ID :
80237
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 16:56
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https://www.oananews.org//node/80237
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SPEAKER : STATE SECRECY BILL NOT TO DISTURB PRESS FREEDOM
Jakarta, Sept 16 (ANTARA) - The state secrecy bill being discussed by the House of Representatives (DPR) will not disturb the freedom of the press, House Speaker Agung Laksono said here on Wednesday.
"It is totally wrong to say that the state secrecy will run counter to the law on the press. There is no reason to believe that the bill will disturb freedom of the press," the House speaker said.
Laksono said he had received the assurance from the House special committee discussing the bill, and therefore he had concluded that the bill would not have the negative implications pictured by various parties.
On the other hand, he said, the definition of a state secret could not be made by anybody.
"The definition of a state secret is decided by the president, because no ordinary state official can say something is classified material or a state secret," Laksono said, adding the state secrecy bill could not be made arbitrarily, because certain rules and regulations must be met.
Meanwhile, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday called for re-discussion of the state secrecy bill to adjust its substance to its true context so that it would be better understood by the people.
"Lay it (the bill) in its true context. If needed, let us sit together to discuss it again and to make more mature preparation so that when the bill is passed into law, it can serve as a solution to problems in the state and government," the President said.
The head of state made the statement at the opening of a limited cabinet meeting at his office to discuss issues related to the state secrecy bill.
According to the president, more mature discussion of the state secrecy bill was expected to make the people understand its content better after it was passed into law.
"That's the important point. Not because we have limited time and other factors, we force the passing of a new law while in reality we know we still have to make necessary improvements," the president said.