VZCZCXRO0568
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #2298 3540847
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 190847Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1023
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5754
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 3433
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1521
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1508
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2530
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 4139
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 5252
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2873
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 3355
RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH 1356
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 3183
RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
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