The Ministry of Home Affairs is considering invoking Law No. 24/1956 and the 2005 Helsinki Peace Agreement as legal and political references in the ongoing territorial dispute between Aceh and North Sumatra over four contested islands.

The islands in question − Lipan, Panjang, Mangkir Ketek, and Mangkir Gadang − are situated in coastal border waters between the two provinces. Disagreement over their ownership escalated after the ministry issued Ministerial Decree No. 300.2.2-2138/2025, which reassigned the islands from Aceh’s Singkil Regency to Central Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Bima Arya Sugiatro, emphasized the importance of referring to both the 1956 law on Aceh’s autonomy and the Helsinki Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as suggested by former Vice President Jusuf Kalla during a June 13, 2025 meeting. These references could help establish clear and permanent legal ownership over the islands.

“We believe pak Jusuf Kalla’s recommendation is a significant reference, as it aligns with both the Helsinki document and the 1956 law, providing a stronger legal basis to determine ownership,” Bima spoke to the media at ministry headquarters in Jakarta on Monday, June 16, 2025.

He revealed that the ministry has gathered new evidence related to the status of the four islands. While he did not disclose specific details, Bima confirmed the findings will be used to complement geographic, historical, political, and socio-cultural data in establishing administrative clarity.

“This new evidence will be incorporated into a comprehensive dossier and submitted to the Minister of Home Affairs, who will then report it to the President,” he said.

The findings are currently being reviewed in an inter-agency coordination meeting, involving the Ministry of Defense, Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), and both the Indonesian Navy and Indonesian Army.

The current dispute was sparked by the issuance of the Ministerial Decree on April 25, 2025, which updated administrative codes and territorial data, effectively transferring the four islands from Aceh’s jurisdiction to that of North Sumatra.

This decision has drawn objections from Aceh officials, who argue that the islands have long been administered as part of Aceh Singkil. The reclassification has since triggered widespread debate over historical claims, legal jurisdiction, and community identity.

Bima said that the process remains open and collaborative. “No decision is final or irreversible,” he said. “We are carefully considering all data, inputs, and perspectives to reach a fair conclusion.”

As tensions persist between the two provincial administrations, the central government is pushing for a resolution that is not only legally sound, but also politically acceptable to all parties involved.