Jakarta – The government wants the new state secrets bill to restrict foreigners access to information that could threaten national security, the information minister said Monday.
Sofyan Djalil unveiled the proposal at a hearing with the House of Representatives' Commission I on foreign affairs, defense and information. The minister declined to elaborate on the contents of the bill, saying to do so could jeopardize national security.
He said other democratic countries, including the United States, had passed similar legislation. Sofyan noted the US government was still refusing to release documents relating to its alleged role in Indonesia's clampdown on communists in the mid-1960s.
"These documents that have been kept from the public for 30 years should be opened. But the US has repressed them permanently to ensure good relations with Indonesia," Sofyan said.
He said the state secrets bill would make it legal for government officials to restrict foreigners from accessing certain public information in Indonesia.
Foreign individuals and organizations could get information on customs procedures or taxes but would not be given access to sensitive information, like that on intelligence operations here, Sofyan said.
"Foreigners have the right to get information about things like immigration laws and taxes. But there is certain specific information that they will be forbidden from accessing," he said without elaborating.
However, the minister said the government would make it easier for Indonesian citizens and foreigners with permanent residence to access such information. He did not explain how the government would stop Indonesian citizens and residents from passing on this information to foreigners.
Sofyan said if the government did not create legislation protecting state secrets, the country's security would be in danger. He gave an example of "a person in South Africa" sending an email to on Indonesian public official to ask for "specific information".
"If the official refuses to answer the message, then he (in certain cases) could be sent to jail for breaking the law. But if the law regulates this kind of situation, then the public official has the right to refuse to answer."
Speaking on the bill, lawmaker Muhammad A.S. Hikam from the National Awakening Party urged the government to clearly specify what kind of information was being protected. "Otherwise, this regulation could be very dangerous because it could be used to restrict public access to all information," he said.
Deddy Djamaluddin, a lawmaker from the National Mandate Party, warned that restricting foreigners from accessing certain public information could end up making the government look guilty when it was not.
"For example, a foreigner wanting to do a research in Papua province would find it difficult to get any information. He or she could conclude that what has happened there is genocide. It's dangerous," he said. All foreign journalists are currently barred from entering Papua.
Local and international human rights groups have frequently accused the police and military of committing human rights violations in the province.