Press bodies want single bill on information, state secrecy

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) and the Press Council put forth a demand to the House of Representatives (DPR) on Monday to integrate the freedom of information and the state secrecy bills into one proposed law to prevent disharmony.

A combined bill would allow for greater freedom of information, they said.

Although the two bills were all drafted by the legislators, the two bills contain conflicting articles.

The freedom of information bill was designed to ensure the public access to information, while the state secrecy bill would cancel out that access in many cases.

Press Council chairman Atmakusumah Astraatmadja and PWI chairman Tarman Azzam were of the opinion that if a merger of the bills was not possible, then at least the House should deliberate the two draft laws simultaneously to prevent conflicts in the rulings.

Also speaking at the hearing were Leo S. Batubara of the Press Council and R.H. Siregar and Bambang Sadono of PWI. They were invited to give advice to the House on the deliberation of the freedom of information bill.

While deliberation of the freedom of information bill has started, the state secrecy bill remains untouched.

Since the freedom of information bill also limits public access to information declared as state secrets, the legislators also invited State Intelligence Agency (BIN) head Lt. Gen. (ret) A.M. Hendropriyono to give his input.

R.H. Siregar warned legislators that the freedom of information bill could hamper the existing press freedom.

Meanwhile, Leo questioned the frame of mind among the legislators when drafting the bills.

Batubara and other pro-reform activists had criticized some articles in the freedom of information bill that allow state officials to declare certain information classified.

They said such a stipulation would cause the freedom of information bill to become meaningless.

Batubara said the use of other legislation as a reference could halt the effective implementation of the freedom of information bill.

The information bill recognizes some exceptions for information disclosure.

Among the information restricted from the public is that which could affect law enforcement, endanger witnesses and officers, halt an investigation, affect protection of property rights, compromise national defense and interfere with people's privacy.

Controversial articles in freedom of information bill

---------------------------------------------------------------- - Article 5 stipulates that users of public information have an obligation not to misuse information as related to this law and other laws. - Article 6 (1), on the other hand, says that public offices have the right to refuse to disclose information if it falls into the category of information excluded by this and other laws. ----------------------------------------------------------------