Matang Cot Paseh – small Aceh settlement in Peusangan District, Kabupaten Bireuen
Matang Cot Paseh is an Indonesian settlement located in Aceh province, situated in the northern part of Sumatra island. Administratively, it belongs to Kecamatan Peusangan, which is part of Kabupaten Bireuen. Kabupaten Bireuen forms part of Aceh province, Indonesia's westernmost province. Based on the settlement's coordinates (5.2123806 north latitude, 96.7775073 east longitude), it is located in the inland areas of the regency, not directly on the coastline along the Strait of Malacca.
General overview
Matang Cot Paseh is not among the known or frequently visited settlements in Aceh; no documented historical sources or references to special institutions appear in available documentation. The village belongs to the Kecamatan Peusangan administrative unit, which is an inland district of Kabupaten Bireuen. Kabupaten Bireuen as a whole covers an area of 1,796.97 square kilometers and according to 2020 census data had a population of 436,418; official estimates for mid-2025 indicate 464,776 inhabitants. The regency's capital is the city of Bireuën, located approximately 105 miles (roughly 170 kilometers) east of the provincial capital, Banda Aceh. Matang Cot Paseh itself can be classified among the smaller settlements of Peusangan District, for which authenticated data on exact population and area is not yet available. The agricultural and fishing-based lifestyle generally characteristic of rural Aceh communities likely plays a significant role in the local economy as well, though this should be understood as regional context rather than verified fact specific to this particular village.
Real estate and investment
No independent, authenticated data is available regarding Matang Cot Paseh's real estate market. Examining Kabupaten Bireuen as a whole, the regency separated from the former North Aceh regency in 1999 and has shown gradual population growth since then, accompanied by modest increases in domestic demand. In rural Aceh settlements, property prices are typically considerably lower than in the province's more developed tourist areas; however, local market liquidity and infrastructure development may also remain limited. For Indonesian citizens, land purchase and property acquisition are possible according to generally applicable Indonesian law. Foreign natural persons cannot acquire full ownership rights (Hak Milik) over property in Indonesia; for them, Hak Pakai (usage rights) and long-term rental arrangements are available, which should always be discussed with local legal advisors, especially in areas of the province with special legal status. From an investment perspective, Matang Cot Paseh, as a small rural settlement, is more relevant to stakeholders interested in serving local needs rather than to a broader investor base.
Safety and security
No specific settlement-level crime or policing data is available regarding safety and security in Matang Cot Paseh. Regarding the broader region—Aceh province and within it Kabupaten Bireuen—documented historical fact shows that the area was affected by armed conflict between the Free Aceh Movement (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka, GAM) and the Indonesian government, which lasted from the 1970s until the 2005 Helsinki peace agreement. The Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami of December 26, 2004, also severely affected the regency. Since the conclusion of the peace process, Aceh province has generally become more stable, and the former conflict zone has gradually normalized; however, travelers are always advised to follow current foreign ministry travel advisories. In smaller rural villages, the application of customary community law and Islamic legal norms (Sharia) influences daily life in Aceh, which results from the province's unique legal status among Indonesian provinces.
Tourist attractions
No named tourist attractions appear in available sources regarding Matang Cot Paseh. Considering Kabupaten Bireuen as a whole, the regency does have coastline facing the Strait of Malacca, which represents one of the region's natural assets. In other parts of the province, particularly near Banda Aceh, there are memorial sites and museums related to the devastation caused by the tsunami, which attract significant interest; however, these are located at a great distance from Matang Cot Paseh, in the western part of the province. For the inland areas of Peusangan District, the nearby city of Bireuën represents the most important urban and commercial center, where everyday services and infrastructure are available. For those interested in rural Aceh, the area may offer an opportunity to experience authentic Acehnese village life, but no data is available regarding organized tourism offerings or hospitality infrastructure specific to this particular village.
Summary
Matang Cot Paseh is a small rural Aceh settlement belonging to Peusangan District in Kabupaten Bireuen in the northern part of Sumatra. The regency is a gradually developing area bearing the consequences of the 2005 peace process and reconstruction following the 2004 tsunami, with an estimated population of approximately 465,000 by 2025. The settlement itself does not appear independently in available sources, so any more detailed characterization can only be formulated with solid foundation at the level of the broader administrative unit. Whether examined from a local real estate market perspective or from a tourism standpoint, Matang Cot Paseh is primarily understandable within the context of the region, in relation to the city of Bireuën.
