Pestapora Festival Director Apologizes After Freeport Sponsorship Sparks Backlash

September 6, 2025 | 01:30 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Festival Director of Indonesian music festival Pestapora 2025, Kiki Aulia Ucup, has apologized for the wave of performer withdrawals from the music festival amid reports of collaboration with PT Freeport Indonesia.

Through his Instagram @pestapora on Saturday, September 6, 2025, he stated, "We want to clarify that we have not received a single penny in funding from PT Freeport Indonesia."

Kiki Ucup acknowledged the oversight in the brief collaboration and confirmed that Pestapora terminated its partnership with Freeport on Friday night, September 5, 2025.

"We also confirm that PT Freeport Indonesia will not be participating in Pestapora 2025," he added.

Pestapora 2025 Moves Forward with Adjusted Line-Up

The director emphasized that any consequences of ending the cooperation with Freeport are the full responsibility of the festival.

He assured that the event would continue as planned, albeit with adjustments to accommodate the performers who withdrew. "Pestapora will proceed as scheduled, but with an updated line-up to reflect the withdrawals," Ucup said.

Public scrutiny of the collaboration surfaced after a video was posted on Pestapora's Instagram highlighting Freeport's involvement a day before the event.

On the festival’s opening day, a parade featuring a banner reading, “Tembaga ikutan berpestapora” (Copper joins the festivities), was carried by two individuals accompanied by the company's marching band.

Tempo contacted PT Freeport Indonesia’s VP of Corporate Communications, Katri Krisnati, on September 6, but the company declined to comment.

Performers Speak Out

Several artists decided to withdraw from performing on the second and third days of Pestapora 2025, including Sukatani, Negatifa, Rrag, Rekah, Ornament, Durga, and The Panturas.

The Panturas explained their decision: "We have decided to cancel our performance at this year's Pestapora. All proceeds from merchandise sales will be donated to the people of Papua through Walhi."

Folk band Banda Neira announced their cancellation for the second day on Instagram, apologizing to fans and noting that they only learned of Freeport's involvement late on Friday night.

They wrote, "We want our attitudes and actions in daily life to align with what we convey on stage. Music, for us, is a promise to ourselves, ensuring our actions reflect our conscience, always considering the marginalized and excluded."

Other bands, including .Feast and Hindia, also expressed disappointment. "Just hours after we could have a little hope amid a heated situation, we are disappointed once again. We have decided to withdraw from Pestapora 2025," they said.

Bali punk band Rebellion Rose chose to honor their audience but used their stage time to address community concerns.

"We will return 100% of the payment and transportation costs without deductions. Afterward, we will step down from the stage and play unplugged with anyone present in our area," they said.

Jakarta’s horror-punk band Kelelawar Malam announced their non-participation by posting a screen that read “Pestapora Cancel.” "WE ARE WITHDRAWING FROM PESTAPORA! Solidarity for the people of Papua; may this company quickly leave your land," they wrote.

Similarly, Surabaya’s metalcore band Ornament stated, "We declare our withdrawal from Pestapora 2025. In these days of glaring light, we stand in solidarity with all the oppressed, whether in Papua, Palestine, or the streets in recent days."

Full List of Bands That Withdrew

• Banda Neira

• Bilal Indrajaya

• Centra

• Cloudburst

• Durga

• .Feast

• Filler

• Harum Manis

• Hindia

• Keep It Real

• Kelelawar Malam

• Kenya

• Leipzig

• Morad

• Navicula

• Negatifa

• Ornament

• Pelteras

• Petra Sihombing

• Poris

• Rebellion Rose

• Rekah

• Reruntuh

• Rrag

• Silampukau

• Skandal

• Sprayer

• Sukatani

• Swellow

• taRRkam

• Texpack

• The Cottons

• The Jeblogs

• The Panturas

• Tribute to Barefood

• White Chorus

• Xin Lie

Performers Withdraw from Jakarta's Pestapora 2025 Over Freeport Sponsorship

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