Legal aid for poll 'victims'

YOGYAKARTA: Lawyers of the local branch of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute have set up a committee offering legal aid for people "falling victim" of the general election.

The committee, KUHAP 97, aims to defend citizens deprived of their basic rights due to the election activities, Yogyakarta legal institute director Budi Santoso said over the weekend.

"We are offering legal aid and advocacy to people who fall victim of the campaigns and the election," he said.

Besides assigning lawyers from the institute, KUHAP 97 will cooperate with former clients as volunteers to gather information.

The committee has strong backing from local well-known intellectuals Amien Rais and Loekman Soetrisno, Budi said.

On April 12, activists set up an avocation body called Takep to help victims of political violence during the election activities. (22/pan)