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ack in May both national and international media greeted President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo'€™s decision to lift decades-long restrictions on foreign media access in Papua, calling the move a step in the right direction toward Indonesia'€™s full commitment to press freedom.

But only a few weeks later what was thought to be a promising initiative had already led to disappointment as then chief security minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno said the government would maintain its '€œclearance house'€ team that scrutinized the visits of foreign journalists to Papua. Without giving clarification, let alone denial, concerning his minister'€™s archaic approach, the President left room for speculation that he was not actually in command, or that he simply did not care if his directive had fallen on deaf ears.

Now his subordinates are moving to widen restrictions of foreign journalists. Not only in Papua, but in all parts of the country foreign media, both print and electronic, will have to secure permission from local governments before conducting reportage.

Director General of Political and General Administration at the Ministry of Home Affairs Soedarmo said on Wednesday the new regulation followed an agreement among ministries and state institutions responsible for monitoring foreigners that it was important to keep an eye on all activities of foreign journalists in the country.

In an effort to clarify the issue, Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said on Thursday the new regulation was needed to prevent foreign journalists from conducting intelligence activities. His explanation, however, will only raise more eyebrows, unless there is a precedent for the regulation.

It seems suspicion is behind the policy and if that is the case the government could take aim at all foreigners. Another possible motive is the government'€™s discontent with foreign media reports, which naturally describe Indonesia from an outsider'€™s point of view.

Whatever the reasons behind the new regulation, it has already cast doubt over this government'€™s respect for press freedom. The government'€™s plan to tighten its control of foreign media marks a setback for Indonesian democracy, where the press has been recognized as the fourth estate that completes the executive, legislative and judiciary powers to make democracy function well.

The press knows no borders. Local and foreign journalists are doing the same job of ensuring the public'€™s right to know is fulfilled and bound by the same code of conduct. They are only different in terms of nationality.

It is indeed beyond our imagination if Jokowi, dubbed a media darling during the presidential race and after his rise to power, will have the heart to stifle the press, especially foreign journalists. But the drafting of the new regulation to monitor foreign media serves as more proof of the gap in attitudes between him and his subordinates in dealing with the press.

We don'€™t think Jokowi has forgotten his own words while visiting the country'€™s easternmost region Merauke in May that '€œforeign journalists, as of today, are allowed to enter Papua as freely as they enter other provinces'€. We only demand that he realize his promise.