above: photo Tierry Falise/Onasia
Tsunami News
FEBRUARY 2005
Tsunami spells hope for India's hunter-gatherers
by SIMON DENYER,
Reuters
27 Feb 2005
When the earth shook and the waters began receding from the creek near their settlement, the Onge of India's Little Andaman island knew nature was telling them something.
The primitive hunter-gatherers did not wait to pick up their possessions or their passports but instinctively made for higher ground. All of the 100-or so Onge left in the world seem to have survived the tsunami's deadly power.
Two months on, the tsunami offers the chance for a fresh start for the Onge, a tribe whose roots stretch back to man's earliest ancestors but whose contact with the outside world over the past century-and-a-half has brought them close to extinction.
Their homes in two government-built settlements damaged or destroyed, the Onge are back, for the time being at least, in the forests of Little Andaman, an environment many anthropologists is where they belong.
"The Onge have expressed a desire to resume their hunter-gatherer and semi-nomadic way of life," said Samir Acharya of the Society of Andaman and Nicobar Ecology. "If they are permitted to go back into the forest, they would probably acquire more vitality, culturally, traditionally and health-wise."
The First People
The Onge are one of four negrito tribes on India's remote Andaman islands who some experts now trace back to "the first people", man's earliest ancestors who made their way out of Africa and into Asia.
Reuters ran into a group of seven Onge men just outside Hut Bay last week, sheltering under a tarpaulin, lying on raised beds made of sticks and on their way to find out what had happened to their homes at South Bay.
Listless and wary of outsiders, the group's leaders said they had no desire to become "modern" but would prefer to retain their traditional way of life.
"If the government gives us new houses we will live there, but if not, we are planning to go back to the jungle again," said Oroti, speaking broken Hindi and dressed in a red T-shirt and shorts. His only apparent possessions -- a machete, a plastic bucket carried with a strap over his forehead, and the dogs that roamed around the camp.
Anthropologist Dr Vishvajit Pandya has recommended to a government panel the Onge be encouraged to move back into the forest. Acharya says the publicity generated by the tsunami gives a great chance to push that kind of idea through a slow-moving bureaucracy on the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
"Earlier, officials would have put up all sorts of obstacles. But now the whole country has its eyes and ears open. The Andaman islands have come onto the world map, and their sense of complacency has gone," he said.
Sad History
For tens of thousands of years the Onge lived in Stone-Age isolation, hunting wild boar and collecting honey in the forests, chasing dugong and shooting fish with bows and arrows in the sea.
Their sad history of contact with the outside world began in the 1880s, when the British sent several "punitive missions" to pacify them and bring the island under their control.
"Friendly relations" were established, and some Onge even taken to Calcutta to impress upon them that Britain was "the strongest race and must be obeyed," according to former British administrator M.V. Portman.
Disease inevitably followed, and the Onge's numbers fell from 672 in 1901 to just 250 in 1931.
Worse was to come in the late 1960s, when the Indian government decided to develop Little Andaman island and settle thousands of refugees from former East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.
The Onge's traditional territory was eaten away, and the last unhappy, remnants of the tribe resettled in new homes in Dugong Creek and South Bay.
The Onge were offered healthcare and food rations, and even paid monthly allowances in an attempt to bring them closer to the Indian mainstream.
Government anthropologist Anstice Justin says the hand-outs have made the Onge welfare-dependent. Ironically, experts say, food aid has also left them malnourished -- rice and lentils no substitute for their high-protein diet of fish, clams and pork.
It has also left them at the mercy of unsupervised officials, says Madhusree Mukherjee, author of "The Land of Naked People", a hard-hitting account of the history of the islands' tribes. "Social workers and other government employees placed in remote outposts with no training and absolutely no supervision, are using their powers to exploit the aboriginals," she said. "The fact is that welfare has been more harmful than helpful."
As a result of alcohol introduced by welfare workers, many Onge are now heavy drinkers. The best chance for the tribe might be to coax them away from the state's corrupting grip, she says.
"This is a chance to encourage them to move back into the forest and become less dependent on welfare," she said. "It may be that returning to the forest would remove some of their depression."
But Mukherjee says the battle will be a tough one. Many Onge, especially the younger ones, may be reluctant to give up the easy life in the government settlements, the handouts, the electric light and the alcohol.
Their forests may also come under further pressure on an island where 10,000 settlers lost their homes to the sea.
"It depends on how well their forest is protected," she said by telephone from Calcutta. "Because the settlers suffered so much, they lost their rice fields, they might be seeking new ground which wasn't affected by the waves."
