Indonesia: Security Officials Deny Patsy Widakuswara Access to US-ASEAN Summit
The journalist was allowed back in after United States officials urged Indonesian security forces
Location: India, Jakarta
Date: September 6, 2023
Indonesian security officials attempt to prevent White House pool reporter Patsy Widakuswara from covering the summit between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta. The Coalition For Women In Journalism expresses solidarity with Patsy Widakuswara. We condemn the action as an effort to suppress press freedom and demand a prompt explanation from the Indonesian authorities regarding the incident.
On Wednesday, September 6, Indonesian security officials tried to prevent Patsy Widakuswara, the Indonesian-American Voice of America (VOA) White House bureau chief, from covering the ASEAN conference after she asked U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Indonesian President Joko Widodo questions.
As the press pool was being escorted out of a meeting between U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Widakuswara inquired about the progress of a potential deal on Indonesian nickel to Vice President Harris and asked President Widodo if he was disappointed that President Joe Biden was not attending the summit.
This prompted Indonesian officials to obstruct Widakuswara physically, with security officials surrounding the journalist, instructing her to leave, and stating that she was banned from attending any future events, according to the reporter.
As a pool reporter, Widakuswara was part of the select group of journalists chosen to cover the event and provide updates to the broader media corps who were not present. Widakuswara expressed concerns that if the Indonesian officials persisted in their actions, and without intervention from U.S. officials, she would be unable to fulfill her role of informing her colleagues.
Widakuswara says that despite the tense atmosphere, she did not feel anxious or panicked because she was simply fulfilling her duty as a journalist.
U.S. officials urged Indonesian authorities to allow Widakuswara back inside, emphasizing Vice President Harris would not proceed into the summit room until the entire press pool, including Widakuswara, was granted access.
Josh Rogin, a columnist at The Washington Post, witnessed the incident and expressed his view that it portrayed Jakarta negatively. “The entire point of the U.S.-ASEAN summit is to celebrate shared values, and if the host isn’t standing up for those values and representing those values, it kind of undermines the entire endeavor,” Rogin told VOA.
Reporters Without Borders ranks Indonesia 108 out of 180 countries regarding press freedom. Media freedom in the country has faced growing threats and challenges in recent years.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism expresses its full support for Patsy Widakuswara. The incident poorly reflects Indonesia's adherence to press freedom and transparency principles. Such actions harm the perception of the country's commitment to upholding these crucial values.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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