The location of the incident is on the north coast, confirmed by the new
edition of the mapswap site:

http://www.mapswap.com/

The grid on the Indon map is 1km. The Dutch map above it, labelled 1:50 000
is identical to the 1:100 000 we have in all respects, and so is mis-labelled.

The border, according to Prescott et al, "Frontiers of Asia and Southeast
Asia" ,should follow the Halimeak river to the sea in this area. It appears
to on the Dutch map, although the symbols on the map are displaced east to
allow the river and the bridge across it at Motaain to be clearly viewed.
On the 'modern' Indonesian map, the very name Motaain is given to
settlements on the eastern bank of the river, and the village named Motaain
on the Dutch map is unnamed on the Indonesian map. The name on the Indon
map for the Halimeak is Mota Bico, and appears, but off the area scanned.
It is shown as a dotted line, hence a dry or intermittant watercourse,
whereas the Dutch map appears to portray it as of reasonable size. 
Note that the border on the Indonesian map follows a stright line,
deviating from following the watercourse some distance south of the coast,
and then to the coast in a straight line of no obvious significant
direction (not due north for example). To substantiate that this is the
border on the ground and not just a cartographic error, there is a km-post
east of the border labelled '114', but west of the watercourse. This is a
measurement fomr Dili. to the west of the border is another measuring from
Kupang: '314'. Neither of these is visible on the Dutch map, although
several preceding ones from Kupang are: 310,311,312 and 313, but not 314. 
Hence we can see the reason for the firefight.
The Australians, patrolling from the east, cross the watercourse, dry at
this time of year, and approach the border. The Indonesians, who have
admitted firing first, come from the west. Each thinks the border is where
the opposing troops are. Each has a map to back up their claim.
Ironically, each was using the map of the previous colonial power!
The questions that remain:
1)  Why were the Indonesian border police and TNI using Dutch maps,
(whether these were 1:25 000 or 1:100 000), when Indonesia has produced
1:25 000 maps of its own recently, and even interfet has them (besides
overseas map suppliers)? 
2)  When, and why was the border changed? Even when part of Indonesia,
E.Timor was a province so a change in the border, even if minor, is a
little strange, given that the old border was well known, and marked (the
Indonesians referred to boundary pillars along the watercourse). 
3)  What significance has this new border? Was it realigned to include a
couple of the border villages: to unite Motaain, which appears to be a name
belonging to 3 hamlets: 2 on the east, one on the west? When did this
happen, where is it notified, and why weren't their own troops aware of
this, given that many of the troops have been stationed in the area
(although many are also new, having been flown or shipped in). The
difference of around half a km accords with the news reports from Interfet.
4) Which border will be used for the independent East timor? the original
border as per colonial times? The new border, given that that bounds what
the Indons have called and known East Timor for some years at least?
5) Has the border been changed in any other places? 


Brendan Whyte
University of Melbourne


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