More on Andamanese

[jess tauber]

Hello again. As more reports come in about the situation in the Andaman and Nicobar islands affected by the earthquake and tsunami of Dec. 26, 2004 it is clear that the picture on the ground is still unsettled in some places.

The Indian government administrative line is still that all the Andamanese came through with no casualties, but other news reports say some groups, such as the Sentinelese (with whom there is no real contact) may have taken a hit. Remember also that the medical, food and water facts may change the numbers. Reports about "instinctual" behaviors having saved those who lived are giving way to more enlightened ones about tribals' cultural knowledge (when you see the sea recede after a big quake, run like hell to the high ground).

Foreign reporters have been sneaking illegally onto reserves to take shots  of the quaint natives- trading trinkets for usable posed footage- and military personnel have facilitated this. Now that this has been brought to the attention of the authorities, such footage will now be inspected before the reporters can leave the islands (though I don't know how this will work for electronic data, or same already transmitted).

Aid has been diverted from tribals by some in the military, by local administrators, etc. This of course is apparently widespread in the region, where racial and caste considerations are taking center stage. Only foreign pressure can change this, since the government won't admit it has a problem publicly, and only steps in to change things when caught red-handed (and even then one may need to keep the spotlight focussed to force follow-through). My own belief is that this is a big part of what drives the denial of access to foreign NGO's - no need to let the outside world see all the dirty laundry. Those of you in the US old enough to remember the civil rights struggle in the South in the 50's and 60's may recall similar attitudes about interfering northerners.

In any case here is a link from the Associated Press from Jan 16 that might give you a taste of something hopeful, maybe.  The link is:  http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050116/ap/d87ks9g82.html

Jess Tauber
phonosemantics at earthlink.net