Palace Admits Regrets Withdrawing CNN Indonesia Journalist ID Card

CNN Indonesia journalist Diana Valencia (center) received the Palace's identification card (ID) after a meeting with the Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat and CNN Indonesia at the Jakarta Presidential Palace Complex, Monday (29/9/2025). (ANTARA/Personal Documentation)

JAKARTA - The Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat has stated that it will not repeat the decision to withdraw the identity card (ID) of coverage to journalists covering the activities of President Prabowo Subianto, after the incident happened to CNN Indonesia journalist Diana Valencia.

Deputy for Protocol, Press and Media of the Presidential Secretariat (Setpres) Yusuf Permana said that the Head of the Press, Media and Information Bureau (BPMI) Erlin Suastini had apologized to Diana and CNN Indonesia in the meeting of the two parties which took place at the Jakarta Presidential Palace Complex, Monday.

"We also ensure that this incident will not happen again. So friends who are on duty at the Palace, we understand that this incident will not happen again. And the Head of the Press and Media Bureau has also regretted withdrawing the ID of friends," Yusuf said in a statement to the media at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Monday, confiscated by Antara.

Yusuf said that the Press Bureau apologized and agreed to return the Identification Card (ID) of the Palace Press to Diana Valencia, after his party withdrew the Press ID on Saturday 27 September.

According to him, the Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat strongly upholds the principle of openness and freedom of the press, as mandated in Law No. 40 of 1999 concerning the Press.

In line with that, President Prabowo Subianto also upholds press independence, so that the return of the Press ID also aims to allow the Palace to collaborate again with journalists, especially in covering the success of the President's priority program.

"He (the President) still upholds, upholds the openness and freedom of the press," said Yusuf.

On the same occasion, Diana also thanked the Head of BPMI Erlin Suastini, who had been heartened to apologize and return his Palace Press ID.

He also appreciated the press Bureau's decision to commit that the incident of withdrawing the Press ID on Saturday (27/9) would be the last time, although it did not rule out a warning from the Press Bureau regarding the Presidential coverage protocol, such as the position and questions of intercept interviews (doorstop).

"Maybe friends here also know how we work, there must be mutual attractions in the field about positions, about doorstops, about doorstop material. But how this ID is the access to be able to cover the Palace, the withdrawal will be the last," Diana said.