K.C. Ghoshal of the government's tribal welfare department agreed the tribes fared better in isolation, but said Mukherjee's accusations of abuse were not worthy of comment.
Arrests for stealing from native tribes
from SANJIB KUMAR ROY,
sanjuonroad@rediffmail.com
24 Feb 2005
The Andaman & Nicobar Police has arrested nine persons for stealing belongings of Great Andamanese.
After the tsunami, all the tribal people community living in Straits Island were moved to Port Blair, the capital city of Andaman on 31st December 2004.
On 12th February when they returned to their island (which is 35 kilometer away from Port Blair), they found their belongings scattered and most of it missing.
Singh also said that the police station Rangat received a complaint from Mr. Jirake, the tribal leader and an effort was made to track down the culprits. This succeeded and most of the stolen goods were recovered.
All nine accused persons were produced before the a North Andaman Court from of which seven have been remanded in judicial custody while theother two have been taken into police custody for further interrogation and to recover the still missing stolen articles.
Police has also recovered good swhich were stolen from the house of a tribal welfare Officer who posted at Straits Island by the same suspects.
Legal Action against TV Journalists
from SANJIB KUMAR ROY,
sanjuonroad@rediffmail.com
23 Feb 2005
The Andaman & Nicobar government is planning to take action against TV journalists who had entered the tribal reserve areas without legal permit after the tsunami event.
"Atl east two journalists of two different national-level news channels had illegally entered tribal reserve areas with cameras. The administration has taken these incidents seriously and action will be taken soon," said MR. K.C.Ghosal, the Executive Chairman of Andaman Adim Janjati Vikash Samiti "welfare organisation). "Entering inside these areas without valid permission is illegal. Even aircrafts are allowed to fly close to the islands," he said. "They have not only entered the reserve forest but have also taken photographs which is also illegal."
"We are waiting for directions from Andaman & Nicobar Administration, if we get that we will take serious action," said Mr. S.B. Deol, the Inspector General of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
After 26 December tsunami, Andaman became a hub for journalists around the world. At its peak, the Andaman islands was host to 190 odd journalists representing nearly 100 news organizations.
NGOs have already expressed their dissatisfaction iabout this state of affairs. Organisations like Society for Andaman & Nicobar Ecology (SANE) have submitted written complaints to the administration. "Some media persons have even provoked tribal people to shoot arrows. This is wrong," Samir Acharya, secretary of SANE, said.
Jarawas after the tsunami (photographs)
from WILHELM KLEIN,
wilhelmklein@web.de
published in the Bangkok Post, 21 Feb 2005
21 Feb 2005
above: photo Tierry Falise/Onasia
Lt.-Governor visits Car Nicobar to inspect reconstruction works
from DEBI GOENKA
debi@beag.net
21 Feb 2005
The Lt. Governor, Prof Ram Kapse, today visited Car Nicobar and inspected relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction activities being carried out there. The Lt. Governor on his visit accompanied by the Chief Secretary, Shri D.S. Negi and senior officers of the Administration inspected the construction activity of new houses at Tamaloo, Kinmai and Mus villages. He held meeting with the Tribal Council. The Chief Secretary informed about the package announced by the Govt. of India for the islands.
The Lt. Governor directed the health authorities to further improve surveillance and measures to control malaria. He also directed the APWD to complete construction of shelters before the deadline of April 15, 2005. He asked the authorities to generate wage employment opportunities for Nicobarese.
He visited Passa beach and inspected the site where a bailey bridge is being constructed as the bridge, which existed earlier and was washed away in the tsunami of 26.12.2004. He asked the authorities to clear the road and to start bus services.
The Lt. Governor visited relief camps at Mus, Tamaloo and Kinmai villages. The Chief Captain Shri Aberdeen Blair requested for providing more sewing machines. The Dy. Commissioner, Nicobars informed that orders for sewing machines have already been placed and will be distributed as soon as these are received.
Tribal captains requested the Chief Secretary for providing bicycles. The Chief Secretary informed them that 2000 bicycles are already on the way.
Thereafter, the Lt. Governor accompanied by the Chief Secretary, Dy.Commissioner, Nicobars and Superintendent of Police visited Teressa and Kamorta.
