Friday, January 23, 2015

Dec 29, 2004; a post on andamanicobar@yahoogroups.co.in; revisiting December 2004

Dec 29, 2004

Andaman's aboriginals safe: Pranab

 [India News]: Kolkata, Dec 29 : Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that the aborigines in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, namely, Onges, Sentinel and Jarawa tribes are safe, contrary to reports appearing in a major daily that claimed that these tribal populations had more or less been wiped out.
Giving details of his visit to the devastated islands, Mukherjee said that the Ongi people had escaped the tsunami disaster as they were located on higher ground,. He, however, admitted that the Sentinelese and Jarawas had been affected, but not s severely as was being made out by reports.
Referring to the reports about the casualties suffered in the islands, Mukherjee said they were highly exaggerated, adding that a joint secretary from the Home Ministry has been asked to camp there to oversee relief and rehabilitation operations.
The islands consist of the Jarawas (Population of 266), Onges (Population 100), Shompens (population 250), Sentinelese (Population 100), Nicobarese and great Andamanese (Population 40) are the world's last aboriginal tribes.
A lot of confusion, however, persists about their whereabouts as there was no information about them for the past two days. (ANI)
Source: http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=51791

With regards
Pulak Barua

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