BUILDING DEMOCRACY ON-LINE -- U.S./INDONESIA

UNCLAS JAKARTA 002298 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, DRL, DRL/AWH NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM PREL ID SUBJECT: BUILDING DEMOCRACY ON-LINE -- U.S./INDONESIA LAUNCH INFORMATION NETWORK REF: JAKARTA 2195 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (U) This message is Sensitive but Unclassified -- Please handle accordingly. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The U.S. Library of Congress (LOC) and the Indonesian Parliament (DPR) on December 16 jointly launched a U.S.-provided web-based information center for use by legislators and staff. It is called the Global Legal Information Network (GLIN). Among other benefits, GLIN will provide Indonesians involved in legislative drafting an unprecedented mechanism for comparative legal research. This initiative aims to strengthen Indonesian institutions--especially its legislative branch--in this, the world's third-largest democracy. END SUMMARY. LAUNCHING AN INFORMATION NETWORK ¶3. (U) Mission hosted a visiting team from the Library of Congress of three GLIN experts headed by Dr. Janice Hyde this week. The purpose of the visit was to launch a web-based information center in Indonesia, the Global Legal Information Network (GLIN). During the team's visit, it met with officials from the DPR, the Constitutional and Supreme Courts, and other Indonesians in order to introduce and explain the benefits of GLIN. ¶4. (U) During the trip, Speaker Agung Laksono met with the GLIN team on December 16. DCM and LOC (Indonesia) representative also participated in the meeting. Senior DPR members Theo Sambuaga and Marzuki Daruzman joined as Speaker Laksono and Dr. Hyde officially launched the web-based center. Members of the DPR's Secretariat-General and the heads of all eleven DPR Commissions and five legislative boards were present at the ceremony. IMPORTANT TOOL FOR LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ¶5. (SBU) The GLIN initiative is an important one in building the capabilities of Indonesia's legislature. GLIN (http://www.glin.gov) provides a standardized way for the 35 participating countries to use web-based technology to distribute verified legal documents to local populations and the international community. This increases transparency and supports democratic institutions by allowing the public access to the laws that rule them. ¶6. (SBU) GLIN also gives Indonesia an international context for its legislation. This could stimulate more open-minded thinking on controversial issues such as possible protectionist legislation and on controversial social measures. Through GLIN, individual Indonesian lawmakers can ask other participants legal questions and do comparative legal research. BUILDING CAPACITY, STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY ¶7. (SBU) The establishment of the GLIN center has positive implications for the continued growth of democratic and institutional reform in Indonesia. In his remarks at the December 16 event, Speaker Laksono thanked GLIN and the House Democracy Assistance Commission (HDAC) for their active roles in parliamentary capacity-building and helping strengthen democracy in Indonesia (reftel). There is little doubt that Indonesia's legislative branch needs assistance; it is a new body in this new democracy and lacks capabilities and expertise. GLIN will help add to its capacity by connecting it to a superhighway of information on legislation and on law-making. HUME