Indira Gandhi statue at Great Nicobar found again
from DEBI GOENKA
debi@beag.net
21 Feb 2005
The search and rescue team of A&N Police, led by Shri B.B. Choudhary, Dy. SP Campbell Bay today located the statue of Smt Indira Gandhi at the Indira Point, Campbell Bay, the southernmost tip of India, which was also the worst affected by the Tsunami on 26th December, 2004. The statue was awaiting installation near the lighthouse, and was washed away during tsunami. Since then the search of the statue was on by Police team.
The upper portion of the statue has been finally located under the debris and logs, half deep under water and sand as the area has become swampy after tsunami. The search for the lower portion of the statue is still on. Considering the importance of the statue, the A&N Police has posted guards for its protection. The A&N Police has planned to retrieve the statue immediately.
Amphibian assault vessels used for relief operations
from SANJIB KUMAR ROY,
sanjuonroad@rediffmail.com
20 Feb 2005
The Integrated Relief Command of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands has procured two Landing Craft Utility Ships. These vessels were made for Navy but were brought to Andaman Islands to strengthen the supply logistics toremote islands. This was urgent since the rehabilitation phase needs to be completed for more than 42,000 homeless people before the monsoon begins.
Lt. General Singh said that new problems are coming up every day. "Distance from mainland India is a challenge, the inter-island distances, in themselves are also a challenge and we are trying our level best ," he said.
The main idea behind bringing in assault vessels is that most of the harbors of the remote islands are either damaged or flooded by the tsunami.
These are shallow draft vessels which can move inas little as two feet of water and carry a load of about 3 tonnes, heavy vehicles and 30 men at any one time. "Once beached, its puts it ramp down and the heavy vehicles can move on land.They can carry trucks, tractors and other heavy vehicles to almost all the remote island," Singh added.
According to the Lt. General ,the main challenges in Andaman & Nicobar Islands are "monsoon, ship to shore movement of relief materials, the planning for the sites, the move of nearly 125,000 tones of construction material and the move of plant." "
Indian chief geologist rubbishes findings of US geologists
from SANJIB KUMAR ROY
sanjuonroad@rediffmail.com
17 Feb 2005
The Indian chief geologist, Dr. K. N. Mathur, today contradicted the suggestion of US geologists that bigger aftershocks are enough to cause another local tsunami in the Indian Ocean region.
"Only seaquakes of more than 7 on Richter scale can cause tsunamis and it is not sure that all such shocks will trigger tsunamis. The possibility of another big tremor is very remote," said the Director General of Geological Survey of India. While talking to media at Port Blair, he also contradicted the findings of US geologists. "There is already a large-scale panic among the islanders of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and I want to assure them that there is no cause for alarm." . He added that since 6th January 2005 his department had recorded 9,500 or so aftershocks in the Andaman & Nicobar Region. "These are normal pattern of aftershocks and should not be mistaken as foreshocks. We are still recording aftershocks from Bhuj, where a devastating earthquake was recorded on 26th Jan 2001." He added that these aftershocks are a good sign since energy is released gradually, minimzing the possibility of bigger earthquakes happening.
Dr. Mathur also said that the pattern of aftershocks in the Andaman & Nicobar islands would probably be observed for the next two years or even more. "We have installed 5 seismographs in different places of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, to record seismic disturbances," the Deputy Director General of GSI Mr. Sumeet Roy
Dr. Mathur noted that a shift of 20- 30 m of the plate had been found, 30 km below the earth surface, but that the shift on the earth surface was minimal.
Dr. Mathur with his team of the Geological Survey of India recently visited the subcontinent's only active volcano at Barren island and found no activity there of the tape reported in a section of media. " There is not activity in the crater and it remained as it was found during GSI last visit on 2003. Barren island is a 10- hour boat journey away from Port Blair. It last erupted in 1995.
|
Editor's note: Dr. Mathur's self-confidence needs to be seen in the context of the excellent report produced by his department: "Great Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake: Analysis of Aftershocks" published on the web-site of the Geological Survey of India. The report honestly (and surprisingly in view of Mathur's comments) freely declares the data source to have been the United States Geological Survey. The report with its many excellent maps has been produced by B. Mukhopadyay, A. Acharya and S. Dasgupta and is highly recommended on http://www.gsi.gov.in/suma_eq.htm |
Post-Tsunami trauma for the inhabitants of Chowra and Bompoka
Received from SANE (Society for Andaman and Nicobar
Ecology)
Port Blair
sane@andamanisles.com
15 Feb 2005
While the Tsunami was in itself a traumatic experience, for most, what follows after is even more traumatic. This is true for the inhabitants of Chowra and Bompoka, the two islands in the Central Nicobars. Chowra, a small flat island with a high population density and limited natural resources had a pre-Tsunami population of about 1,449 which is now reduced to 1393. The low number of casualties were completely unexpected. Given how the Tsunami behaved in Car Nicobar, the complete destruction of Chowra was feared. However, when rescue operations reached Chowra on the 3 January, they found that only 56 had died. No, the waves had not spared the rest. Instead most of them had been washed away. But Chowrites, sea people as they are, managed to fight the gigantic waves and swim back The Chowrites are no ordinary people. Up to now, they are the only group in the Nicobars that have maintained a strong cultural identity despite outside interventions. It is known throughout the archipelago that the Chowrites have remained elusive to welfare and development programs promoted by the Administration until recently. To the Chowrites, their identity and culture, inextricably linked to their land endowed with magic, has been foremost in all negotiations with the outside world.
