LEGISLATOR "DEEPLY REGRETS" WITHDRAWAL OF STATE SECRECY BILL

Jakarta, Sept 19 (ANTARA) - A legislator has expressed "deep regret" about the government's decision to call off discussions on the State Secrecy Bill, saying the policy would only work to the advantage of "foreign agents" in the country.

"This is a defeat for the nation at the hands of the neo-colonial and capitalist movement through their lackeys - the activists of certain non-governmental organizations (NGOs). What they want is for everything in this country to remain an 'open book' to them so that they can control things as dictated by their interests," Yusron Ihza Mahendra, vice chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission I, said here Friday.

Mahendra was commenting on reports that the government, through Defense Minister Yuwono Sudarsono, had withdrawn the State Secrecy Bill from its legislative agenda.

The bill was submitted to the House in August 2008 and had already gone through several phases of deliberation in the legislature as well as hearings with many elements of the community , including the Press Council.

"Is it not strange, after having passed through several phases of discussion , and reached the Working Committee level, it is suddenly withdrawn, just because of protests from a few NGOs and elements, we know, are working for foreign interests," he said.

He said most of the protests had arisen because the people concerned had not really comprehended the bill's entire substance. "This is because the government has not sufficiently familiarized the public with the bill. This is why, people have gained a wrong understanding about the bill with many believing it will curb press freedom and democracy. Yet, if people peruse it carefully, they will know that many things that were in the original draft have been changed," Mahendra said.

"Therefore, I deeply regret the government's decision to retract the bill. This is really a defeat for the Indonesian nation but a victory for foreign agents," he said.

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