'Wild Cambodia jungle-girl' found

allesennogwat · 01-19-2007, 10:31 PM

A Cambodian girl who disappeared aged eight has been found after living wild in the jungle for 19 years, police say.

The girl is believed to be Rochom P'ngieng, who disappeared while tending buffalo on the edge of the jungle in remote northern Rattanakiri province.

Her father says he has identified her through scars and will have DNA tests taken to prove she is his daughter.

But the BBC's Guy De Launey in Phnom Penh says there are other possibilities to her identity.

Members of Vietnamese hill tribes often cross into Cambodia through the jungles, he says.

Many are seeking asylum from religious persecution and are keen to avoid contact with the authorities, he adds.

'Bare bones'

Local police said the woman was "half-human and half-animal" and could not speak any intelligible language.

Her plight came to light when a villager noticed some of his food had been taken and staked out the area, which is 350km (220 miles) north-east of Phnom Penh.

Deputy provincial police chief Chea Bunthoeun told Associated Press news agency: "He spotted a naked human being, who looked like a jungle person, sneaking in to steal his rice."

The villager and some friends then caught the woman.

Sal Lou, a village policeman, said he recognised the woman as his daughter from a scar on her right arm.

He said: "When I saw her, she was naked and walking in a bending-forward position like a monkey... She was bare bones.

"She was shaking and picking up grains of rice from the ground to eat."

Mr Sal Lou said the family was now watching her closely after she took her clothes off and suggested she would return to the jungle.

allesennogwat · 01-19-2007, 10:32 PM

01-19-2007, 10:31 PM	#1
allesennogwat Curio & Relic AKaholic #: 3738 Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 32,184	'Wild Cambodia jungle-girl' found A Cambodian girl who disappeared aged eight has been found after living wild in the jungle for 19 years, police say. The girl is believed to be Rochom P'ngieng, who disappeared while tending buffalo on the edge of the jungle in remote northern Rattanakiri province. Her father says he has identified her through scars and will have DNA tests taken to prove she is his daughter. But the BBC's Guy De Launey in Phnom Penh says there are other possibilities to her identity. Members of Vietnamese hill tribes often cross into Cambodia through the jungles, he says. Many are seeking asylum from religious persecution and are keen to avoid contact with the authorities, he adds. 'Bare bones' Local police said the woman was "half-human and half-animal" and could not speak any intelligible language. Her plight came to light when a villager noticed some of his food had been taken and staked out the area, which is 350km (220 miles) north-east of Phnom Penh. Deputy provincial police chief Chea Bunthoeun told Associated Press news agency: "He spotted a naked human being, who looked like a jungle person, sneaking in to steal his rice." The villager and some friends then caught the woman. Sal Lou, a village policeman, said he recognised the woman as his daughter from a scar on her right arm. He said: "When I saw her, she was naked and walking in a bending-forward position like a monkey... She was bare bones. "She was shaking and picking up grains of rice from the ground to eat." Mr Sal Lou said the family was now watching her closely after she took her clothes off and suggested she would return to the jungle. __________________ Daraclor: A brand of anti-malaria pills which we had to drink every week while on the border. Legend had it that these would make you turn yellow and that you wouldn't be able to tan.

01-19-2007, 10:32 PM	#2
allesennogwat Curio & Relic AKaholic #: 3738 Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 32,184	__________________ Daraclor: A brand of anti-malaria pills which we had to drink every week while on the border. Legend had it that these would make you turn yellow and that you wouldn't be able to tan.

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