Now for the first time, the people of Chowra have been alienated from their land. Following the rescue operations, all inhabitants of Chowra and Bompoka were moved to Teressa in relief camps. Having spent 6 unhappy weeks, they now wish to return to their islands and start a new life. But unfortunately they are not allowed to do so. In a meeting that was organized by the Administration on Teressa on 9 February, discussions were held with the Chief Captain of Chowra, Jonathan. The Administration urged Jonathan to maintain their homes on Teressa and their plantations on Chowra, at least till the end of rains. The main argument put forth by the Administration was the lack of water on Chowra. Jonathan failed to understand why this is an issue after Tsunami. Chowra always faced water scarcity, the solution to which never crossed the Administration's minds. But why is this an issue now. Jonathan's expectation from the Administration is none. Why should he? He said, that the desalinization plant that had been set up at one point worked only for a short while. It never got repaired or serviced when it broke down. He said that the people had managed well earlier and would do so now.
Indigenous people across the world are very much part of the ecosystem that has nurtured them. Their entire world-view and identity are inextricable linked to the life-support system that surrounds them. In comparison to the death of a member, being alienated from their land is much more traumatic. While death, in their understanding is a natural process, the loss of their lands is not. It means the very extinction of their roots, and hence their being in the world. Jonathan has categorically stated that, "We may die but we have to go back. What will we do here? We need to work...We have our plantations there and we cannot think of leaving our island". No argument convinced Jonathan. A life without their island is inconceivable to them. The idea of the Vice Chief Captain of Teressa, Peter, to divide the population of Chowra into 7 villages of Teressa was abominable to Jonathan. He was clear in stating that his people would stay together and would not be divided.
The concern of the Administration to rehabilitate the Nicobarese in a suitable and safe environment is not being doubted. However, any such process must accompany, even for a well-intentioned person, a certain level of sensitivity in what is socially and culturally appropriate as well. The Nicobarese may not have the worldly wisdom to deal adequately with the outside world, but they certainly do have the capability to comprehend and survive in their own environment. A single Tsunami would certainly not have destroyed these capacities to deal with the vicissitudes of nature, neither their resilience to begin a new life. We would do them great injustice by not acknowledging these attributes and imposing our urban ideology without understanding their life-context. In doing so, we would only be incurring potential misunderstandings between the community and the Administration that might be counter-productive in the long-run.
Great Nicobar woman rescued after 45 days
from SANJIB KUMAR ROY,
sanjuonroad@rediffmail.com
11 Feb 2005
An 18-year-old Nicobari tribal women was rescued after 45 days from devastated Pillopanja island, he southernmost Indian island near Campbell Bay of Great Nicobar island.
The woman Jessy was lfound by tribal man, Michael, who went back to Pillopanja islands from his relief camp to check on his village and his house. He brought Jessy back on 9th February and took her to the local health centre atCampbell Bay for first aid.
According to Jessy ,she was living off jungle products and coconuts for her survival. She did not stray far from her village and so could get fresh water from the source of water.
"I was scared and waiting for someone to come and rescue me," Jessy told Michael.
Micheal said he saw Jessy sitting on the sea shores waiting to be rescued.
Jessy's husband Noah'and her one-year old infant son Faithful are missing since December 26, 2004.
Jessy was overtaken by the tsunami waters deep inside jungle and when she returned back to her village, no one was there. The villagers had all either been killed or rescued.
This is the third near-miraculous rescue of this kind in the area. First a man, Micheal Mangal, was rescued after 25 days. Secondly, 9 persons (including 4 females) were found and rescued after 38 days.
Jessy was described as "doing fine except for a little los of weight and swellings from mosquito bites" by the station head officer of Campbell Bay. She has been released from Campbell Bay Health Centre and now stays at the Nicobari Relief Camp with the 9 survivors who had been rescued earlier.
