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)