REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KUPANG -- The head of the Border Agency of East Nusa Tenggara Province, Paul Manehat, said the settlement boundary issue between Indonesia and Timor Leste can be resolved by involving traditional leaders as part of a socio-cultural approach.

"We have completed an internal study, tracing the history of such areas as Oepoli, Amfoang and Kupang. This border issue can actually be solved by adopting a social and cultural approach," Manehat said here on Wednesday.

He added that there were a number of documents that show that Oecussi, an enclave, was exchanged with Neomuti area located in North Timor Tengah district.

"Oecussi was once a Dutch colony, and was then included in the Portuguese ruled area, while Noemuti was a Dutch colony and was then part of the Portuguese colony," he said.

According to Manehat, there was a land swap between the Portuguese and the Dutch governments. "This land swap occurred in 1859," he added.

"There exist some important documents about these areas, and we will encourage a resolution to the border issue between Indonesia and Timor Leste through the socio-cultural approach," he said.

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