Visit to and report on Teressa island, Nicobars, highlights shortcomings of governmental aid
Received from SANE (Society for Andaman and Nicobar
Ecology)
Port Blair
sane@andamanisles.com
9 Feb 2005
Minutes of visit to Teressa Island on 9 February 2005
The following figures for the tribal population at camps at Teressa were provided by a doctor from Delhi who has been visiting the camps everyday and monitoring health conditions.
|
No. |
Camp, |
Adult camp population |
Children below 12 years |
Children |
Missing |
Dead |
Number of families |
Total |
||
|
male |
female |
male |
female |
|||||||
|
1 |
Chowra |
427 |
393 |
230 |
241 |
102 |
15 |
41 |
344 |
1.306 |
|
2 |
Bengalie |
101 |
95 |
68 |
56 |
38 |
3 |
4 |
n.a. |
310 |
|
3 |
Alurong |
88 |
107 |
42 |
46 |
36 |
1 |
3 |
63 |
283 |
|
4 |
Kalasi |
145 |
144 |
58 |
58 |
62 |
2 |
0 |
93 |
405 |
|
5 |
Minyuk |
93 |
88 |
49 |
20 |
27 |
0 |
0 |
64 |
250 |
|
6 |
Luxi |
66 |
34 |
38 |
22 |
30 |
0 |
20 |
12 |
160 |
|
7 |
Enam |
87 |
94 |
43 |
22 |
30 |
0 |
18 |
53 |
228 |
|
8 |
Chuckmachi |
82 |
72 |
30 |
20 |
33 |
0 |
0 |
67 |
204 |
|
9 |
Bambooka |
33 |
5 |
12 |
8 |
2 |
0 |
10 |
7 |
38 |
|
Total* |
1,122 |
1,014 |
230 |
241 |
102 |
96 |
96 |
3,187 |
||
Note: The above columns do not add up to give the total figures as indicated. Also the total figure given by the Chowra Chief Captain does not tally with the figure given above. However, in the absence of any other figure coming forth, one could go ahead with the numbers indicated in the above chart. The doctor mentioned that the administration, too, was relying on his census.
Visit to Teressa island
On 9 February 2005, we visited Teressa island where residents of Chowra and Bambooka are also currently living in camps.
The following members of the administration, staff of various departments and the captains of some of the villages sat down to discuss what kind of survey had been carried out so far and the future requirements with regard to relocation.
Administration
- DC, Car Nicobar &endash; Mr. Anbarasu
- OSD, Camorta &endash; Mr. Chandra Bhushan
- SRO, Teressa &endash; Mr. Justin Pereira
- Director, Directorate of Tribal Welfare &endash; Mr. Awaradi
- Executive Engineer, APWD, Car Nicobar - Mr. Pushparaju
- Deputy Tahsildar, Port Blair (on relief duty to Teressa) - Mr.
Mandal
- Assistant Engineer, APWD, Teressa) &endash; Mr. Srinivasan
Tribal Captains
- Peter, Vice Chief Captain, Teressa
- Eric Jedro, First Captain, Bengali
- O. Zadrack, First Captain, Minyuk
- Jonathan, Chief Captain, Chowra
- Abner, Secretary, Tribal Council, Chowra
- (unknown), First Captain, Alurang
It was apparent that absolutely no serious thought had been given to the problem and that no survey of any consequence had been carried out one months after the disaster.
As the conversation proceeded, the sorry state of affairs became evident. There was no tape measure, scale, measuring instruments, drawing sheets, GPS, etc., that could be used by the PWD or other departments. The local staff did say that they had sent requests for these instruments to Car Nicobar but nothing had reached yet. However, it is possible that if the urgency had been conveyed, the team from Car Nic or from Camorta would have arranged to take at least some basic instruments.
Some maps of Teressa were passed around. It was mentioned that there were nine relief camps on the island, which otherwise had seven villages (viz., Bengali, Minyuk, Chukmach, Kalasi, Luxi, Enam and Alorang). Residents of Chowra and Bompoka islands were put up on camps in Teressa. The latter were accommodated in the relief camp in Minyuk; the former were put up separately.
Mr. Chandra Bhushan wanted to know whether the captains had been consulted where villages had been clubbed into one relief camp (such as Bompoka in Minyuk). Mr. Pereira replied in the affirmative, adding that a meeting of all captains had been convened and their consent taken. Further, it was discussed that in the case of some villages, temporary shelters would be put up at the same place where the relief camps were currently located. This was true of at least two villages &endash; Bengali and Alurang.
