Last Tuesday, December 5, 2000, Gorontalo became an independent province, separate from its former province, North Sulawesi. Gorontalo's newfound independence is a repeat of history. The province, which constitutes one of 19 traditional regions regulated by syariah (Islamic) law, proclaimed itself independent from Dutch colonialism on January 23, 1942. Following its proclamation, the 95 percent Muslim-inhabited region stood on its own for a per