Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Bringing political parties under the transparency law is not a global precedent but still rare,with India becoming only the third of 89 countries in this bracket while a fourth is preparing to join them.
Until the Central Information Commission ruled this week that the Right to Information Act covers Indias parties too,Poland and Nepal were the only two countries where the equivalent laws extend to parties. Rwanda is set to follow,with fresh rules drafted and placed before the cabinet for approval. Political parties are included under the ministerial orders rules which are waiting for approval of the local government, says Venkatesh Naik,one of the advisers for Rwandas FoI freedom of information law.
The laws in most countries treat political parties as private organisations and therefore exempt from the transparency law. Many European countries passed their FoI laws much earlier than countries elsewhere; all but Poland keep political parties out of their ambit. These include Sweden,where the worlds oldest FoI law was passed in 1766.
Now activists in Europe are looking at India as an example. When I heard the news from India I found it inspiring, says Brigitte Alfter,a Belgian journalist networking with others in European countries on FoI. Parties are powerful entities,their economy is assumed to play an important role in political life,and citizens should be aware of that. We will look to India to learn from this recent development.
The Indian information commissions decision is great, says Helena Bengtsson,database editor news and current affairs at Sveriges Television in Sweden.
In the US,the FoI law excludes parties but they are required to furnish information before the election commission. Says Jennifer LaFleur,director for computer-assisted reporting with the media website Pro Publica,Our federal FoI law covers the administrative branch of the federal government. It does not cover political parties. Parties that meet certain criteria must file information with the Federal Election Commission,which is subject to FoI Act.
In South Africa,activists sought to bring political parties under the transparency laws ambit but their appeal was turned down in court. FoI activists and the Institute for Democracy in South Africa appealed in 2005 before the South Africa High Court,which ruled,On my interpretation8230; the respondents political parties are not obliged to disclose such records.
