ALTHOUGH many archeologists oppose the exhibition of the Belitung treasures, Julian Raby, director of the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, continues to defend it.

Raby, 59, received his doctorate in Asian Studies from Oxford University in 1981 and taught Islamic art and architecture at this campus until 2006. He was appointed as director of the Freer Gallery on March 2002.

Tempo correspondent in Washington, DC, Victoria Sidj