Mr. Mondal Tehsildar joined the gathering at this point and showed some sheets displaying the layout of temporary shelters. An A4 size sheet with rows of boxes was shown to everyone as the 'plan for temporary shelters.' According to this plan, the shelters were to be built close together with a 2 metre gap between each shelter. There would also be provision for a school and community hall.
(Note: It was obvious that no tribal people had been consulted as they would never have agreed to a plan for such a complex.)
Fortunately, Mr. Chandra Bhushan protested firmly and insisted that the tribals should choose their own space as per their requirements. He pointed out that the layout was not appropriate and that the gap was too limited. He also suggested forcefully that the community leaders would have to be consulted in coming up with the design. It was mentioned at this point that the tribal chiefs had chosen to build temporary and permanent shelters at the same location. The officials then seemed to agree that houses would be located based on what the community felt, that these would be built first and the school and community hall could be distributed later. Mr. Chandra Bhushan said that carpenters would be brought in from outside for construction of government buildings. They would be required since the tribal residents did not have tools and may not be in a position to use modern tools.
Mr. Chandra Bhushan wanted to know whether the locations for temporary shelters had been completed. The officials said that this had not been done. Mr. Chandra Bhushan expressed surprise saying that he had expected that this would have been done with and that it was of utmost importance. He then wanted to know whether, with two hours at his disposal, a survey team could accompany him to survey at least two or three places. It then emerged that there was no measuring tape, or topo sheets or any other basic instrument that is available with the PWD. The Deputy Commissioner said that these could have been brought by him from Car Nicobar if he had been informed. The local officials replied that these had been asked for earlier but had not been delivered.
Mr. Chandra Bhushan then wanted to know how long it would take for the surveys to be completed. The Assistant Engineer said that it would take 2-3 days. Upon Mr. Chandra Bhushan's reiteration of the importance of the task, the Executive Engineer said it would be completed in two days' time.
Discussion with Jonathan, Chief Captain, Chowra
Mr. Chandra Bhushan then turned to Jonathan, the Chowra Captain and asked him whether his people would be willing to live in temporary shelters in Teressa and later move into permanent shelters on Chowra. Or would they be open to building houses in Teressa with their plantations in Chowra? Jonathan replied firmly in the negative to these suggestions. He made it clear that his people would go back. They were not willing to stay at Teressa. "We may die but we have to go back. What will we do here? We need to work."
The Vice Chief Captain of Teressa, Peter, in response to a question from Mr. Awaradi, replied that the people of Chowra &endash; 308 families in all - could be accommodated in Teressa but they would have to be divided amongst the seven villages. Jonathan stoutly refused this offer saying that his people would stay together and would not be divided.
Mr. Chandra Bhushan intervened and suggested that the people of Chowra would have to live in temporary shelters on Teressa. The administration would arrange for boats and the construction of a jetty so that they could go to and from Chowra for construction of permanent shelters. At this point, Mr. Awaradi wanted to know from Jonathan why they wanted to go to Chowra. Jonathan replied that his people had their plantations there and they could not think of leaving their island. Both Mr. Chandra Bhushan and Mr. Awaradi demanded to know how the Chowra people would work at both places &endash; meaning construction of temporary shelters on Teressa on one hand, and construction of permanent shelters. Jonathan replied that there were plenty of people and that this was not an issue at all. Mr. Chandra Bhushan said that a survey of the location of settlement needs to conducted at Chowra and that the jetty would have to be reconstructed.
Turning to Mr. Pereira, Mr. Chandra Bhushan wanted to know whether there were facilities for education in the relief camps. Mr. Pereira replied in the affirmative but when questioned further about availability of books, he replied that he "was not sure".
Mr. Bhushan once again asked for a team of persons for survey to accompany him. Mr. Mondal said that this was not possible since there was no manpower and no instruments available. A team of persons from the PWD was subsequently cobbled up. However, it was not clear whether they eventually did leave for conducting a survey.
The Captains were also very clear that they would construct their own houses and did not need others to do it for them. While one cannot say how long this process will take, it is clear that the message was conveyed to the official team at Teressa that a new way of doing things would have to be adopted and soon.
