Legislator protests salary raise for judges

Legislator protests salary raise for judges

JAKARTA (JP): A legislator has called the government's
decision to raise the salaries of judges by a 100 percent
excessive and unfair to other government professions.

"I think the 100 percent increase, for whatever reason, is
discriminatory," Soetardjo Soerjoguritno of the minority
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) told the Antara news agency.

"Judges are important to upholding the law but what about the
role of teachers. They are not less important to society,"
Soetardjo, who sits in the Commission II of the House of
Representatives, was quoted as saying.

The government said the hefty raise, to take effect in
January, is important to strengthen their dedication to their
profession.

Soetardjo argued that the dedication of teachers, who are
among the lowest paid in the country, is just as important, if
not more.

If the argument to double the salary of judges is to stop
bribery and corruption and improve the quality of the entire
legal system, then the same argument could also be applied for
the teaching profession and the quality of education in the
country, he added.

He pointed out that many teachers in Indonesia have had to
take up second jobs to make ends meet.

President Soeharto is scheduled to unveil the government's
spending plans for the 1994/95 fiscal year in his budget speech
at the House of Representatives on Jan. 5. In his speech, he is
expected to disclose whether or not there will be a salary
increase for the 4 million-strong civil servant body.

The judges, who are on the government's payroll, have already
been assured of the 100 percent increase, which was announced
last October.

Soetardjo said a twofold raise in their salary is excessive
and could sow envy among others in government. "If you have to
give an increase, I think it should not be more than 50 percent."
(emb)