JPR,” the coalition wrote.

The coalition argued that the police report against one of the leaders of an advocacy institution that is part of the Merauke Solidarity Advocacy Team contradicts Article 16 of Law No. 18 of 2003 on Advocates, which provides that advocates cannot be prosecuted civilly or criminally while carrying out their professional duties in good faith on behalf of their clients in court proceedings.

Based on that provision, the coalition stated that allegations made by Yasinta Moiwend against a member of the advocacy team, as well as actions taken by lawyers assisting her in filing reports with police authorities, should be reviewed by Indonesia’s advocate organizations in accordance with professional ethics procedures outlined in Article 8 of the Advocates Law.

The coalition also invoked Article 100 of Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights in calling on the Papua representative office of Indonesia’s Judicial Commission to monitor the professionalism of the panel of judges handling Case Number 9/G/LH/2026/PTUN JPR.

The coalition urged the panel of judges at the Jayapura Administrative Court to conduct the proceedings professionally and impartially. It also reminded the Regent of Merauke and Indonesia’s Minister of Defense, who are defendants in the case, not to use the Yasinta Moiwend controversy to influence or gain an advantage in the ongoing legal proceedings.

In addition, the coalition called on the National Police Chief to instruct the Metro Jaya Regional Police to observe legal protections afforded to advocates and legal aid providers under Article 16 of Law No. 18 of 2003 on Advocates and Article 11 of Law No. 16 of 2011 on Legal Aid in relation to the Yasinta Moiwend case.

The coalition further urged the Honorary Council of Indonesia’s advocate organizations to immediately investigate alleged violations of the legal profession’s code of ethics related to the case.

The Papua Coalition for Law Enforcement and Human Rights, which provides legal assistance to the Malind Indigenous community, includes LBH Papua, PAHAM Papua, ALDP, KPKC Synod of the Land of Papua, JPIC OFM Papua, Elsham Papua, Yadupa, the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation, LBH Papua Merauke, LBH Papua Sorong Office, KontraS Papua, and Tong Pu Ruang Aman. (*)