A newsletter containing news, views, articles, investigative stories in
the field of
Right to Information
From
Around the World
Issue No: 73
E - Alert
Issue Date: 06-08-2013
Editorial:
Greetings from Center for Peace and Development Initiatives, (CPDI).
Interesting RTI related developments are taking place in Pakistan and
India, the two South Asian neighboring countries. In Pakistan, KP province is
on the verge of having RTI law for the first time in country’s history. In this
connection, PTI, the ruling party is going to unveil its transparency program
on 18th of August in the provincial capital. CPDI has been invited to deliver
speech on the proposed KP RTI law. There are two laws under consideration of
the government according to our inside sources. The one is based on CPDI model
RTI law and the other one WB sponsored RTI law drafted by friend Toby Mendal.
We shared our law with but KP bureaucracy tried to water it down. Our media
campaign paid off and amendments were introduced in the law. So far, we have
not seen the amended version but the moment we see it, we will be giving
feedback to KP government. It will be interesting to see which law is adopted
by KP government. According to inside sources, Toby drafted law stands better
chance. The cloak of secrecy surrounding the whole process is simply amazing.
In the neighboring India, the government is trying to take political
parties out of the ambit of India RTI law and cabinet has approved an amendment
in this regard. Civil society activists are trying to get this amendment
reversed. It is heartening to see that civil society is so active in India that
protest rallies are being conducted all across India against the decision of
the government. We will keep you posted about the developments in both the
countries.
Happy reading
Right to Information and Transparency Program
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How academics can use Freedom of Information requests
Vancouver Sun (blog)
There's an interesting new book out by Kwantlen criminology instructor
Mike Larsen on how academics can use Freedom of Information and Access to ...
Cross-border learning: Public interest fundamental in democracy ...
The Express Tribune
Habibullah was of the view that right to information was an integral part
of any flourishing democracy. He explained how to develop the means and
capacity for ...
Majority of imprisoned LGBTs kept in 'solitary confinement'
Hurriyet Daily News
The ministry's answers, provided within the framework of the “right to
information,” further indicated that providing a "health report" to prove
sexual orientation ...
Amended draft Right to Information to be tabled in KP assembly
Pakistan Observer
Monday, July 29, 2013 – Peshawar spokesman of the Government of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa has disclosed that the draft Right to Information (RTI) law which
was ...
Leading activists call for countrywide public action against ...
Moneylife
The National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI) led by
Aruna Roy, Bharat Dogra, Shekhar Singh, Shailesh Gandhi and Harsh Mander Roy
has ...
Army of RTI kid activists is coming up
Hindustan Times
Two days after they were made aware of the power of the right to
information (RTI) Act, students of St Francis College have filed over 1000
applications seeking ...
Activists petition PM against amending RTI
Deccan Herald
Aruna Roy-led National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI
) on Tuesday launched an online campaign against plans to amend RTI Act to ...
Top Civil Servant Calls for Review of FOI Act
AllAfrica.com
The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Bukar Aji, on Tuesday
recommended the review of the Freedom of Information ACT (FOI), 2011. Mr. Aji
made the call ...
Govt. moves to keep parties outside RTI
Are Australia's privacy and information laws in need of reform?
ZDNet (blog)
The review is also assessing the state's right to information laws,
examining whether government owned corporations and private and community
contracted ...
Govt bid to shield parties from RTI spawns stirs
Hindustan Times
Widespread protests have started across India against the Centre's move
to introduce amendments to the Right to Information Act to exempt political
parties from ...
Zahid Abdullah - Programme Manager
Transparency and Right to Information Program
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Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives, Pakistan (CPDI-Pakistan)
Tel: 051-2101594; 4319430; 2108287
URL: www.cpdi-pakistan.org
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