Minister of Communication and Information Tifatul Sembiring denied that the summoning of a number of chief editors by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Sunday was a form of government intervention into the media.

Tifatul said that the meeting at the State Palace on Sunday night was only a casual gathering. Tifatul said he invited the chief editors to meet Yudhoyono.

"Before the presidential election, there was a gathering (between editors-in-chief and Yudhoyono), now there's another. Don't call it 'summoning', it was only a casual gathering," Tifatul told Metro TV before attending a hearing with House of Representatives Commission I on Monday.

He added that the Sunday night's meeting was also to update the editors on the issues surrounding the cases of the deputy Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairmen Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra M Hamzah, as well as on Bank Century. "He (Yudhoyono) explained his opinion and the media gave their input," Tifatul said.

Tifatul labeled the summoning of chief editors of Kompas and Seputar Indonesia by the National Police last week 'a mistake.' "The summons was wrong, the investigators only wanted to get data but at the end of the day, they only had two cups of coffee," Tifatul said.