Yogyakarta – Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas emphasized that justice must not be a privilege reserved only for certain groups. The state, he said, must ensure that legal protection is accessible to all segments of society.
“The President has consistently stressed that access to justice must not be limited to particular groups,” Supratman said at the inauguration of Legal Aid Posts (Pos Bantuan Hukum/Posbankum) in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) at the Royal Ambarrukmo Hotel on Tuesday (20/01/2026).
According to Supratman, justice must be brought to life, realized, and genuinely felt by the public. This perspective, he noted, aligns with Javanese philosophy, which views justice as a substantive value rather than merely a procedural concept.
He underlined the importance of the state’s presence in providing legal protection, particularly to ensure that legal services are not accessible only to those with economic means or adequate legal knowledge.
The establishment of 438 Legal Aid Posts, supported by 26 Legal Aid Provider organizations, Supratman said, represents more than just a numerical achievement. These posts are expected to form a collaborative ecosystem that promotes dispute resolution through non-litigation, peace-based mechanisms at the village and sub-district levels.
“Justice must be experienced by all citizens, including through access to justice provided at the smallest administrative units, such as villages and urban villages,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Vice Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions Ahmad Riza Patria noted that since 2015, villages have become the backbone of national development. Under President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita, villages are positioned as the primary drivers of development.
“The greater the role of the village in development, the greater the responsibility they bear, both to the community and to the stakeholders,” said Riza.
He added that Legal Aid Posts provide crucial systemic support, particularly in strengthening legal protection and legal services for both village communities and village officials.
Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, remarked that villages are living spaces where legal values, ethics, and a sense of justice take root. Social issues, he said, should ideally be resolved first at the village or urban villages level.
“This is where human problems first arise, and where efforts to resolve them should begin. Based on this understanding, our village-level reforms were designed from the outset not merely to strengthen administrative structures, but to reform the way the state is present for its people,” Sri Sultan explained.
He viewed the Legal Aid Posts as having strong potential to reinforce village reforms, enabling villages not only to implement policies but also to serve as centers of justice and spaces of protection for citizens.
“The state must not be present solely through programs and budgets, but through pangayoman, protection that provides a sense of security, fairness, and human dignity,” Sri Sultan concluded.
The establishment of the Legal Aid Posts in Yogyakarta was the result of collaboration between the Yogyakarta Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and local governments, including regents and mayors, culminating in the formation of 438 Legal Aid Posts across the province.
