Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Indonesia’s Editors’ Forum (Forum Pemred) urged the state to guarantee there is no obstruction of journalistic work following the revocation of a CNN Indonesia reporter’s presidential press pass.

“The state must ensure that no journalistic work is obstructed in Indonesia’s jurisdiction, including inside the presidential palace,” the Forum said in a statement signed by Chair Retno Pinasti and Secretary Irfan Junaedi on Sunday (28/9/2025), as reported by antaranews.com.

The group condemned the withdrawal of reporter Diana Valencia’s access card and pressed the Presidential Press and Information Bureau (BPMI Setpres) to clarify its decision. It reminded officials that obstructing journalism is a criminal offense under Indonesia’s 1999 Press Law, which carries up to two years in prison or a fine of IDR 500 million.

The Forum also backed CNN Indonesia’s newsroom and called for dialogue to resolve the dispute. It emphasized that Valencia’s question to President Prabowo Subianto about the Free Nutritious Meals program was both contextual and of strong public interest.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)