Oetojo insists on one bar association
Oetojo insists on one bar association
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman has defended
the government's policy of recognizing only one bar association
in the country, stressing that it makes supervision and
communication with lawyers a great deal easier.
The position was restated when Oetojo met with Frederik
Heemskerk, the Secretary General of the Netherlands Bar
Association (NOVA), who paid a courtesy call on his office on
Tuesday.
Heemskerk was accompanied by the executive board of the
Indonesian Bar Association (IKADIN), including its Chairman
Harjono Tjitrosoebono.
IKADIN is one of two bar associations in Indonesia. The other
is the Association of Indonesian Advocates (AAI), which was
formed at the initiative of the government.
Oetojo said the policy of one bar association is practiced in
many western countries, including the Netherlands.
"It makes it easier for the government to delegate authority
if there is only one united bar association," Oetojo told
reporters after receiving his Dutch guest.
He cited as an example the Indonesian Public Notary
Association (INI), which allows the government to delegate
authority to INI in recommending new members.
In contrast, the presence of two bar associations in Indonesia
has made it difficult for the government to conduct its
supervisory role.
Maintaining contact between lawyers of two different bar
associations is also impossible because each has its own code of
ethics, he pointed out.
Heemskerk during his visit in Indonesia and encounter with
government officials also offered NOVA's services to help
Indonesia prepare the government's plan to draft a bill on
Indonesian advocates.
Oetojo said he welcomed the suggestion as it would allow
Indonesia to undertake a comparative study.
The government has already drafted the bill and it is only a
matter of time before it is submitted to the House of
Representatives, he added.
NOVA president Tom de Waard on Monday signed a memorandum of
understanding between IKADIN and NOVA on technical assistance,
including the lawyers exchange program and establishing a legal
library.(imn)