Pontianak, 21 – 22 April 2014, around 70 people crowded the meeting room at Grand Cemara Hotel, Pontianak (Monday, 4/21/2014). They were lawyers, NGO activists, and academics who were discussing the initiation of establishing a legal aid institution in West Kalimantan. The high level of conflicts and criminalization of indigenous and local communities in natural resources sectors were among the driving factors for this initiation.

The event began with a speech from Anton (Regional Executive, Walhi Kalbar) who highlighted the significant need for legal assistance, especially in West Kalimantan and related to pressing issues on natural resources that are affecting the community. The next speech was given by Hadi Suratman, Chairman of the Pontianak Peradi DPC, who mentioned that although based on the law only lawyers have the right to advocate, it raises the question of whether the state is capable of facilitating the need for legal defense throughout the vast Indonesia. Hence, synergy between lawyers and legal aid movements, especially in West Kalimantan, is crucial. This speech from Peradi also marked the opening of the two-day workshop.

The event proceeded with the signing of a memorandum of agreement between LBBT, SAMPAN, POINT, LPS AIR, Walhi Kalbar, Lingkar Borneo, Kontak Rakyat Borneo, and DPC PERADI Pontianak to collaborate in providing legal aid for the people in cases of natural resource conflicts.

After a short coffee break, led by Antoni from LPS AIR, the workshop agenda commenced with a presentation by Irsyad Thamrin (Chairman of Peradi Yogjakarta DPC) on the history and dynamics of legal aid in Indonesia. This was followed by a presentation by Hermawansyah (Tanjungpura University) on the future of legal aid, including the use of the judiciary as a tool for structural changes, as seen in the case of the criminalization of Vitalis Andi and Japin in Ketapang, which led to the cancellation of criminalization articles in the plantation law.

Following lunch, a discussion led by Agustinus Agus from LBBT took place with a presentation by Tandiono Bawor (Huma Association) on the direction of the Legal Aid Movement. Bawor emphasized that legal aid goes beyond defense and also includes education and legal reforms. He proposed a comprehensive legal aid movement, including the existence of people’s law as the basis for creating a new legal system in Indonesia. The next speaker, Sulistiono, a senior lawyer and member of Pilnet, shared experiences and dynamics of the legal aid movement in West Kalimantan, including advocacy in cases of indigenous community criminalization that evolved into international cases reported to the CERD commission. This session was concluded by Nurkholish Hidayat (AIPJ Advisor) who discussed the dynamics of legal aid policy and access to justice issues in Indonesia and internationally. The presentation by the former director of LBH Jakarta ended with a challenge to the participants on the people’s agenda for defense.

The second day of the meeting (Tuesday, 4/22) facilitated by J. Waluyo, supported by the Huma Association, was not hindered by heavy rain in Pontianak as thirty participants consisting of lawyers, NGO activists, and academics continued to follow up on the output from the previous day’s meeting. In the late afternoon, they successfully agreed on the need to establish a legal aid institution in West Kalimantan. Ivan Valentina Ageung, Dunasta Yonas, Syahri, Esti, Anthony, and Rangga were selected as the catalysts for this initiative. These catalysts would be responsible for preparing the content, technical aspects, and legal foundations of establishing this legal aid institution in the next month. Good luck with your work (Source: BTOR Tandiono Bawor Pubraya).