by Parliamentary Center | Oct 27, 2016 | National
Aiming to Achieve Transparent Elections
On August 14, 2015, the General Elections Commission (KPU) held a meeting with the Innovative Civig Engagement (ICE) working group at KPU building.
ICE is an NGO working group for general elections information openness. It consists of Elva, Indonesian Parliamentary Center (IPC), the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem), the Nusantara Media Development Association (PPMN) and Women’s Solidarity (SP). The meeting was for ICE to propose to improve information services at KPU.
“KPU’s information openness innovation in 2014 was greatly praised. KPU’s biggest challenges are to maintain that achievement and spread it to various parties as a lesson,” said Titi Anggraeni, Executive Director of Perludem.
KPU’s move to publish C1 document during the 2014 presidential elections also gained positive response from the international community at the interntational open data conference at Ottawa, Canada, on May 28-19, 2015.
This achievement must be followed by improvement of information services at KPU. Sulastio from IPC said that KPU needed to set up e-ppid in order to establish PPID structure in KPU.
IPC researcher Arbain said that the secretariat had understood public information as right of the people. Targets for the next step are establishment and improvement of PPID, drafting Public Information List (DIP) and data digitization SOP.
In the last two years, Arbain have been active in assisting KPU in improving public information openness. In early 2014, the elections network requested massive information at KPU which caused panics and concerns regarding UU KIP. “At that time, I started encouraging KPU,” said Arbain, who came to the technical and public participation division at KPU two to three times a week to propose activities and convince employees that they could carry on.
The efforts produced results after several workshops and training of PPID and several provincial KPU. “ There are now at least 14 PPID trainers at KPU,” said Arbain.
KPU appreciated the public participation in contributing ideas to the KPU. “This will surely become an encouragement for KPU in realizing KPU’s goal of becoming the center of data and information regarding Indonesia’s elections for the world,” said Ferv Kurnia Rizkiansyah, member of KPU.
Source: http://kebebasaninformasi.org/2015/08/27/membangun-mimpi-transparasi-pemilu/
by Parliamentary Center | Oct 27, 2016 | National
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/
by Parliamentary Center | Oct 27, 2016 | National
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/
by Parliamentary Center | Oct 27, 2016 | National
Central KI: President Must Reveal Minister Peformances
Jakarta, Kebebasaninformasi.org – If the president wants to gain public trust, then the president must reveal the achievements and performances of ministers clearly and openly, as stated by Central Information Commission (KI) commissioner Yhannu Setiawan on Thursday, May 7, 2015.
Yhannu said transparency of achievements and performances of ministers is needed so that people know and ensure that the reshuffle process is done objectively based on performances, not just political pressure.
Since being inaugurated, Yhannu said, President Jokowi has not explained the benchmarks in evaluating his government while according to UU KIP, public bodies are obligated to regularly provide information regarding policies and performances to the people. It is also stated in the president’s Nawacita concept where the president stated he will support and promote information openness in his government.
Therefore, Yhannu said there was no more reason for the president to cover up information about performances of ministers.
http://kebebasaninformasi.org/2015/05/11/ki-pusat-presiden-harus-buka-kinerja-menteri/
by Parliamentary Center | Oct 27, 2016 | National
Jakarta Opens Recruitment for Information Commission Candidates
9 November 2015
Jakarta – The Jakarta government opens registration for Information Commission members period 2016-2020, following the end of term of the commission members period 2012-2016 in January 2016. The registration is open up until November 12, 2015.
The short deadline and the nearing end of year require hard work from the selection team. “We will work hard to recruit qualified and competent candidates,” said Bejo Untung, member of selection team.
Provincial KI plays an important part in promoting information openness in Jakarta. Moreover, Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnaa (Ahok) is now promoting proactive disclosure in online media.
Therefore, public participation during the selection process is needed. “We need competent candidates for the commission for the next four years,” said Bejo.
For more information: http://www.beritajakarta.com/pendaftaran
http://kebebasaninformasi.org/2015/11/09/provinsi-dki-jakarta-buka-pendaftaran-calon-anggota-komisi-informasi/
