Ikahi ends 13th congress

Ikahi ends 13th congress

BANDUNG (JP): The Indonesian Judges Association (Ikahi)
concluded its 13th national congress here on Friday by appointing
Toton Soeprapto to head the association from 2001 until 2004.

Toton, who was elected in a closed plenary meeting at the
Grand Aquila Hotel on Jl. Dr. Djundjunan, defeated the highly
favored Gunarto Suryono.

Earlier, most of the congress participants indicated that
Gunarto was the best candidate, judging from his critical
response to the accountability of outgoing chairman Soeharto.

Recommendation arising from the congress, included a proposal
that the recruitment procedure for justices be changed.

It was agreed that career judges do not need fit and proper
tests in order to become justices, while non-career candidates
need fit and proper tests conducted by an internal judicial
commission, consisting of justices, legal practitioners and
academics.

This recommendation opposes current regulations which
stipulate that both career and non-career candidates must undergo
fit proper tests conducted by the House of Representatives.

At the opening of the congress, then chairman Soeharto urged
President Abdurrahman Wahid to accelerate the appointment of a
new chief justice.

The President early this year rejected two chief justice
candidates, Muladi and Bagir Manan, who passed fit and proper
tests conducted by the House of Representatives.

The final day of the congress also saw a proposal for an
increase in judges' salaries.

A team of 61 participants proposed to the congress that first
grade judges be paid Rp 15 million a month, up from between Rp 3
million and Rp 4 million, High Court judges be paid Rp 25 million
a month, up from Rp 5 million, and justices receive Rp 40 million
a month, compared to the Rp 12 million currently received.

Ultimately, however, the association did not officially adopt
the proposal. (25/sur)