Sentani culture under threat

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: The culture of the Sentani tribe, one of around 250 ethnic groups in the province, is on the brink extinction due to the influx of people from other provinces, a youth leader said Saturday.

Alfons Ongge, chairman of the local chapter of Pemuda Pancasila -- a youth organization affiliated to the ruling Golkar group -- called on the Sentani people to do everything possible to save their culture.

He said many local traditional dances have been "modernized" without the blessing of tribal leaders.

When people from other provinces began to arrive, the Sentanis picked up bad habits once considered taboo in the past such as stealing, Ongge said as quoted by Antara. (rms)