Judges should be opened to criticism<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto told the country's
\njudges yesterday that they should be open to criticism as a means
\nto improve the fairness of their decisions.<\/p>\n
\"Criticism, whether directly uttered or reflected in the sad
\nstares of discouraged people, should be seriously taken into
\nconsideration,\" Soeharto said in a keynote address at the
\nopening ceremony of national conference of the Association of
\nIndonesian Judges' (IKAHI) yesterday.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony, which was also attended by Chief Justice
\nPurwoto Gandasubrata and Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman,
\nSoeharto stated that learning from criticism will reverse a trend
\ntowards public distrust of the law.<\/p>\n
\"People always pay attention to the verdicts given by judges
\nbecause they consider the court the last resort for justice and
\nlaw. Remember that you do not merely make a living by your
\nprofession,\" Soeharto told judges from all over Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The President said that a judge is not responsible to his
\nsupervisor but to God and his conscience, \"That's why a judge
\nshould increase his quality, capacities and professionalism,\"
\nSoeharto added.<\/p>\n
A number of judges and public attorneys are now under
\ninvestigation after allegations that they received bribes from
\nindividuals on trial for tax evasion.<\/p>\n
One of the judges was recalled to Jakarta and the Ministry of
\nJustice canceled his appointment as head of the Medan Court.<\/p>\n
The President said that judges should understand not only the
\nlegal codes and regulations but also the dynamics of society.<\/p>\n
\"New kinds of violations such as environmental pollution,
\nviolations of property rights, money laundering, and computer
\ncrimes are increasing,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Program<\/p>\n
Association chairman Soerjono said that the President pointed
\nto the law in general and did not single out any particular
\ncases, and that judges' group agreed with his remarks.<\/p>\n
\"Our program is in line with what the president has mapped out
\nto increase the credibility of law enforcement agencies, Soerjono
\ntold reporters.<\/p>\n
Soerjono also commented that the verdicts given by the
\nSurabaya Court on tax evasion was fully in the hands of the
\njudges, and that they were free to give the verdict based on
\ntheir belief.<\/p>\n
\"It's not final, the prosecutor could still bring those cases
\nto the Supreme Court,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Soerjono refused to say whether the increasing number of
\nappeals to the Supreme Court is an indication of the people's
\ndeteriorating faith in the country's legal system.<\/p>\n
\"It's just a common law procedure, and sometimes there are
\npeople who just want to waste time. But there will be no problem
\nbecause the Supreme Court only examines what it considers worth
\nlooking into, he said. (02)<\/p>",
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