Information Commission Says Government Violates UU KIP in Handling Riau Forest Fires
Jakarta – Abdulhamid Dipopramono, chairman of the Central Information Commission (KIP), said the government seemed not care and slow in handling the haze. “This is a violation of the law,” he said in a press conference on Tuesday (15/9/2015)
Information management of the haze in Riau and surrounding areas is still poor and lacking in coordination. There were several information about plans to create artificial rain, but they were only partial and seemed not serious. “The information was not official and could not be verified, said Dipo.
The government has not provided proper information and explanation to the public regarding the cause of the haze, the affected areas, the impact to health and economy and relief efforts.
The aforementioned violation of law refers to Law No. 14/2008 about Public information Disclosure. The government as a public body is obligated to immediately announce information that can threaten lives of many people and public order. Forest fire is an incident that must be announced immediately.
“The government must immediately and officially announce potential danger and impact, procedure of evacuation, how to get help from the authorities and efforts that have been carried out to mitigate the danger.”
The government must also meet the standards of announcing information and ensure their implementation by the authorities. In this context of the haze is companies that are related to the business process in the forests, such as industrial plant forest and palm oil plantations.
http://kebebasaninformasi.org/2015/09/15/ki-nilai-pemerintah-langgar-uu-kip-dalam-menangani-kebakaran-hutan-riau/