Tribespeople found starving

Tribespeople found starving

GORONTALO, N. Sulawesi: Villagers found yesterday nine
starving isolated Palahi tribespeople who came down from
Boliohuto mountain, where they live, to the nearby Ilangata
village in search of food.

The head of the local social services office, Sudin Ma'aruf,
told Antara that the names of the nine tribespeople found by the
Ilangata villagers were Halima, who claimed to be 115 years old,
Manio, 55, Janio 45, Hasuna, 42, Halimu, 25, Katili, 22, Laiya,
15, Babuta, 10, and Yanihulu, 3.

The group are currently staying at the local social services
office where they will be taught about civilization, Sudin said.

Village chief Cun Lagarutu said it was the second time in the
past two months that his village had been visited by isolated
tribespeople. The first visit was by seven people.

One of the tribespeople, Halima, said he left for the jungle
in about 1890 from his then diarrhea-stricken village to escape
the Dutch colonials.

The group believed the country was still under Dutch rule.
(aan)