Jakarta, Sept. 26 -- The Netherlands government announced on Friday that it plans to return to Indonesia over 28,000 pieces of early human fossils from the Dubois collection currently managed by Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden.

According to a statement from the Dutch government received here, Minister of Education, Culture and Science Gouke Moes approved the return after receiving advice from the independent Colonial Collections Committee.

"The Committee's advice is based on extensive and thorough research. We will apply the same level of thoroughness in working with Naturalis and our Indonesian partners to ensure the transfer proceeds smoothly," Minister Moes stated.

As he approved the return, per request from the Indonesian a...