‘Sash urges government to redraft Info Bill’ - BLACK SASH, 27 July 2010Black Sash Media Statement – For immediate release: Tuesday, 27 July 2010.
‘Sash urges government to redraft Info Bill’
The Black Sash would like to add its voice to the many others that have been raised in opposition to the proposed ‘Protection of Information Bill’ now before Parliament for a second time. We urge the government to withdraw it once again, and redraft it in such a way that it provides for the real national interest, which is “to promote the free flow of information within an open and democratic society”.
Black Sash National Director Marcella Naidoo says that while the Bill contains provisions which accept the importance of open access to information, it also carries clauses which threaten to diminish this right. “On the one hand it provides for the necessary protection and classification of state information. But on the other hand, this Bill provides much broader scope for classifying information which may not be disclosed if it would harm “the national interest”. But who is going to decide what’s in the national interest?” asks Naidoo.
Black Sash Trustee Mary Burton agrees that the categories have such wide reach that if the Bill becomes law, officials will have the power to classify much more information than simply that which covers ‘the survival or security of the state’. “The appeal mechanism for having information declassified is onerous, and the appeal must be directed to the minister whose department classified it. The penalties for disclosing such information are too severe, posing a major obstacle for individuals and publications seeking to discover and expose any failures or wrongdoing on the part of the state,” argues Burton.
The Black Sash believes that the Bill, in its current form, has the potential to deny our right of access to information, established in the Constitution and protected by the ‘Promotion of Access to Information Act’ of 2000. Naidoo insists this right underpins any true democracy, since without information the people cannot be expected to choose how they are governed. “In our society where millions of citizens daily face issues of poverty, inadequate services and serious health risks, it might seem a luxury to make a fuss about the public’s right to information. The reality is quite the opposite. It is the poorest and most vulnerable who will suffer most if it becomes impossibly difficult to disclose information about corruption, malfeasance or maladministration,” says Naidoo.
ENDS.
For interview requests, please contact:
Mary Burton
Black Sash Trustee
Cell: 082 467 2485
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
OR
Marcella Naidoo
Black Sash National Director
Cell: 082-462 1003
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
For more information, please contact:
Sarah Nicklin
Black Sash Media Officer
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
073-150 9525
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