Australians speak on Aceh's history

Australians speak on Aceh's history

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Three Australian historians will present
their papers during a two-day seminar on Acehnese history, arts
and culture to be held here starting Sept. 2.

Barbara Leigh, Lance Castle and Hendri Chambert Loir will
speak at the seminar, which is part of the "1998 Acehnese
Cultural Show", head of the provincial education office Malik
Raden was quoted as saying by Antara here yesterday.

Malik said the Australian historians expressed interest in
returning to Aceh where they once conducted research on the
province's culture.

He said the cultural show, which will also feature the
performances of Acehnese traditional arts, will be the first of
its kind in the province.

He said it aimed to preserve the culture of Indonesia's
westernmost province which has been dubbed the "Terrace of Mecca"
due to its devout Moslem populace.

Indonesian historians who will speak in the seminar include
Ibrahim Alfian and Hasan Muarif.