Indonesia and Timor-Leste share a long history, as the latter was once part of Indonesia before separating in 1999 through a referendum. Although the two nations have similarities in character and culture across many aspects of daily life, communities living in border areas face potential legal vacuums at the village or subdistrict level.
As a result, activities that fall outside legal boundaries are often found. To address this, both governments and universities are expected to play a role in mitigating the risks of legal violations.
Professor of International Law at the Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FH UGM), Heribertus Jaka Triyana, stated that the FH UGM, in collaboration with Universitas Katolik Widya Mandira (Unwira) in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, will work together to map out legal challenges frequently encountered in border regions.
“By understanding and recognizing the situation, we hope this collaborative community service can map out the risks that may arise in the future,” Professor Triyana said on Thursday (Sep. 18).
In addition to mapping legal issues, Professor Triyana noted that his team is designing village and subdistrict regulations to serve as guidelines for community action, as well as other regulations relevant to border areas.
“We want to strengthen the commitment and involvement of local residents, especially village administrations, so that they understand and are aware of these issues. With greater understanding, we hope community participation in border areas will also increase,” he explained.
According to him, what distinguishes the Timor-Leste border from other regions is the historical ties between Indonesia and Timor-Leste, as well as similarities in lifestyle, language, and culture, but now divided by nationality and state boundaries.
“This is often overlooked, and if not properly managed, it may trigger conflicts in the future, whether vertical or horizontal,” Professor Triyana concluded.
Author: Leony
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Illustration: Detik