Obstacles to the enforcement of sovereignty in the land border area of the Unitary State of Republic Indonesia (NKRI) with the Republic Democratic Timor Leste (RDTL)

Purpose: This paper aims to determine the extent of the enforcement of the sovereignty of the territory of the Republic of Indonesia in North Insana District, North Central Timor Regency, and Oecusse District, Democratic Republic of Timor Leste (RDTL). In 1999, following a UN-supervised referendum, Timor Leste seceded Indonesia after 24 years, marking its transition to independence. The nascent state is now tasked with delineating its borders with adjacent nations, notably Indonesia, to affirm its sovereignty and preempt potential territorial disputes. Method: This study employed a dual-methodology approach, integrating library research—comprising an analysis of books, international treaties, seminar proceedings, correspondence, online resources, and other scholarly materials—with empirical fieldwork conducted in the border region under investigation. Results: The research findings highlight two primary issues in the RI-RDTL border area, particularly in the North Insana District. First, indeterminate territorial boundaries result in frequent illegal cross-border activities by border communities, who feel marginalized in the developmental agenda and often turn to neighboring countries for their needs. Second, development in the border region, exemplified by the micro-level traffic at Haumusu Wini Village, calls for a broader, more inclusive developmental approach. Challenges to sovereignty in this context stem from constrained resources, inadequate infrastructure and facilities, limited accessibility and insufficient funding. Limitations: Two significant limitations of this study could be addressed in future research: the authors' time constraints and the distance of the research location. Contributions: This contribution highlights the significance of territorial sovereignty in comprehensive state protection.