Content
- Island Dispute Conflict Between North Sumatra and Aceh
- Island Scramble
- Dispute Between the Provincial Governments of North Sumatra and Aceh
- Opposing the Decree of the Minister of Home Affairs
- Helsinki Agreement
- Island Dispute Conflict Between North Sumatra and Aceh
- Ownership of the Islands
Island Dispute Conflict Between North Sumatra and Aceh
The 10th and 12th Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla spoke out in response to the border ‘chaos’ that led to the dispute over four islands between North Sumatra (Sumut) and Aceh.
JK, the nickname of the former Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, emphasized that the dispute over Mangkir Gadang, Mangkir Ketek, Lipan and Panjang Islands between North Sumatra and Aceh, should not have happened, if the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) understood the historical aspects and territorial administration of the four islands.
Island Scramble
Jusuf Kalla emphasized that without a wise resolution from the government in Jakarta, the dispute over the islands in the western waters of North Sumatra-Aceh, has a high risk of giving rise to new conflicts.
JK said that he reminded the Ministry of Home Affairs that without a good resolution by the central government, it would return the Acehnese people’s trust in Jakarta to zero.
“So for Aceh, it’s self-respect. Because it was taken, and it’s also a matter of trust in the center,” said JK while holding a press conference at his residence in Brawijaya, South Jakarta (Jaksel), Friday, June 13, 2025.
Dispute between the North Sumatra Provincial Government and Aceh
JK and Sofyan Djalil held a special press conference following the ‘dispute’ between the North Sumatra Provincial Government (Pemprov) and Aceh regarding the islands of Mangkir Gadang, Mangkir Ketek, Lipan, and Panjang.
The dispute occurred due to the issuance of the Decree of the Minister of Home Affairs (Kepmendagri) 300.2.2-2138/2025.
The Decree, which was stipulated on April 25, 2025, concerns the Granting and Updating of Codes and Data on Government Administrative Areas and Islands.
The Decree of the Minister of Home Affairs states that the islands of Mangkir Gadang, Mangkir Ketek, Lipan, and Panjang, which were originally in the territory and part of the Aceh Provincial Government, were included in the administrative area of the Central Tapanuli (Tapteng) Regency Government in North Sumatra.
Opposing the Decision of the Minister of Home Affairs
The Aceh Provincial Government and the people of Aceh, to this day, strongly oppose the decision of the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri), Tito Karnavian.
JK admitted that he felt the need to speak, because he and Sofyan Djalil were the parties representing the Indonesian government in the Peace Agreement with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Helsinki, Finland in August 2005.
“Because many have asked me, those who asked to talk about the talks or MoU (agreement) in Helsinki, (related) to the border between Aceh and North Sumatra (according to the Helsinki Agreement),” said JK.
Helsinki Agreement
JK emphasized that, referring to the Helsinki Agreement between Indonesia and GAM, the four islands currently being disputed are part of the Aceh region.
JK said, in the Helsinki Agreement there is a mention regarding the territorial boundaries or areas of Aceh and North Sumatra. This, said JK, refers to Chapter I Article 114 paragraph (1).
“Which states, the border of Aceh refers to the border of July 1, 1956. So the discussion or in the Helsinki agreement (with GAM) refers to that (the 1956 border),” said JK.
JK explained, in 1956, President Sukarno issued Law (UU) 24/1956. The early independence policy was not issued suddenly. However, there is a history that made President Sukarno issue the regulation.
JK said, Law 24/1956 was issued because previously Aceh was part of North Sumatra. And that situation gave rise to a rebellion in Aceh that strongly rejected being united with North Sumatra.
“In the past, Aceh was part of North Sumatra. (Aceh) was only its resident. Then President Sukarno, because there was a rebellion there (Aceh), there was DI/TII, at that time Daud Beureueh, so Aceh stood alone as a province with special autonomy with the existing regencies,” said JK. DI/TII was a massive Darul Islam guerrilla group in the 1950s.
The rebellion in Aceh, said JK, was the background for President Sukarno to issue Law 24/1956 which specifically provided special autonomy for Aceh. And referring to Law 24/1956, said JK, Aceh consists of around 18 regencies. And related to the four islands being fought over, said JK, it is included in one of Aceh’s regencies. Namely Aceh Singkil Regency.
“The four islands, Lipan Island, Panjang Island, Mangkir Besar Island (Gadang), Mangkir Kecil Island (Ketek), historically they are indeed part of Aceh. Aceh Singkil is it,” said JK.
Ownership of the Islands
JK admitted that geographically the four islands are indeed close to North Sumatra. However, the geographical proximity cannot erase the social and historical background of ownership of the islands.
“That it is located close to North Sumatra is normal,” said JK.
He took the example of a group of islands in the Sulawesi Strait which is geographically closer to East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
However, the ownership of the islands is in the South Sulawesi (Sulsel) Provincial Government. Therefore, said JK, the Ministry of Home Affairs cannot only use the aspect of geographical proximity as one of the determinants of which government has the right to the islands. ***
