Dear Editor,

The article headlined “Law firm blazes a new trail” in your newspaper on August 24 caught my attention as a person responsible for the legal and judicial reform of the Kingdom of Cambodia. I would like, through your newspaper, to congratulate the initiative of Samreth Law Group for providing free legal aid to the poor while working as private law firm. This can be seen as a good example for other lawyers practising legal services in Cambodia and to show to others the Khmer culture of helping each other when needed.

I would also like to remind the author of the article that the Cambodian government does provide legal aid to the poor through the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

The Royal Government of Cambodia allocates 200 million riel (US$47,181)annually to the Department of Legal Aid for the Poor of the Bar Association.

Further efforts of the Council for Legal & Judicial Reform concerning legal aid to the poor will soon occur.

Suy Mong Leang

Secretary general

Council for Legal & Judicial Reform

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