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)