6 maanden na de tsunami...
 

Eigenlijk plaats je volgens de politics.be etiquette als moderator geen topics, maar dit persbericht zou eigenlijk normaal ongezien voorbijgaan en ik dacht dat het wel de moeite is om hier wat aandacht te besteden :

Aan: [email protected]
Onderwerp: [Pers] AFTER SURVIVING TSUNAMI TRIBE NOW FACE 'GREATEST THREAT'

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SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE

27 June 2005

AFTER SURVIVING TSUNAMI TRIBE NOW FACE 'GREATEST THREAT'

The isolated Jarawa tribe of the Andaman Islands, who hit the
headlines for surviving the 26 December tsunami intact, are now in
danger of being wiped out completely by settlers invading their land.

The 270-strong tribe live in the forest and hunt with bows and
arrows. They have only had friendly contact with the outside world
since 1998. Now, Indian settlers on their islands are invading their
land, stealing the animals they hunt, plying them with alcohol and
tobacco, sexually abusing Jarawa women and using the men as cheap
labour in return for a few bananas. Local police are often complicit
in this abuse.

Uncontrolled contact with outsiders also carries a serious risk of
infecting the tribe with diseases to which, after thousands of years
of isolation, they have no immunity.

The Andamans authorities announced in December a ground-breaking new
policy to protect the Jarawa's rights, including measures to combat
poaching and the invasion of their land, but these have not been
implemented. One local activist reports that 'nobody is interested'
and that the Jarawa are now under the 'greatest threat'.

Survival's director Stephen Corry said today, 'On paper, India's
policy on the Jarawa is one of the most advanced on isolated peoples
anywhere in the world. But if the authorities do not act now to
change the situation on the ground, I fear the Jarawa will not
survive.'

Almost uniquely, the Jarawa suffered no casualties when the tsunami
hit their islands. It is thought that their sophisticated knowledge
of their environment enabled them to detect early warning signs and
reach higher ground in time.


Photos and footage available. For more information contact Miriam
Ross on (+44) (0)20 7687 8734 or email [email protected]
--

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determine their own futures.

Survival International
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London EC1M 7ET
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tel +44 20 7687 8700
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