Indonesia’s Press Council has called for the immediate restoration of a CNN Indonesia journalist’s access to the Presidential Palace after her credentials were revoked following a question about a controversial free meal program.
On Saturday, the reporter in question asked President Prabowo Subianto about the government’s oversight of the Free Nutritious Meal program, which has been linked to food poisoning incidents affecting thousands of schoolchildren. In response, the palace revoked her press credentials, citing the question as unrelated to the president’s scheduled agenda. CNN Indonesia confirmed that the Press and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat collected the reporter’s press card without providing a formal explanation.
The Press Council issued a statement on Sunday, urging the palace to clarify its actions and reinstate the journalist’s access. Chairman Komaruddin Hidayat emphasized that such actions impede journalistic duties and violate Law No. 40 of 1999 concerning the press, which guarantees press freedom.
The Indonesian Journalists Alliance (IJTI) and the National Journalists Forum (FWK) also condemned the revocation, asserting that the question posed was pertinent to public interest and fell within journalistic ethics. They warned that restricting journalists’ access based on the content of their questions undermines press freedom and public access to information.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about press freedom in Indonesia, where journalists have faced increasing restrictions and threats. The country ranks 127th out of 180 in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, reflecting a decline in media independence.
As the situation develops, media organizations and press freedom advocates continue to call for transparency and the protection of journalists’ rights in Indonesia.