Chowra Camp
A group of officials then left to the nearby settlement housing a relief camp for Chowra residents. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Anbarasu and Mr. Awaradi met the doctor at the camp, Dr. Bhattacharjee and wanted to know how the health conditions were. The doctor replied that there was no danger of any epidemic breaking out, but that the inmates were not following his medical advice on some matters, especially chlorination, despite an appeal issued through the Chief Captain. Mr. Awaradi wanted to know why this was so. The doctor replied that this could be because of their traditional practices and beliefs.
Mr. Awaradi insisted that the people should follow the advice given. He also suggested that the doctor should visit the camp regularly. The doctor replied that he was on the field every single day.
Upon being questioned further about chlorination of water, the doctor mentioned that although the well was chlorinated, this was not adequate for two reasons. Firstly, the volume of water in the well could not be ascertained accurately, rendering the chlorine dosage inadequate. Secondly, chlorinated water lost its effect in a day's time and therefore, it was important that it be chlorinated again by the family that was using it.
Mr. Anbarasu, displayed a picture of a toilet on his laptop, saying that such toilets would be installed (whether for the relief camp or near the temporary shelters was not made clear). The doctor commented that availability of water was a crucial problem and this needed immediate attention, following which attention could be paid to installation of toilets, which would require a considerable amount of water to be used.1 It was revealed that water was being fetched from a well near Bengali village in a pick-up vehicle. While this was problem enough, it had been worse until as recently a week ago, since there was no vehicle and the well too was filled with sea water.
Footnote 1. The need for appropriate technology cannot be further emphasized. The doctor in a separate conversation expressed complete frustration at the manner in which officials thought it necessary to teach tribals how to use toilets, when even drinking water was inadequate.
Jonathon, Chief Captain, Chowra (in a separate conversation)
The Chief Captain categorically stated that the people of Chowra were not willing to stay at Teressa. He was quite distressed with the attitude of the local administration. They were evacuated from Chowra on 3 January 2005, and since then the captain and a few others were taken to Chowra only once about two weeks ago (i.e. two weeks from 9 Feb.)
Jonathon said that the government was using the lack of water as an excuse to keep them back at Teressa. However, he failed to understand why this was being made an issue now, since even prior to the earthquake and tsunami there was a shortage of water on Chowra island. While a desalination plant had been set up at one point, it worked only for a short while and was never repaired or serviced when it broke down. He said that the people had managed well earlier and would do so now.
Earlier during the meeting with the officials, the captains from Teressa were asked if they had any objections to the Chowra people staying at Teressa. While the Teressa captains stated that there would be no problem &endash; on the issue of plantations it was said that the burden of providing plantation land to Chowra people would be shared by the seven villages of Teressa &endash; meaning that the Chowra people would be divided amongst those villages. The dynamics with respect to place of residence, distance form plantation and the break up of the earlier community need to be understood. Obviously, keeping all this in mind, the Chowra people were even more determined to return to their own land.
There was also a concern that if they did not return soon and examine their land and plantation, then they would suffer more losses. They are basically stuck on Teressa due to the unavailability of any boats. The Captain also mentioned that they did not know for how long the government would provide rations and it was essential that work on plantations began soon so that people would have some money
Visit to Minyuk
The team of officials then returned to the helipad. Some of them, comprising Mr. Chandra Bhushan, Mr. Awaradi, Mr. Anbarasu, the Executive Engineer, Mr. Pushparaju and Mr. Justin Pereira left by helicopter for Minyuk.
Since no one from this team could visit Minyuk, we do not have any information.
Visit to Kalasi Relief Camp
Upon the officials' return from Minyuk, we joined them on a visit to the relief camp at Kalasi village. (the team from Car Nicobar left Teressa and did not take this journey.) It was found that the residents of Kalasi had already begun construction of houses and had decided on the area for their settlement (both temporary and permanent). This land was jointly owned, but the land ahead belonged to several families. The village has 80 families in Kalasi proper, and 12 families in Kanamino nearby (population 355 and 65 respectively). This camp seemed to be in a better position than the Chowra camp. There was a water source not very far away. We were joined by a Junior Engineer and a locally based teacher, both Nicobarese. (The teacher was from Car Nicobar though.) It was found that there were122 students in the village along with 2 teachers. There was one more teacher, a Ranchi, who had fled the island on 28th December and had not returned since.
There was some discussion on construction of a school (this was to be common for both Kalasi and Kanamino), elpanam and quarters for school teachers but nothing concrete emerged from this.
Mr. Chandra Bhushan wanted to know whether a helipad could be constructed nearby. The accompanying policeman, Mr. K.M. Pillai said this was possible. The SRO, Mr. Pereira initially resisted, saying that helipads already existed at Minyuk and Chukmachi, but later agreed that this was possible.
