By Desy Nurhayati

Two groups have petitioned the President to resolve the question of which has the right to call itself the only government-sanctioned lawyers association in the country.

The Association of Indonesian Advocates (Peradi) and the newly established Congress of Indonesian Advocates (KAI) filed the petition with Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday. Both groups claim to enjoy the support of the President.

"The President said the only legitimate advocates organization according to the law is Peradi. He encouraged us to get tough, and continue upholding justice in our country," Peradi chairman Otto Hasibuan told the press after representatives of his association met with Yudhoyono.

Otto claimed the President would not accept other lawyers associations, making Peradi the only government-sanctioned group. The status allows Peradi to license lawyers to operate in the country.

Representatives of KAI met with the President shortly after those from Peradi. The KAI officials were originally to meet with Yudhoyono last week, but the meeting was delayed because of the President's poor health.

During a break between the two meetings, Justice and Human Rights Minister Andi Mattalata put in his endorsement of Peradi as the sole government-sanctioned lawyers group.

"Peradi is the only legitimate organization of advocates, according to a 2003 law. If another group of advocates is formed, it will not be recognized by the law," he said.

However, Mattalata did not call KAI an illegal association.

"It's not about which one is legal and illegal. The government is implementing the law that recognizes Peradi as the lawyers organization," he said.

Peradi was established in 2005, merging eight bar associations in the country. Shortly after its formation, it was recognized as the only government-sanctioned group for advocates.

The Constitutional Court in 2006 rejected a judicial review of the law on advocates and upheld Peradi's status as an organization for Indonesian lawyers. The court ruling did not say Peradi was the only sanctioned bar association, but the court chief, Jimly Asshidiqqie, has interpreted it thus.

Asked how the government would resolve the dispute, Mattalata pointed to the Supreme Court as the institution to settle such questions.

KAI spokesman Tomy Sihotang said the President welcomed KAI as the congress for the legal community.

"Peradi was formed on an agreement among the eight organizations (that merged to form the group). Its establishment was validated by a notarized document, and its aim was to hold a congress for lawyers. Since Peradi did not take part in the congress, the notarized document and the organization itself can be legally annulled," Tomy said after his group met with Yudhoyono.

He denied Peradi's claim to have secured Yudhoyono's support.

"No, it's not true. We asked the President about it and he said that he only wanted all Indonesian lawyers to be in one organization, which is KAI.

"The President said he appreciated that our congress was supported by most Indonesian advocates. And he asked the Justice and Human Rights Minister to arrange a meeting between KAI and Peradi to find solutions, to reconcile those who are now separated from KAI," he said.

Another KAI member, Todung Mulya Lubis, hailed the President's neutrality and his offer to bridge the two organizations, which he said played a crucial role in law enforcement and corruption eradication.

"The President called for a cooling down and a settlement by the organizations themselves, which will take time," Todung said.  (The Jakarta Post)