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Bali says its ready for law on information freedom
Bali is a step ahead of other provinces and is ready to implement the recently-implemented Freedom of Information Law, although many agencies are not prepared to process inquiries, an official said Thursday
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ali is a step ahead of other provinces and is ready to implement the recently-implemented Freedom of Information Law, although many agencies are not prepared to process inquiries, an official said Thursday.
The province will set a good example for easy public access to information, Central Information Commission member Abdul Rahman Ma’mun said Thursday, commenting on a recent study conducted by the Sloka Institute, a Bali-based NGO.
“Bali is ready to put the law into practice but public institutions should improve procedures for delivering the information to the public,” Abdul said, adding that other provinces have not implemented the law well.
The Sloka Institute report focused on three sectors considered basic for public service — education, health and environment, The study was conducted at the provincial level and in Denpasar, Gianyar and Badung regencies. It surveyed the Education Agency, Environmental Agency, Sanitation Agency, schools, hospitals and community health centers.
“We conducted the study to see how public institutions provide basic information to citizens,” said Sloka Institute representative Agus Sumberdana.
“Most institutions were willing to disclose basic information, but were unable to simplify procedures because they didn’t have a standardized level of service,” he said.
After a two-year delay, the 2008 Freedom of Information Law took effect in April. The law requires all state institutions, from the central to regional levels, and political parties, NGOs and mass organizations to make their information available to the public.
Organizations must fulfill all public information requests except for those involving state secrets.
The law provides an exemption specified in Article 17 of the law for information whose revelation can disrupt “law enforcement”. Information related to defense and security issues, business deals and diplomatic negotiations will also remain confidential.
The law guarantees all citizens access to information from public institutions as part of a policy of good governance and to improve public participation in policy making. The law stipulates a public institution that intentionally hampers public access to information will be punished with a maximum fine of Rp 5 million (US$550) or up to one year in prison.
To implement the law, each province is required to establish its own commission of information, whose members will be selected by the central government.
“Hopefully, we will have established the commission by next year,” said Chandra Dewi, an official from the provincial Information and Transportation Agency.
Abdul said all institutions covered by the law should make a list of information that is confidential in order to avoid disputes.
Freedom of Information Network Indonesia representative Danardono said that the public should also be aware that their right to access information is guaranteed by the 1945 Constitution and the law on information.
