Government submits right to information bill

A right to information bill was submitted to parliament this week to ensure the government conducts its activities in a transparent and accountable manner, according to the president’s office.

Deputy Attorney General Abdulla Muizza told Minivan News today the bill was “very similar” to the current right to information regulations, noting the right was enshrined in the constitution.

Article 29 of the constitution stipulates that everyone has the freedom to acquire and impart knowledge, information and learning.

While the right to information regulations exist, Muizzu said an Act would be “more effective” and have “more weight”, adding that regulations have to be reviewed every year.

“Regulations can also be changed at any time by a three-member panel in parliament but an Act requires all of parliament to be changed,” he said.

Ali Shamaan, the editor of Hafta weekly, said the bill will compel government offices to provide information.

“Legal action can be taken against those who refuse, whereas under the regulations, there was no legal recourse,” he said.

The right to information regulations were adopted by presidential decree last year after a bill on the issue was rejected by parliament in 2007.

Shamaan said the 2007 bill had “serious flaws” as it was proposed by a “30-year-old dictatorship” that did not have any intention of providing information.

“But in the last few years of the Maumoon government, a circular was sent to all government offices asking them to provide information to media,” he said.

He added that the incumbent government had told offices to make information available and was confidence MPs would vote for the bill.

The right to information regulations came into effect in May but have been severely criticised by journalists, who have argued they hamper rather than ease access to information.

Under the regulations, all information must be provided within 30 days, which the Maldives Journalism Association (MJA) has argued should be shortened to 21 days.

The MJA further criticised provisions in the regulations which allow government institutions to extend the period from 30 to 60 days on a number of grounds such as if the information is not considered ready for publication.

The regulations have also been criticised for their numerous exceptions. Information can be withheld if, for example, it relates “to a third party, is a trade secret or goes against a prior agreement”.

In a UNESCO sponsored report published last month, Toby Mendel, senior legal counsel at Article 19, an international organisation that advocates for freedom of expression, said the regulations did not, appear to be implemented in practice or used by either citizens or civil society as a means of accessing information.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)