New tribe found in S.E. Sulawesi

KENDARI, South Sulawesi: The provincial social services office has discovered an isolated tribe here, identified as the Kadeoha, bringing the number of primitive tribes in the province to eight.

"The new tribe has an estimated 250 members. They live in Ranteangin village, Lasusua subdistrict in northern Kolaka," head of the office Rustam Palle said at a seminar on traditional and indigenous tribes over the weekend.

He did not elaborate on the finding, but said his office had started organizing activities to help the tribe improve their welfare and other conditions.

There are at least 4,480 families belonging to the Bajo (or Bajau), Moronene, Tolaki, Tumada, Lima Kawatina, Mekongga, Mone and the Kadeoha tribes. They are scattered throughout 48 different areas, and social service programs have so far only reached 500 families.