Contesting Sovereignty: The State-Indigenous Relations at the Indonesia - Timor-Leste Borderlands

Abstract

The contestation of the state and Indigenous people at the Indonesia - Timor Leste border has formed a distinctive pattern. The state's contestation represents sovereignty, while Indigenous people reflects socio-cultural integrity. The dynamics and strategic issues of the border area in Indonesia - Timor Leste are interesting topics of the study, especially those related to the resistance between the state and customary institutions. Conflicts often arise due to contestations over political and cultural boundaries, shaping the relationship between the state and local communities. This topic is significant as it involves two parties: state institutions and customary institutions. Moreover, there is a strong common thread connecting these interactions. This research examined the forms of political and cultural contestation and analyzes the factors driving the contestation between these two entities. Furthermore, it explored the implications of these contestations for the role of customary institutions in Indonesia-Timor Leste bilateral relations. This research applied an ethnographic approach, relying on the acquisition of primary and secondary data collected for analysis. The forms of contestation between the state and customary institutions include conflicts over identity, struggles regarding the formal spatial concept of the state and the socio-cultural space of customary institutions, and disputes over ownership claims. A key factor driving these contestations is the restriction of customary participation which is restricted by the government through regulations and marginalization of customary institutions. The contestation has implications for regulation, including compromises between the state and customary practices, the provision of new customary spaces, and the evolving relationship between Indigenous communities and transnational cultures.