WORLD BANK OFFERS AID FOR KIP LAW IMPLEMENTATION

Jakarta 24/11/2008 (Kominfo-Newsroom) The World Bank offers financial and technical aid for the implementation of legislation on public information transparency (KIP) in Indonesia.

The offer was voiced by Louis Esquival, a World Bank representative visiting the Public Information Agency, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, here Friday (21/11).

He said there were 80 countries having implemented KIP or KIP like legislations. Some of them are Mexico, Honduras, Bangladesh and the UK.

Mexico, according to a World Bank consultant, is one of the most successful in the implementation of legislation regarding access of information. “It takes only one year for Mexico to enforce the law on Information Access,” he added.

He admitted that access of information is not an easy thing to do for nation because it requires hard work and close cooperation among a number of related institutions.

In Indonesia, the law on public information transparency was ratified on April 30, 2008. It stipulates information that can be accessed by the public.

In the early stages of its implementation, the legislation calls for the setting up of an Information Commission, which will act as a mediator between the public and the government. (MAIZ/DR/id/ton)