Around the world, citizen activisms have brought democratic governments close to the precipice of transparency. But entrenched patterns of secrecy are not about to topple over any time soon.
Our president?s June 4 address to the Lok Sabha listed governance reform as one of the top ten priority areas for UPA II. Specifically, she promised a public data policy that would put all ?non-strategic? information in the public domain, plus an independent evaluation office for flagship programmes that would operate at an objective arm?s length from government. Her address sounds good and interestingly echoes the world?s first freedom of information legislation. Sweden?s Freedom of the Press Act of 1766 gives people free access to all documents created or received by public institutions, stipulates that public officials respond to information requests swiftly and lays out exemptions driven by secrecy laws. From Albania to Australia, Uganda to the US, such laws are de rigueur now. But the devil lies in the detail.
Over at the White House website, there is a memorandum in which Barack Obama promises unprecedented openness in his government. But a few short months into presidency, people are yelling out ?Barack W Bush? at him. A delay in making bank stress tests? results public, refusal to open up White House visitor logs and refusal to release photos of Americans allegedly abusing prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan?that?s not the change his fans had counted on. That putting ghastly images on the Internet ?would only serve the purpose of inflaming the theatres of war? surely sounds like a chestnut as old as they come. Patronising, belittling.
In the UK, Gordon Brown too has spoken up for helping citizens break through the ?dark recesses of power? where too much information is held. He commissioned the Dacre report, which recommended that protected public records be released in half of the currently mandated 30 years. But his government has overruled the Information Tribunal?s ruling to release cabinet meeting minutes from just before the Iraq invasion.
Enlightened governments claim exceptions on grounds of security. Just as the complete Pradhan-Balachandran report on 26/11 Mumbai attacks is being held back. Which is just what a former Maharashtra government tried to do with Srikrishna Commission report on 1992-93 Mumbai riots. Over and over again, a calculation of public interest is proffered as a defense. Not an ineffective logic when one is recuperating from the sensory overload of a long list of ministers taking turns to solemnly swear: ?I will not directly or indirectly communicate or reveal to any person or persons any matter which shall be brought under my consideration or shall become known to me as a Minister for the Union except as may be required for the due discharge of my duties as such Minister.?
But the UK ministers who were rolling in plasma TVs and tennis courts at taxpayers? expense while ranting against bankers? excesses were also sheltering behind such shields. And no matter how cagey you would expect North Korea to be, isn?t it surprising that South Korea arrested a producer from one of its biggest TV stations that had dared ask whether American beef was free from mad-cow disease?leading the country into chaos was the offense. No matter how reticent one is prepared for China to be, isn?t it surprising that it?s chary of publishing even aid figures? The recipient of yesteryears has turned into a major donor but doesn?t want to boast about it. Some put this down to a nefarious design?a disguise for the desire for world dominion?but it?s as likely a routine predilection. The point being that there is an array of facts that governments?inclined to democracy or not?are inclined to cover up. And the more constructive point being that, in the face of such powerful fixations, what can help citizens is that there are tools in place to help them challenge bureaucrese.
India took a giant step in this direction with the RTI Act. Yes, public bodies still haven?t gotten used to coughing up information without some foot-dragging. But we need to remind ourselves that non-compliance is endemic even in the developed world (witness the UK?s experience with its four-years old Freedom of Information Act), rev up RTI?s successes, and keep up pressure for the president?s words to translate into reality: putting a slew of data on public spending, education, health, employment, environment, infrastructure et al into the public domain.
