Judicial reform, not just lip service: Chief Justice<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Chief Justice Bagir Manan has pledged to prove wrong skepticism
\non reforming the country's judiciary, saying courts would be free
\nfrom corruption within the next 15 years at most.<\/p>\n
\"Making improvements, considering recent conditions, is not as
\neasy as turning your hands over. It takes time and people must
\nunderstand this,\" he said on Friday.<\/p>\n
Bagir was responding to critics who doubted that the Supreme
\nCourt would be able to become a more credible institution with
\nthe newly transferred authority over judicial administrative and
\nfinancial affairs from the justice ministry.<\/p>\n
\"With the transfer of power, it would be more efficient,
\neasier and faster for us to handle internal affairs. We could
\npunish or promote court members without having to wait for
\napproval from the justice ministry,\" he said.<\/p>\n
While Bagir admitted it was not easy to make significant
\nchanges in courts across the country, as judicial reform
\ncommenced only three years ago, he expressed a guarded optimism
\nthat the courts could improve their performance, particularly in
\nterms of the integrity and quality of its personnel.<\/p>\n
\"The Supreme Court has been equipped with sufficient
\nlegislation and powers to apply the reform program. We have
\nalready made a series of blueprints ... (that are) applicable,
\nthanks to assistance from non-governmental institutions and
\nforeign donors,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Each blueprint identifies those problems currently facing the
\ncourt and the means to resolve them.<\/p>\n
Bagir said the Supreme Court was focusing on restructuring the
\ncourt under the first stage of the reform program.<\/p>\n
\"It is necessary to merge officials of the Supreme Court, the
\nDirectorate General of General Courts and state administrative
\ncourts into a well-knit organization, because the structure of
\nthe organization affects the entire judicial process,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A team has been set up to restructure the Supreme Court, which
\nhas added 300 personnel transferred from the justice ministry
\ninto its 1,000-strong work force.<\/p>\n
\"The new organization of the Supreme Court is expected to come
\ninto effect early next year, but we need five years to turn new
\nand old personnel into an efficient and credible group,\" Bagir
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Employees transferred from the justice ministry will remain at
\ntheir previous jobs until the end of the year, but must report to
\nthe Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
The newly established Law No. 5\/2004 on the Supreme Court
\nstipulates its institutional structure to consist of a court
\nleadership, justices, court clerks and a secretary.<\/p>\n
The leadership comprises a chief justice, two deputy chief
\njustices and five or more justices heading particular judicial
\ndivisions. Previously, it consisted of a chief justice, a deputy
\nchief justice and six justices.<\/p>\n
The law also requires the court to employ a secretary to
\nmanage supporting divisions within the court. The previous post
\nwas that of secretary-general, who also headed court clerks.<\/p>\n
\"Under the new structure, court clerks must be separate from
\nsecretarial tasks. Court clerks should only manage judicial
\naffairs,\" Bagir said.<\/p>\n
A report compiled by the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) last
\nyear revealed that the court mafia includes court clerks who are
\npermitted to observe trials as well as the authority to set up
\nhearings.<\/p>\n
Supreme Court reform program<\/p>\n
1. Improve constitutional independence, functions,<\/p>\n
organizational affairs, human resources, case management,<\/p>\n
budget, facilities, transparency, accountability and<\/p>\n
information system of the Court<\/p>\n
2. Develop judicial personnel management at lower courts<\/p>\n
based on a merit-based career management system for<\/p>\n
justices, court clerks and other court officials<\/p>\n
3. Provide permanent educational program at lower courts,<\/p>\n
including continued education and career development for<\/p>\n
justices<\/p>\n
4. Enhance financial management and accountability of court<\/p>\n
system<\/p>\n
5. Establish a judicial commission to act as a supervisory body<\/p>\n
that observes and controls the independence of the judiciary<\/p>\n
6. Develop commercial court and anticorruption court<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/judicial-reform-not-just-lip-service-chief-justice-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }