Baduis bracing for rituals

BANTEN, West Java: Badui tribal people in Banten, West Java, are preparing for their annual traditional rituals.

As the harvest season is nearing, Badui tribal people in the hinterland of Kenekes, Cibeo and Cikeusik, are fasting and closing areas to outsiders, including government officials.

They will fast, a part of their rituals called Kawalu, until it is time for them to harvest their paddy fields and forests.

Spokesman for the Banten regency government Tony Fatony told Antara Saturday the religious ritual would end with people offering agricultural products to the regent.

They will visit the regent to report on their home soil's "prosperity" and "stability". Usually they offer the regent coconuts, palm sugar, glutinous rice, bananas and handicrafts.

The Badui people in Banten, about 100 kilometers west of Jakarta, preserve their "primitive" culture proudly. They travel on foot and are renown for their honesty.

"It has never been heard that they steal or cheat others," Tony said.

A police officer in Lebak said they are not worried that the Badui refuse to obtain identity cards "because they are highly civilized and of high integrity".

"We have not heard of Baduis stealing, robbing, torturing or committing any other crimes," he told Antara.

Last year, West Java military commander Maj. Gen. Tayo Tarmadi gave them several TV sets. (12)