Mega, Akbar sued over advocate bill

MEDAN, North Sumatra: The North Sumatra chapter of the Association of Indonesian Advocates (Ikadin) in Medan has filed a suit against President Megawati Soekarnoputri and House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tanjung over the delay in the endorsement of a bill on advocates.

Ikadi spokesman Aldian Pinem said on Monday that the suit was filed on Sept. 11 at the Medan District Court in a bid to force the President and House speaker to immediately pass the bill into law.

"Both the President and House Speaker have failed to carry out their duty. We urge the court to force them to endorse the bill," he said, adding that the bill on advocates has been discussed several times in the House.

Aldian said that based on Articles no. 5 and 20 of the Constitution, both the President and House speaker have the right to propose a bill and the obligation to endorse it after deliberation in the House. --JP