Indigenous peoples from Andaman Islands tribe threatened by lure of mass tourism.

Striking news about the situation of the indigenous peoples from Andaman Islands. Gethin Chamberlain, a journalist from The Guardian, reports that it people is threatened by tourism business and the neglicence of who break the rules of the policy of non-interaction established by the State. According to Survival International, a human rights group, the precarious situation of indigenous is due to the lack of commitment from government.

This press release has publicly exposed the situation that is affecting to the indigeous peoples from a jungle reserve on South Andaman. Tour operators, associated with local police, have developed a lucrative bussiness from "human safari". A video shows how female members of Jarawa tribe, a reclusive tribe only recently contacted, are commanded to dance for tourist. Who commands is a police officer who says: "Dance for me...", "...I give you food". Pursuant to Chamberlain tourist threw bananas and biscuits to the tribespeople at the roadside, as they would to animals in a safari park.

Consulted on situation the superintendent of police for South andaman admit they are powerless to prevent some contact between the tribe and the tourists. He says that people should understand the policy of non-interaction and respect the rules. When he was asked about irregularities from police, he admits some officers are breaking the rules: "There may be incidents where our officers are negligent, and we have take action."

Apparently the government has tried to make and effort to protect indigenous peoples. In 2007 established a buffer zone around the reserve, hoping to protect the Jarawa tribe from further interaction will the outside world. But the safaris go on, four each way, dai in, day out. Although the authorities have cut the number of convoys to eight a day. However the supreme court ordered in 2002 close the road completely. According to the government, they will not close the road completely because too many people rely on it.

The great question seems to be: shut the Jarawa off from the world for ther own good, or allow those sho want to make contact to do so?

Dr. Anstice Justin, head of the Antropological Survey of India in Port Blair, thinks the only solution is to keep them apart from outsiders for as long as possible. He says that a "forced coexistence would be total genocide for them." While, Sophie Grig believes in the importance of the right to decide. She thinks that closing the road would at least allow the tribe to decide whether it has contact. On the other hand, the local MP has argued that trying to keep the Jarawa apart is futile.

At last, the future of the indigenous peoples from Andaman Islands is daunting. As pointed out the superintender of police for South Andaman: "Humans will be humans". However the concerns of some organizations and individuals delivers hope.

You can read the entire story in the link below:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/07/andaman-islands-tribe-tourism-threat?intcmp=239. 

                                                   Jarawa tribe Dancing for tourist in exchange for food.