Appeal Rejected, Forestry Ministry Must Carry Out Public Information Openness Law
Jakarta, August 26, 2015. The Jakarta Administrative Court (PTUN) has ruled that the Environment and Forestry Ministry (KLHK) must carry out Law No. 14/2008 (UU KIP) about public information openness, in a lawsuit between plaintiff KLHK and and FWI as defendant. This is the second ruling for KLHK to provide the information requested by FWI.
The trial that was held on August 26, 2015, the panel of judges decided to reinforce the Central Information Commission’s (KIP) decision that the Timber Usage Working Plan (RKUPHHK), the Annual Timber Usage Working Plan (RKTUPHHK), the Timber Exploitation Permits (IPK) and the Industrial Material Fulfillment Plan (RPBBI) are public information and must be provided. Previously, KLHK appealed the decision. By making that decision, PTUNI showed that they carried out the mandate of UU KIP and forestry law.
“This isn’t just a victory for FWI. This is also a victory for the people as their rights to know and monitor forest management in Indonesia are fulfilled,” said FWI campaigner Linda Rosalina.
The information dispute trial at KIP and PTUN proved that KLHK’s commitment to implement information openness in the forestry sector is still far from expectations. If this condition persists, governance in the forestry sector will become worse. “There’s no reason for KLHK to hide those documents from the public. KLHK must respect the decision,” said Linda.
“Information openness will become a door for the people to participate in forestry development. Information that concerns many people’s lives must be open so that people can participate in the forestry development. With these reasons in mind, we won’t stop fighting for openness in the forestry sector,” said Linda.
FWI executive director Cristian Purba said that information requested by FWi was related to the process of licensing and legality of timber in forest management. “The licensing process in the forestry sector is vulnerable to corruption. If the access to information is less open, the potential for corruption will be higher”.
[1] Amar Putusan Komisi Informasi Pusat, No. 1369/XII/KIP-PS-M-A/2014 (http://www.komisiinformasi.go.id/daftarputusan/view/putusan-sengketa-informasi-antara-pemohon-informasi-lsm-forest-watch-indonesia-dengan-termohon-kementerian-lingkungan-hidup-dan-kehutanan-ri)
Source: http://kebebasaninformasi.org/2015/08/27/press-release-banding-ditolak-kementerian-lingkungan-hidup-dan-kehutanan-klhk-dituntut-terbuka/