Regional Boundaries Must Consider Kastographic, Geospatial And Historical Aspects

JAKARTA Academics from the All-Indonesian Government Sciences Lecturer Association (ADIPSI), Darmawan Purba assessed that regional boundary issues in Indonesia are not just administrative matters and must be regulated through more detailed regulations.

Previously, the proposal that the border between regions be regulated in detail in a special law surfaced in parliament so that the dispute over the four islands between the Aceh Provincial Government and North Sumatra would not be repeated.

North Sumatra and Aceh compete for Panjang Island, Mangkir Besar Island, Mangkir Kecil Island, and Lipan Island on the border of the two provinces. A dispute between the four islands emerged after the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs which transferred the administration management of the four islands from Aceh to North Sumatra.

According to Darmawan, the dispute case between Aceh and North Sumatra is a clear example showing that the border is still a vulnerable point in relations between provinces or between districts and cities. But he reminded that the arrangement should be more detailed considering the contents of other existing laws.

"Otherwise, it could collide with the principle of lex superior derogat legi inferiori or higher rules ruling out lower ones," he said, Sunday, June 22, 2025.

He explained that several aspects should be used as the basis for regional boundaries. First, the juridical aspect refers to Law Number 24 of 2014 concerning Regional Governments, Regional Formation Laws and laws and regulations related to spatial planning and population administration.

Improvement of the law also needs to include a cartographic attachment to regional boundaries as well as accurate and up-to-date geospatial coordinates. Historical aspects of the border also need to be published to serve as a reference in determining regional boundaries.

Exploring the history of expansion or regional formation, including documents such as Dutch besluits, old maps, or administrative decisions in the past. Third, geospatial aspects, must be based on data and geospatial maps that have been ratified by the Geospatial Information Agency and national standards," Darmawan explained.

Another thing that must be ensured is participatory aspects. The preparation of border details between regions must involve the relevant local government, local communities, and traditional leaders so as not to cause social conflicts. In addition, the socio-economic aspect must also be considered so that regional boundaries do not harm the community economically, especially in terms of public services and local economy.

"This concerns how local governments manage their own households. Especially if in the future there is a border area that has potential resources. This is feared that there will be conflict," concluded Darmawan.