The Dutch Royal Institute for Linguistics and Anthropology (KITLV) in Leiden has proposed a new inquiry into what actually happened in the conflict between the Netherlands and the Republic in the years 1945-1949. But it will differ from earlier inquiries, that focused on Dutch excesses, in that this time around there will also be attention for the actions of the TNI and the para military groups.

Gusti Dertik (Dr.Herman Neubronner van der Tuuk) was, so we are told, the greatest nineteenth century Western student of Indonesian languages, possibly rivaled only by Brandes, a quite different type of scholar (and different type of human being). He laid the foundation for the comparative study of Indonesian languages by the formulation of two phonetic laws “without which”, according to the later testimony of the scholar of Malay Van Ronkel , “no scientific treatment of an Indonesian language is possible.”

Intrepid Travel launches a new tour in Indonesia, covering the highlights of (northern) Sumatra.

Bengkulu governor has high hopes of turning Panjang Beach into a tourist mecca to rival Kuta, Bali; the homestays have been prepared.

The orangutans in Borneo and Sumatra, destruction of their habitat, and efforts to help them.

The number of islands Indonesia has and whether some of them are for sale.

Chris recommends inter-city trains for tourists, and maybe locals too.

A teenage Australian girl from sunny Queensland finds Islam in Lampung and becomes a revert.

Indonesia still lags well behind its neighbours in proportion of people with internet access.

Police in some areas are keeping up the pressure on courting and adulterous couples, by raiding night spots and cheap hotels.