Help the Yali<\/p>\n
Thank you for including the little article Tribal People
\nMisunderstood (Across the Archipelago section of The Jakarta Post
\nOct. 3). An official from Maluku is quoted as saying: \"Most
\ngovernment officials and the public have little knowledge about
\nisolated tribes in Indonesia\".<\/p>\n
Aside from occasional glimpses on TV, of the Irian Jayan Dani
\ntribe from near Wamena, or the Asmat, we are kept pretty much in
\nthe dark about the condition of the hundreds of different tribal
\npeoples scattered throughout Indonesia. This has also been true
\nfor me until last year, when I was able to make a trek from
\nWamena, Irian Jaya, into the Jaya Wijaya district in the
\ndirection of Angguruk and Wali. I was surprised to find the
\npeople there still living in Stone-Age conditions. One does not
\nrecognize the 20th Century in the land of the Yali.<\/p>\n
The Yali people of Irian Yaya live high up in the mountains
\nand valleys of the Yaya Wijaya district. It is beautiful there,
\nbut very cold, especially at night. They are suffering because
\nthey have no clothing. They wear only grass skirts or small
\ngourds called koteka.<\/p>\n
They need and want clothing very badly, but they have little
\nmoney to buy clothes. They try to stay warm at night by huddling
\ntogether -- all the men and boys in one honi (a small round
\nhut), and all the women and children in another honi. They build
\na small fire which may last halfway through the night, but they
\ndare not open a window to let the smoke out because then the cold
\nnight wind would enter and they would suffer even more. Because
\nof the smoke, many have bad coughs and respiratory illnesses.<\/p>\n
Because of this lack of clothing they become easy prey for
\ndisease like tropical malaria, for they don't possess the
\ninherited resistance of those living in the lowlands or along the
\ncoast. Neither do the Yali have any fish or seafood to supplement
\ntheir meager diets, which consist mainly of ubi (sweet potatoes).
\nNor do they have any doctor to help them when they become sick.
\nMany die young.<\/p>\n
The government is already doing all it can to help, but has
\nonly limited funds, and has many other priorities and
\nresponsibilities. The overall progress of the past 50 years in
\nIndonesia is quite laudable. However, it will be several more
\nyears before the fruits of progress trickle back into the sweet
\npotato gardens of Jaya Wijaya. They need help now.<\/p>\n
The only way they will experience the warmth of clothing or
\nblankets is if we share and send some of ours. Two kilos of new,
\nor good used clothing can be sent by registered mail from Jakarta
\nfor less than Rp 20,000.<\/p>\n
If anyone would like to help the Yali, please send your
\nparcels for distribution to either:<\/p>\n
* Majelis Bp. Ismael, Angguruk, Wali, Irian Jaya, or<\/p>\n
* Kepala Suku (Village Chief), Bp. Sulaeman Angguruk, Wali,
\nIrian Jaya.<\/p>\n
They have little or no milk, or soap. Maybe you would also
\nlike to include a box of each.<\/p>\n
F. DANIEL ADAMS<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/help-the-yali-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }