Indonesia restores reporter’s palace access after revocation sparks press freedom concerns

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JAKARTA (Reuters) -The office of Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto on Monday restored access for a CNN Indonesia journalist, having earlier revoked it after she had asked the leader about a troubled free meal programme, sparking concerns about press freedom.

CNN Indonesia editor-in-chief Titin Rosmasari met with the Indonesian palace and confirmed the journalist’s access had been restored, CNN Indonesia reported. The palace had apologised for the revocation and said it would not be repeated, it added.

Indonesia’s main press council had on Sunday said the palace should explain its reasoning and restore the reporter’s access, calling for the protection of press freedom.

Titin told Reuters earlier on Monday the reporter’s credentials were revoked on Saturday night. She also told magazine Tempo that the revocation was related to the reporter’s question about thousands of school children who fell sick after consuming food served in the free meal programme.

The reporter asked Prabowo on Saturday whether he had instructions for the National Nutrition Agency overseeing the programme, news footage shows.

Prabowo said he would summon the agency and said “this is a huge matter,” adding there were bound to be shortcomings at the beginning of the programme and urging caution against politicisation.

Tempo reported other journalists at the event were only allowed to ask about Prabowo’s international trip last week, which included a stop at the United Nations headquarters.

Nearly 6,000 children have fallen sick after consuming food as part of Prabowo’s multi-billion dollar free meal programme since its January roll-out, government data shows, more than 1,000 of whom were impacted last week.

The deputy head of the agency in charge on Friday apologised for the food poisoning cases, saying there was a lack of oversight and the agency took full responsibility.

Indonesia ranks 127th out of 180 countries and territories in the 2025 the World Press Freedom Index by the Reporters Without Borders, having fallen 16 places in one year.

(Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)