Information bill debate faces deadlock

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 02/16/2008 12:42 PM  |  National

The deliberation of the public information bill at the House of Representatives faces deadlock over sanctions for data misuse and public access to state enterprises.

Masduki Baidlowi of Commission I overseeing media, information and defense affairs, said the House had challenged the government's intention to criminalize data misuse and to deny public access to state enterprises.

"We are still unable to reach agreement on the two key issues," Masduki said Thursday.

Article 49 of the bill stipulates those guilty of deliberately misusing public information face a maximum two-year prison sentence or a maximum fine of Rp 30 million (US$3,243).

"The government insists on maintaining the sanctions, while Commission I stands firm on removing this article," said Masduki.

He said the article was vague because it did not define the kind of misuse or manipulation of information the sanctions would address.

"It could pertain to anything, including the investigative reports of our journalists," said Masduki.

He said if the article could not be excluded from the bill, the House would recommend the draft be made more specific in explaining "public information misuses".

"For example, this phrase could be replaced by the terms 'defamation' or `character assassination'," said Masduki, adding that these matters are actually regulated by other legislation.

Further cause of the deadlock concerns the status of state-owned companies within the public information bill.

"The government wants to exclude state enterprises from this bill. While the House says that the companies may keep some information confidential, they should not be fully exempted from the draft," Masduki said.

The House's stance has received support from a petition signed by at least 600 activists and institutions submitted to the National Awakening Party (PKB) on Thursday.

The petition requested the government and legislators remove articles stipulating sanctions and include state companies in the draft.

Agus Sudibyo, from the Science, Esthetics and Technology Foundation, who signed the petition, said the sanctions stipulated in the draft were a threat to press freedom.

"I am concerned that article 49 will be another reason for law enforcers to criminalize journalistic work," he said.

Agus said even without the article, Indonesian press freedom was at risk. He cited the example of two journalists jailed in 2007 because of defamation accusations.

"It's not only journalists, even people who write reader's letters are threatened with imprisonment, like what happened in North Jakarta," said Agus.

Agus also defended legislators' efforts to include state-owned companies in the public information bill.

"So far, state-owned companies are prone to corruption. We need them to be more transparent."

The House hopes to pass the bill by March 2008. (alf)

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