Single bar association still a distant dream<\/p>\n
By Imanuddin<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A realization of the government's dream of
\nbringing all lawyers into one umbrella organization seems as
\ndistant as ever at the conclusion of a three-day gathering
\nyesterday, designed to bring them together to resolve their
\ndifferences.<\/p>\n
The problem appeared to be that none of the three major
\nassociations of lawyers were interested in unification.<\/p>\n
Some 200 lawyers from the Indonesian Bar Association (Ikadin),
\nthe Indonesian Advocates' Association (AAI), and the Association
\nof Indonesian Lawyers (IPHI), were brought together for the
\ngovernment-sponsored forum at Hotel Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The three groups came out of the meeting questioning the
\nimportance of establishing a single lawyers' association.<\/p>\n
Frans Hendra Winarta of Ikadin said the idea of grouping
\nseveral different lawyers associations in a united lawyers'
\nassociation was not appropriate at present.<\/p>\n
\"The most often suggested form of united lawyers' association
\nis a federation comprised of different lawyers associations,\" he
\ntold the Jakarta Post last night. \"Let each lawyers' association
\ngrow with its own autonomy and self-governing policy. Let's not
\nforce ourselves to merge into a single association.\"<\/p>\n
Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman and Chief Justice Soerjono
\ndid not mince words when they opened the discussion on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"It would make it easier for the government to delegate
\nauthority if there were only one bar association,\" Oetojo said.<\/p>\n
With one association, it would also be easier to address
\nproblems in the Indonesian judicial system, he added.<\/p>\n
Soerjono said a merger was in the interests of lawyers because
\nthey needed to work together in facing the trend of increasing
\ntrade liberalization worldwide. \"The establishment of a single
\nlawyers' association will also drive the establishment of a
\nunited Lawyers' Code of Ethics.<\/p>\n
A single association for every profession is mandated by a
\n1985 law on mass organizations. The government has succeeded in
\nensuring that there is only one official association of
\njournalists in the country, the Indonesian Journalists'
\nAssociation, and only one official labor union, the All-
\nIndonesian Workers' Union.<\/p>\n
While lawyers, of all people, might be expected to be the
\nfirst among professional people to abide by the law, uniting the
\nlawyers has proved difficult for the government. The problem has
\nbeen compounded by the fact that different government leaders
\nback different organizations at different times, sending
\nconfusing messages to the profession.<\/p>\n
Besides the big three associations, there are seven other,
\nsmaller ones. Each of these has its own lawyers' code of ethics
\nand principles.<\/p>\n
The first attempt to unite the lawyers organizations was in
\n1985, with the establishment, at the initiative of the chief
\njustice and the minister of justice of the time, of Ikadin.<\/p>\n
However, Ikadin was beset by internal disputes and in 1990 135
\nof its members resigned and formed a rival organization, the AAI,
\nwith the blessing of the minister of justice at the time.<\/p>\n
Ikadin says it currently has a membership of 2,000 lawyers,
\nwith members in each of the country's 27 provinces.<\/p>\n
In 1991, supported by the minister of justice and the minister
\nof home affairs of the time, the AAI and five organizations --
\nIPHI, LBH Kosgoro, BPKH MKGR, LKBH Trisula and LPPH -- joined
\nforces to establish Poperi, the Association of Indonesian Lawyers
\nOrganizations.<\/p>\n
IPHI was established in 1987, mostly by young lawyers who were
\ndisgruntled over being denied membership of Ikadin, which imposed
\nstrict criteria. It has since grown and now claims membership of
\nover 5,000 lawyers in 25 provinces.<\/p>\n
Yan Apul, deputy chairman of the 1,500-strong AAI, said he
\ndoubted whether this week's meeting would be able to agree on the
\nestablishment of a single bar association. \"I notice that the
\nlawyers associations have dissimilar interests and principles.\"<\/p>\n
He ssaid the establishment of a single bar association was not
\ncalled for at present. \"The most important thing is that all
\nlawyers associations have a united code of ethics.\"<\/p>\n
Yan Juanda Saputra, IPHI's deputy chairman, said the
\nprofession was still far from establishing a single association.
\n\"We still have to go through a number of consolidation meetings
\nbefore we can come to an agreement about a single bar
\nassociation.\"<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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