More whistle-blowers needed

I would like to comment on B. Herry-Priyono's article titled The DPR whistle-blowers (The Jakarta Post, Oct. 8, 2002). The appearance of these whistle-blowers amid rampant corruption in all the pillars of the state, be it in the legislature, judiciary as well as the executive, is worth appreciating. I do agree with you that more whistle-blowers are welcomed as their role in revealing "dirty practices" will help significantly to uncover a great number of corrupt practices.

However, there are some constraints on the part of these whistle-blowers when it comes to their safety. In revealing details of corruption practices they may be blackmailed by the corruptors and their gangs, as up to now there is no single law protecting their safety.

The latest case is of Kito Irkhamni (an official of the Attorney General's Office who has now become a suspect in another previous case, though) who revealed the Attorney General M.A. Rachman's controversial house in Graha Cinere, Depok.

We all know that the amended Constitution stipulates the rights of all citizens. Article 28 F and G on human rights states that everyone has the right to give information through all available means, and everyone also has the right to the feeling of security and safety.

Therefore, the government and the House of Representatives have to speed up the deliberation of the Freedom of Information Bill, and insert in it an article regarding protection of whistle-blowers. If it is not yet in place, it may, nevertheless, be included in related laws, for instance in Australia, the whistle-blower's right to protection appears in Article 6 of the Australian Public Service Act.

With the inclusion of their rights, I am pretty sure, more whistle-blowers will come forward and along with the legal reform, I repeat, legal reform including law enforcement in this country, more and more corruptors will be imprisoned, thanks to information received by whistle-blowers.

M. RUSDI

Jakarta