Restrictions on Public Information Agreed
Tuesday, 16 January, 2007 | 12:49 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The government and the House of Representatives (DPR) yesterday (01/15) agreed to limit information to the public on food stock, intelligence, foreign affairs, and economic tolerance. It is a must that the Law on Freedom for Accessing Public Information stipulate the limitations in detail.

“It must be prepared specifically and concretely,” said a member of Defense Commission from National Mandate Party Faction Dedy Djamaludin Malik after a working meeting at the Parliamentary Complex that discussed the Draft Bill on Freedom for Accessing Public Information.

The issue on the limitation of public information emerged when the DPR and the government discussed it yesterday. A member of the Defense Commission of the Functional Group Party Faction Yuddy Chrisnandy said that the clause on the definition of information on the four matters will become a rubber stamp for the government. Therefore, he wanted the provision of the restriction to be removed. He cited as an example whether or not people have rights to find out if Indonesia has a relationship with Israel.

In addition, a member of the Defense Commission from the National Awakening Party Faction A.S. Hikam affirmed that the law must limit public rights to recognize the information of the four matters. The limitation is made with issues that may bring forth problems.

He cited the negotiations between Indonesia and Israel. It was considered that the government did not have to publicize the entire results of the negotiations. “There are indeed matters on foreign affairs that are not required to be publicized,” he said. However, he still asked that access to the public is not fully restricted.

Information and Communication Minister Sofyan Djalil acknowledged that concern over the limitation was a trauma on the past power. Hence, he agreed that the law stipulate the limitation of information to the public. “So, do not let the limitation become the abuse of power,” he said.

Aqida Swamurti