Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – The Indonesian Press Council has urged the Presidential Palace to reinstate the press credentials of a CNN Indonesia journalist whose access was revoked after she asked President Prabowo Subianto about a government food aid program.
The journalist, Diana Valencia, posed her question on Saturday at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta, shortly after the president returned from an overseas trip. She asked about reports of food poisoning cases among recipients of the government's free nutritious meal program.
Prabowo responded to the question without incident during the press briefing. However, Diana later discovered that her presidential press pass had been revoked on the grounds that she had raised a "non-relevant question."
The incident has triggered concern among Indonesia's media community, with press watchdogs warning that restricting access over questions posed to the president undermines journalistic independence and risks chilling press freedom in Southeast Asia's largest democracy.
Press Council intervention
Komaruddin Hidayat, Chairman of the Press Council, said the decision was unacceptable and reminded officials that press freedom is protected under Indonesia's Press Law No. 40 of 1999.
"The Press Council requests that the CNN Indonesia journalist's access be immediately restored so she can resume her reporting duties at the Palace," Komaruddin said in a statement on Sunday.
The Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI) also defended Diana, saying her question was relevant to the public interest and in line with journalistic ethics.
IJTI urged the Presidential Press Bureau to explain its decision and warned that blocking reporters could be considered an obstruction of journalistic work – an offense under the press law that carries a penalty of up to two years in prison.
"This action could be interpreted as restricting public access to information," said IJTI Chairman Herik Kurniawan.
The Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) similarly condemned the move as unconstitutional, noting that the country's constitution guarantees the right to communicate and access information.
"Protecting press freedom means protecting democracy. Any restrictions that contradict the constitution and the Press Law must stop," said PWI Chairman Akhmad Munir.