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UPH Graduate Program held a seminar entitled ‘Choosing Advocacy Profession in Accordance with Indonesia?s Law Culture’ with the purpose of supplying the students to one day become qualified advocates.
Komisi III DPR-RI’s member Gayus Lumbuun spoke about the need of qualified advocates in Indonesia’s goverenmental world
Jakarta (2/9/09) ? UPH Graduate Program held a seminar entitled Memilih Profesi Advokat yang Sesuai dengan Budaya Hukum Indonesia (Choosing Advocacy Profession in Accordance with Indonesia?s Law Culture ? ed.) with the purpose of supplying the students to one day become qualified advocates. The seminar which invited several senior advocates: Komisi III DPR-RI member Gayus Lumbuun, Former Indonesia?s Federal Judge Benjamin Mangkoedilaga, and The Head of PERADI Otto Hasibuan drew the attention of The Faculty of Law students from the undergraduate and post-graduate programs.
Komisi III DPR-RI member, Gayus Lumbuun stated that not only in the secular world but also in the governmental world that these qualified advocates are needed. He said that positions such as federal judge?s have to be attended by those who have professional advocacy background.
Former Federal Judge, Benjamin Mangkoedilaga, added Lumbuun?s statement, said that Indonesia now needs qualified advocates just like in the liberty era then. ?We are inviting those who wanted to be professional advocates to keep trying to develop the nation?s justice system,? he said.
Lumbuun stated that the society?s perception about the profession of an advocate nowadays does not resemble the true function and duty of an advocate. He regretted that the society has had the assumption that advocates are those who are paid to defend their client?s law rights. Whereas in fact, advocates are also law enforcers, just like federal judges.
It occurred again in the seminar, the on-going conflict between two advocacy institutions in Indonesia, PERADI and KAI. The conflict has been about which of the institutions should be the legal institution in the country. The Head of PERADI, Otto Hasibuan who was present as one of the speakers stated, ?I do not see any possibility of reconciliation for there actually no conflict. What I can tell you is that our purpose has always been to enforce the law.?
This conflict had also been discussed by Mangkoedilaga in the seminar which was held in the campus building of UPH Post-graduate Program in Wisma Slipi, Jakarta. Mangkoedilaga stated that the problem resembles a time bomb that should be settled soon. But in response to Hasibuan?s statement that there is no conflict between PERADI and KAI, Mangkoedilaga stated, ?There is nothing can be done by law and justice, however there is no conflict happening.?
Meanwhile, Lumbuun and Hasibuan are both agree that the government needs to decide who should be the ?single bar? in Indonesia?s advocacy system. ?The problem is, there are two advocacy bar right now, PERADI and KAI,? said Lumbuun. Hasibuan himself stated, ?There isn?t any institution that does not approve PERADI as Indonesia?s advocacy institution.? The problem has not yet reaches any way out, causing apprehension on how would Indonesia?s advocacy system move on. The moderator of this seminar, as well as the Head of Law Magister Study Program of UPH, Lintong Siahaan stated his concern on the future of Indonesia?s advocates who have just graduated and will soon apply for advocacy legal member test.
About this matter, Mangkoedilaga said that he would not be bothered. ?Basically, all of us who are working in the world of law and justice have just one purpose, that is to enforce justice,? he said. Mangkoedilaga also added that the candidates for advocates in Indonesia need more specialized education in several areas.
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