For and Against Sexy Killer Movie

For Against
The film deeply investigated coal mining, this ‘sexy killer’ film campaigns for
its impact, and the political elite connected abstentions or ‘golput’
with the mining.
- House and facilities damaged in - It shows the involvement of political
Kutai elites both in the number 1 and 2
- Farmers’ field were covered with presidential candidates in this ‘sexy’
mud in Kertabuana Village coal mining business.
The film revealed that not only natural the film is one-sided and does not cover
damage and community difficulties both sides
occurred at the mining site, but also at coal
- It doesn’t discuss in more detail
burning sites, namely the PLTU
about 5 coal mines owned by
- Farmers’ field were covered with presidential candidate number 2,
mud in Kertabuana Village Prabowo Subianto
- The fields of salt farmers are
threatened to be evicted to expand
the Power Plant (PLTU Cirebon)
area
This film is a proof of the mistakes of coal the film was funded by the opposition or
mining companies and government policies other parties and the existence of money
that oppress the people. intervention propaganda
- Farmers and residents who protested
to the company were criminalized
and imprisoned.
- Their fate has become increasingly
difficult since the establishment of
the power plant
From this film, we know that the cheapness
of coal as an energy source is because of
people around it is the one who will receive
its bad impact.

- 32 children died in mine excavation

Recently, a documentary film titled Sexy Killer was produced by Production House
WatchDoc Image. This film is the result of an expedition travel around Indonesia starting
January 2015 called Ekspedisi Indonesia Biru. This documentary film generally discusses
environmental issues in Indonesia, especially looks at the local impacts of the energy industry
and infrastructure development. “Sexy Killer” shows the links between Indonesian coal and
energy companies and the country’s political elite. This documentary is published on April
14, 2019, exactly 3 days before the election and has been watched by more than 20 million
viewers until this article was made. Various kinds of responses appeared on this documentary
film, both in terms of supporting the content of this film or those who did not agree with what
the narrator said in this film.

Those who supported the film argued that the film deeply investigated coal mining,
its impact, and the political elite connected with the mining. Not only that, the film also
explains the enormous burden and suffering that people get. For example, in the village of
Sanga-Sanga, Kutai, East Kalimantan in November 2018, nearly 5 houses were damaged and
cracked because mining activities were so close. The road has collapsed and public facilities
have been damaged. The film reveals that there is no accountability or compensation given
by the mining company or the government.

The film directed by Dandy Laksono also revealed that not only natural damage and
community difficulties occurred at the mining site, but also at coal burning sites, namely the
Power Plant (PLTU). In Kertabuana Village, East Kalimantan, farmers' fields were covered
with mud and the irrigation track was cut off due to the construction of the mine road. While
in Cirebon, West Java, the fields of salt farmers are threatened to be evicted to expand the
Power Plant (PLTU Cirebon) area. Their fate has become increasingly difficult since the
establishment of the power plant. Farmers and residents often staged protests against the
company, but farmers and residents who protested were criminalized and imprisoned.

Hundreds of mine excavation holes that have not been reclaimed have become very
large pools of water. In 2011-2018 more than 32 children died in East Kalimantan because
they were submerged in mine excavation holes that was supposed to be reclaimed. The film
gives a snapshot of the statement of the Governor of East Kalimantan Province who considers
this case to be just an ordinary misfortune. In fact, this case is due to the location of the
former coal mine pit that is too close to the settlement, even just behind the school. Until now
there have been no attempts to reclaim all of the holes. In Palu, Central Sulawesi, the location
of the PLTU Panau which is adjacent to the settlement makes residents living near the PLTU
suffer from respiratory diseases, for example asthma and respiratory cancer. It was recorded
that more than 8 people died from respiratory diseases caused by the power plant activities
(PLTU Panau). At last, from this film, we know that the cheapness of coal as an energy
source is because of people around it (coal mining and power plant) is the one who will
receive its bad impact.
 However, people who argue do not agree with the presence of this film because
they argue that this ‘sexy killer’ film campaigns for abstentions or ‘golput’. This is because
the film shows the involvement of political elites both in the number 1 and 2 presidential
candidates in this ‘sexy’ coal mining business. One of them is Letjen Purn Luhut Panjaitan
who now is the Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs in Jokowi side and as owner PT
Toba Bara, a coal mining and PLTU company. PT Toba Bara is responsible for what
happened in East Kalimantan. Some of the governments who their names were quoted by the
narrator in this business denied many of the facts revealed by this film.

Other opinions also say that the film is one-sided and does not cover both sides.
Data from coal mining entrepreneurs featured in this film do not discuss in more detail about
5 coal mines owned by presidential candidate number 2, Prabowo Subianto. The
disagreement of opinion led to saying that the film was funded by the opposition or other
parties and the existence of money intervention propaganda is often offered to attack this
film. But the more hit, the film is even more sought after.

There are only a few phenomena shown in the film, if it mentions and you look at
other regions, there will be more people who will be increasingly displaced by development.
In fact, development which should have an impact on improving welfare and reducing
poverty, actually make people suffer more. In the end, the presence of this documentary film
gave a hard slap to our government policy. Because of its presence in the run-up to the
election 'injury time', the film also becomes a reminder for us to argue back to the substantial
matters instead of debating things beyond that. We as young people must also be critical and
wise in choosing leaders. Because 5 minutes will influence our life on 5 years later.