Mega, Akbar sued over advocate bill

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