FWK, Press Council, And IJTI Condemn The Revocation Of The Identity Of CNN Indonesia Journalists Press By The Palace Press Bureau

President Prabowo Subianto arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta, Saturday (27/9/2025). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Coordinator of the National Journalists Forum (FWK) Raja Parlindungan Pane condemned the lifting of press identities belonging to CNN Indonesia journalists by the Press, Media and Information Bureau (BPMI) of the Presidential Secretariat.

He considered that this step should not be taken, because it contradicts the principles of press freedom guaranteed by the Press Basic Law and the journalistic code of ethics.

The king emphasized that the press has the right to ask questions, because according to him, these questions are needed as material for clarification.

"We will criticize if the revocation is revoked. This means that it should not be revoked, explained. The press has the right to ask questions, in fact, the question is needed for clarification, right," said the King when contacted by VOI on Sunday, September 28.

According to him, if a question is deemed not in accordance with the topic, the press bureau should provide an explanation or choose not to answer, not by withdrawing the identity of journalists.

"Don't revoke it directly, because that's the same as silencing someone's opinion, right. So I ask, beg, so that the palace press bureau immediately classify it immediately. So as not to go wild with the issue," he said.

The King's statement is also in line with the Press Council's statement, which asks the Palace Press Bureau to provide an explanation, so as not to hinder the implementation of journalistic duties within the Palace.

The Press Council calls on all parties to respect the duties and functions of the press that carry out the public mandate as regulated in Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press.

In addition, the Press Council also asked all parties to respect the duties and functions of the press as stipulated in Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press.

The Press Council hopes that similar cases will not occur in the future, and asks that access to coverage of repealed CNN Indonesia journalists be restored immediately.

Meanwhile, IJTI has also expressed concern over what happened. ITJI asked for an explanation from the Press, Media and Information Bureau (BPMI) of the Presidential Secretariat for this incident.

"In IJTI's view, the question raised by sister Diana Valencia is still in the corridor of journalistic ethics and is relevant to the public interest. Moreover, President Prabowo Subianto has provided an informative answer regarding the Free Nutrition Food Program, which should be an important ingredient for the wider community to know," IJTI wrote in a statement.

IJTI assesses that the revocation of coverage identity cards can be seen as a form of barrier to journalistic work, which has the potential to limit public access to information.

IJTI reminded that Article 18 paragraph (1) of the Press Law no. 40 of 1999 states: "Everyone who deliberately commits actions that violate or obstruct the implementation of the provisions of Article 4 paragraph (2) and paragraph (3) shall be sentenced to a maximum imprisonment of 2 (two) years or a maximum fine of Rp. 500,000,000.00."