TEMPO.CO, Banda Aceh - Former Chairperson of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), Otto Nur Abdullah, asserted that Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian's decision to include four islands near Singkil Regency, Aceh, into the territory of North Sumatra has the potential to ignite a new conflict in Tanah Rencong (Aceh).
"Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian's decision successfully adds fuel to the fire. Clearly, the Minister's decision is akin to pouring gasoline on Aceh's already frayed unity," Otto told Tempo on Friday, June 13, 2025.
Otto criticized the Home Affairs Minister for being "ahistorical" in addressing the territorial boundary issue. Moreover, the decision was based on land borders between Aceh Singkil Regency and Tapanuli Tengah Regency, which were studied by the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL), and the Army Topography. Thus, the central government concluded that the four islands fall within North Sumatra's territory.
In Otto's view, the Home Affairs Minister should have conducted a more thorough examination before determining the status of the four islands. Especially from a historical perspective, Pulau Panjang, Lipan, Mangkir Gadang, and Mangkir Ketek have always been part of Aceh's territory. As proof, he cited an agreement signed by Aceh Governor Ibrahim Hasan and North Sumatra Governor Raja Inal Siregar, which shows sea boundary lines confirming the four islands are within Aceh's jurisdiction.
Therefore, Otto suggested that the Home Affairs Minister's decision appears to be politically motivated and serving the interests of certain parties. "Ultimately, there's an assumption that Tito is more inclined to grant a favor to North Sumatra Governor Bobby, to get closer to Jokowi. Thus, Tito effectively becomes a hindrance to the integration efforts initiated by President Prabowo," explained the sociologist from Syiah Kuala University.
Furthermore, Otto, who also chairs the Alumni Association of Lemhanas in Aceh Province, emphasized that all parties must take decisive action before the polemic escalates further.
"The parties involved in the negotiations must immediately hold a roundtable dialogue before the fire ignited by Tito explodes into a conflagration that could engulf a corner of Indonesia. Because, in addition to Papua and Maluku, issues in Aceh could fuel student and popular movements dissatisfied with the outcomes of the Jokowi regime's development," Otto warned.
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