JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS – Amnesty International Indonesia has condemned the Presidential Palace for revoking the press credentials of a CNN Indonesia TV journalist, calling the move an alarming act of censorship and repression against the media.

Haeril Halim, Media Manager at Amnesty International Indonesia, described the revocation as a “clear example of authoritarian state behavior” aimed at suppressing information about controversial government policies.

“We strongly denounce this attempt to silence the press by the Palace. It is unacceptable to strip a journalist of their access simply for asking a question deemed ‘out of context’. Journalists have a duty to ask tough questions—especially when public health is at stake,” Halim said in a statement.

 

The incident occurred after Diana Valencia, a journalist for CNN TV Indonesia, questioned President Prabowo Subianto about the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, which has been linked to mass food poisoning cases among schoolchildren across the country.

Valencia raised the issue during a press encounter on Saturday (September 27), shortly after the President returned from an overseas trip.

Following the exchange, the Presidential Press, Media, and Information Bureau (BPMI) reportedly contacted Valencia to verify her location. Later that evening, BPMI staff visited CNN Indonesia’s office and retrieved her presidential press pass, stating that her question was “out of context.”

CNN Indonesia’s Editor-in-Chief, Titin Rosmasari, confirmed that the press card was taken without prior notice, effectively preventing Valencia from covering the President’s events.

“This is not only an attack on one journalist—it’s an attack on the public’s right to know,” Halim added. “This kind of arbitrary action undermines press freedom and violates Indonesia’s Press Law No. 40 of 1999, which explicitly prohibits censorship and guarantees journalistic independence.”

 

Though the Presidential Office later returned the press card and issued an apology after a meeting with CNN Indonesia’s editorial leadership, press freedom advocates argue the damage has been done.

The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) revealed that prior to the press conference, journalists were unofficially instructed not to raise questions about the MBG issue. Despite this, Diana Valencia chose to press the issue, citing her professional responsibility to pursue matters of public concern.

“Efforts to restrict journalists from asking certain questions constitute censorship,” Amnesty stated.

“They not only erode press freedom, but also infringe on the public’s right to access honest and relevant information.”

 

Amnesty warns that the incident sets a dangerous precedent, creating a climate of fear among journalists and signaling a shift toward authoritarian control of the media. Reports from AJI also indicate that similar cases of intimidation have occurred in other regions, including Semarang, East Lombok, and Sorong—where journalists covering MBG-related incidents were harassed by local authorities.

Amnesty International has called on President Prabowo Subianto to take full responsibility for the incident, issue a public apology, and ensure such repressive practices are not repeated.

“Controlling, censoring, or banning critical questions is a step backward for democracy in Indonesia. The government must uphold press freedom as guaranteed by law,” Halim concluded.(Uki)