Advocates unite to fight corruption

Advocates unite to fight corruption

JAKARTA: Indonesian lawyers have moved to unite seven bar
associations to improve professionalism among lawyers so as to
help restore a sense of respect in the country's judiciary.

Senior lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution said on Monday that
consolidation among the bar associations would contribute to
efforts to reduce corruption and collusion between lawyers and
judges.

He added that the associations would outline a shared code of
ethics, to be referred to by all advocates.

The seven bar associations are the Indonesian Advocates Union
(Ikadin), the Indonesian Advocates Association (AAI), the Union
of Indonesian Lawyers (IPHI), the Union of Indonesian Advocates
and Lawyers (HAPI), the Indonesian Lawyers Union (SPI), the
Association of Indonesian Legal Consultants (AKHI) and the Union
of Stock Exchange Law Consultants (HKHPM).

Indonesianist Daniel S. Lev, who also spoke at the discussion,
said Indonesian lawyers needed a strong organization rather than
laws to promote their profession.

A good law could not work without a strong advocate
organization, he added. - JP