"Let`s do introspection. The poor people are still difficult to receive justice. Therefore, we enact the Law No. 16/2011 on Legal Aid as a foundation for the state to ensure that the poor people could have access to justice and equality before the la
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed his hope that the enactment of the Law no. 16/2011 on Legal Aid could provide better access to justice for the poor through legal aid services.

"Let`s do introspection. The poor people are still difficult to receive justice. Therefore, we enact the Law No. 16/2011 on Legal Aid as a foundation for the state to ensure that the poor people could have access to justice and equality before the law," the head of state said when delivering his opening remarks in the National Working Meeting on Legal Aid at the State Palace here on Friday.

To implement the law on legal aid, the government has issued the Gover nment Regulation No. 42 on Conditions and Procedure of Legal Aid Services and Legal Aid Fund Disbursement.

"In the future, we want that the implementation of the law could guarantee the constitutional rights of every person to receive legal certainty and protection. Justice and legal equality must be served so justice is no longer only for those having money and power," he said.

The improvement of legal aid services is crucial to ensure that the poor and ordinary people have better access to justice.

Also present in the opening ceremony of the meeting was Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam, Chief of the National Police General Timur Pradopo, Attorney General Agung Basrief Arief, and Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Abraham Samad.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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