Indonesian President

Jokowi urged to honor promise to free up media access to West Papua

Tabloid Jubi reported this call came after the expulsion of French journalists Franck Escudie and Basile Longchamp on visa violations last month.

RSF's Benjamin Ismail said the Indonesian president had undertaken to scrap the restrictions that obstruct the work of foreign journalists in West Papua.

But he said Jakarta's repeated refusals to issue press visas and the growing number of journalists on its blacklist, shows it falls far short of qualifying as a country that supports freedom of expression and media freedom.

Indonesia Pres cancels trip after protests

Widodo informed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of his decision Saturday and instructed his Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi to reschedule his visit, according to a statement released from the palace.

Violent clashes erupted in Jakarta on Friday as protesters demanding the ouster of the city's governor, who has been accused of blasphemy against Muslims, clashed with police, CNN Indonesia reported.