Government drafting five bills on media<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government is drafting five bills aimed at ensuring easier
\naccess to information for the public, State Minister for
\nCommunication and Information Syamsul Mu'arif said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The bills geared to protecting consumers' rights, especially
\nonline media, will be submitted to the House of Representatives
\nin early 2002 for deliberation.<\/p>\n
The bills are on broadcasting, transparency and freedom of
\ninformation, information technology, digital signatures and
\nelectronic transactions, Syamsul said,<\/p>\n
The broadcasting bill is in fact a revision of the one already
\ndebated earlier this year that was delayed due to strong
\nopposition from members of the media. The bill sets strict rules
\non media ownership to avoid a monopoly of the media by a handful
\nof capitalists -- a fear that media circles say is
\nunsubstantiated.<\/p>\n
The bill on transparency and freedom of information sets
\npenalties for anyone who denies the public their right to
\ninformation.<\/p>\n
\"A government official would be subject to certain penalties
\nif he refused, for example, to disclose to the public the state
\nbudget,\" Syamsul said.<\/p>\n
The other three bills on information technology, digital
\nsignatures and electronic transactions, concern online or
\nInternet media, which will be the first of its kind.<\/p>\n
The information technology bill is being drafted in
\ncooperation with the Ministry of Transportation, while the
\ndigital signature and electronic transaction bills are being
\ndrafted in cooperation with Ministry of Trade and Industry,
\nSyamsul said.<\/p>\n
The revision of Law No. 40\/1999 on the media is intended to
\nprovide legal protection for journalists.<\/p>",
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