Jakarta , Ekuatorial – Green activists on Tuesday (30/9) criticized Ministry of Forestry for its lack transparency on information for public.
Based on Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI) data, Ministry of Forestry only received 17 requests for information in 2013. The number increased to 62 requests between January to August 2014. However, the ministry had only responded to 15 percents of those requests. “That is a small number,” said Linda Rosalina, a researcher with FWI, in Jakarta.
Rosalina added that the data also showed the ministry was not ready to provide public access of information resulted to their tardiness in responding the requests, not because of flowing demands.
“Information availability [on forestry sector] would encourage people’s participation in forest management, starting from planning, managing, and monitoring,” she said adding that these information would give opportunities for local and indigenous people living near the forests areas to implement sustainable forest management.
Most requested information, she said, was directly related to forest management.
In the same note, Citra Hartati, Project Officer of Indonesia Center for Environmental Law (ICEL), said that as a public institution, ministry of forestry should have disclosed the information. “Because, public information can be used by public to monitor government’s performance,” Hartati added.
She said that the 2008 Public Information Disclosure Law had already given boundaries on sensitive information for public consumption. So, public institutions are stipulated to protect information considered as classifieds.
“If the requests are not for classified then they [public institutions] have no reason to disclose those information,” she said. “Information of forestry are required because it holds crucial role in natural resources management.”
Without accurate forestry information, she added, it will worsen Indonesia’s development in the future.
John Fresly, Deputy Head of Central Information Commission (KIP) said that transparency in the Ministry of Forestry should be reflected by announcing and providing public information proactively. “Information disclosure is a part of the ministry’s accountability on the implementation of the [2008] Law,” said Fresly.
He added that public can file legal lawsuit if they were not being given the information as it should.
However, Eka Sugiri, Head of Public Communication, Ministry of Forestry, rejected the claim that they were withholding public information. “All institutions or personals can request for information in the ministry. We have nothing to hide,” Sugiri said.
Although, he added, some information was not disclosed as it might be related to privacy, state security, and other reasons as stipulated in the Law.
“If the process took more than three days, it’s because we are trying to collect all requested information. There are no requests which we ignored. If the requests are in accordance with the Law, we will provide them,” Sugiri said. Januar Hakam.
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