Civil Society and Access to Justice in Agrarian Conflict: The Role of Legal Aid Institutions (LBH) in the Sukahaji Case, Bandung City
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52423/neores.v7i1.1222Keywords:
Civil society, Legal aid institutions, Agrarian conflict, Access to justice, Legal advocacyAbstract
This study examines the role of the Bandung Legal Aid Institute (LBH Bandung) as a civil society actor in addressing the Sukahaji agrarian conflict in Bandung City, Indonesia. The research aims to analyze how legal aid institutions contribute to access to justice and democratic accountability within the context of structural land disputes. Employing a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews with LBH Bandung and supported by document analysis. The analysis is guided by the framework of Corrothers and Suryatna, which conceptualizes the roles of civil society organizations in catalyzing systemic change, monitoring state governance, facilitating reconciliation between citizens and judicial institutions, and implementing service programs.The findings reveal that LBH Bandung performs a multidimensional role that extends beyond conventional legal representation. Through a combination of litigation and non-litigation strategies, LBH Bandung frames the Sukahaji case as a structural agrarian injustice, strengthens community legal awareness, and pressures state institutions to uphold principles of transparency, accountability, and legal certainty. In addition, service-oriented programs such as critical legal education, campaign training, and the Legal Aid Training Program (Kalabahu) demonstrate a long-term orientation toward community empowerment and sustainability.This study contributes to the literature on civil society and legal aid by demonstrating how legal aid institutions operate simultaneously as access-to-justice mechanisms and democratic actors within agrarian conflicts. The findings highlight the importance of civil society in balancing state power and protecting the rights of marginalized communities in Indonesia’s democratic and legal landscape.
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