Bringing Justice to the Kelurahan Doorstep
Posbankum will find its meaning when its doors are not merely open, but when they provide justice that everyone can understand, access and experience.
Surabaya (ANTARA) – Disputes over garden boundaries, unpaid debts or the use of shared facilities often begin with seemingly trivial matters. But when communication breaks down, competing interests can turn into arguments and even legal conflicts.
Not all residents fully understand their rights and obligations, or know where to seek help when a problem begins to escalate.
The distance to justice is not merely geographical. People face many barriers, including costs, limited legal knowledge, complicated procedures and anxiety about dealing with officials.
As a result, residents often choose to remain silent. Such problems may seem too minor to take to court, yet be serious enough to disrupt everyday peace of mind.
Legal Aid Posts (Posbankum) in villages and urban wards offer a way to narrow that gap. They provide a point of access for the public to obtain legal information, consultations and assistance, and to pursue proportionate ways of resolving disputes.
In Surabaya, East Java, Posbankum have been established in all 153 urban wards. The city government is also encouraging ward offices to serve as places where residents can seek to resolve disputes through a restorative justice (RJ) approach.
The challenge is to ensure that Posbankum do not remain merely administrative facilities. The success of legal services should be measured by whether they protect rights and deliver benefits that residents genuinely feel.
A gateway to justice
The establishment of Posbankum in Surabaya is part of a broader movement. In December 2025, the East Java provincial government reported that 8,494 Posbankum had been set up across the province’s villages and urban wards.
Meanwhile, figures from the Ministry of Law, presented in January 2026, recorded 80,298 Posbankum established nationwide — equivalent to 95.66 per cent of the country’s 83,946 villages and urban wards.
These figures reflect efforts to extend legal services to grassroots communities. Posbankum can connect residents facing legal problems with institutions authorised to provide assistance or handle their cases.
Their services are not limited to reconciling neighbours in dispute; they also include legal information and consultations, assistance and advocacy, mediation, and referrals to advocates.