President of Republic of Indonesia:
Our State Supports Prodeo, Circuit Court and Legal Aid Post
Bogor l badilag.net
The President of Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, pays a serious attention to access to justice program. When he officially opens the 2011 IACA (International Association for Court Administration) Conference in Bogor Palace, Monday (14/3/2011), he states that the prodeo (waiving court fees) facility, circuit court and legal aid post will be improved and enhanced.
“We are helping the poor, children and women through prodeo, circuit court and legal aid post”, the President said in the opening ceremony.
“This conference is aimed to share some information and experiences. The condition from each country will differ but the commitment to provide access to justice to people is the same”, President said, when he delivers his opening words.
.The opening ceremony is attended by the Chief Justice, Harifin A. Tumpa, the Chief of Constitutional Court, Mahfud MD, some government agency leaders, some ministers and other guests.
This conference is also attended by the participants from 18 countries, namely Afghanistan, Australia, Cambodia, Dubai, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Pakistan, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Ukraine, the United States, and Vanuatu.
According to the President, the theme of access to justice is very relevant and contextual. To enhance access to justice in Indonesia, we have issued the Presidential Instruction No. 3 /2010 on The Equity Development Program. It is expected that all people can get a wide access to justice.
The poor, children and women are the main priority of the access to justice program. “We waive the cost frees in prodeo facility, legal aid post and circuit court”, the president said.
The President also conveys his positive appraisal to the Supreme Court. According to him, the Supreme Court has succeeded to make its Blue Print of reform 2010-2035. The reform in the Blue Print is aimed to serve the justice seekers.
To Enhance Access to Justice
As the host of this conference, Harifin A. Tumpa is very enthusiast in carrying out this Asia-Pacific conference. “I hope this conference will enhance the judicial reform process in Asia-Pacific”, he said.
According to the Chief Justice, the Indonesian judiciary has implemented the access to justice program, especially for the poor and those living in rural and remote areas, namely by conducting prodeo facility (waiving court fees), circuit court and legal aid post.
In this year, circuit courts will be conducted in 273 locations throughout Indonesia. There 46 courts providing legal aid posts. Harifin A. Tumpa realizes that it is not enough to provide access to justice to our people. But, it shows a great commitment to enhance access to justice in Indonesia.
In such condition, the Chief Justice is ready to share some experiences to conference’s participants. ‘We need to share our experiences to our merit. We are ready to share ours”, he said.
“Justice for the poor has become a global trend”, DG of Badilag said in attending the opening ceremony of IACA Conference in Bogor Palace.
DG of Badilag warns that the international public will pay a great attention to what all courts in Indonesia including the religious court.
“We have to thankful because what all we have done are not waste. We can see all international public pay their great attention to us, including our President, DG of Badilag said. (raj)