At the HQ area, a brief discussion with Mr. Robert, Head Constable, on relief duty at Teressa, revealed that there were no motorbikes or four wheelers available till as recently as February 3rd. This meant that mobility of people and material was severely affected till some vehicles were made available2. This made Currently there are two motorbikes, one Tata pick-up van and one Maruti Gypsy. He further observed that government officials visited Teressa regularly but there was no action on the ground. On Sunday, 6th February, for instance, Mr. Pradeep Singh, former CS, had visited Teressa and left after 45 minutes. He did not visit any relief camp.
Mr. Henry Curtis, Patwari currently on relief duty at Teressa, was spotted writing a letter to the administration, which clearly indicated that none of the 301 students on the island had any books or stationery remaining, and that despite repeated requests, nothing had been done about this more than a month after the tsunami.
Footnote 2: Officials would probably state severe infrastructure damage (no jetty, difficulty in landing) as the reason for this delay. However, if this could be done on 3rd February, it could well have been done earlier. This delay is evidence of the slow pace of relief and rehabilitation in the islands. It appears that provision of basic rations is the main concern and then everything slows down.
Present conditions at Teressa (a summary)
- Acute shortage of water for drinking as well as other purposes. Even doctors visiting from Delhi and Kolkata are sending their requests for drinking water to Delhi.
- There are no proper sanitation facilities. This coupled with the shortage of water could later lead to serious problems (especially when the monsoons begin.) Deep trench latrines should have been constructed long ago, these are yet to be done.
- At the Chowra camp, a picture of the toilet proposed to be introduced was shown. The doctor present commented that water availability was in itself a primary problem and required resolution before introducing toilets.
- Some families are yet to receive their basic compensation of Rs. 2,000/- Minyuk (4 families), Bengali (16 familes). This was brought to the notice of Mr. Justin Pereira and he said it would be done.
- The Co-operative Bank had opened on 8 or 9 February 2005. They have started in one room, under very basic conditions (the floor is their workspace). The basic deposit amount has been lowered from Rs. 250/- to Rs. 10/- They are opening accounts without photographs. This is wonderful &endash; but it would be good if arrangements are made for a camera (Polaroid). The bank staff is willing to take photographs themselves &endash; these could be used for other documents as well.
- Mosquito nets have still not reached this island. People have made some nets out of sarees.
- At some camps while generators were available, electricity cables were in short supply. As a result many places did not have any light.
- No clothes for children issued. No ladies inner outer clothes issued. No baby food issued (this appears to be of concern in this area). Petty items such as washing /bathing soaps, chappals, comb, etc. have not been issued
Doctors
There is a team of 8 doctors from Delhi and Kolkata who have come to Teressa. Some of them have spent over 20 days on the island. One team was from the National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD), Delhi &endash; Central Surveillance Unit and the other from the Central Health Services, Kolkata. They have been visiting each camp and talking to people about water treatment and sanitation among other things.
The following are some of their main observations:
- Presently there is no fear of the spread of disease. However one would have to be careful when the monsoons begin.
- They felt there was mismanagement of relief material and that milk powder and other such items were probably rotting as they were not being distributed soon enough.
- The shortage of water was a serious problem and needs to be addressed soon. A qualified team must explore the availability of water sources.
- The food being supplied (rice, dal, potatoes) needs to be supplemented &endash; soya beans (nutri nuggets) would be a good option.
- At the Chowra camp, the doctor mentioned that his advice regarding the use of chlorine tablets was not being followed by all inmates despite the Chowra Captain having endorsed his advice. He felt that this was perhaps owing to indigenous beliefs or practices.
SRO, Justin Pereira
Punishment posting - for the people of Teressa, Chowra and Bompoka.
While the doctors were not ready to formally complaining, a longer conversation with them revealed that they had been treated very shabbily by the SRO, Mr. Justin Pereira. Not only was he incompetent in his own work &endash; he is also unconcerned with the work others are willing to do.
When the first doctor arrived at Teressa and introduced himself, he was told by the SRO that since he was here, he could go to any place he liked on the island and set up house. He was offered no assistance &endash; had to scout the area &endash; found an abandoned boys' hostel which had also been hit by the tsunami. He cleared the debris and now the entire team lives in the hostel dining room.
The doctors also walk long distances from camp to camp each day. Even if there are vehicles parked outside the SRO's office these are not made available for the doctors. They were clearly exasperated and stated that they were not willing to 'beg' for anything and would continue to do the job for which they had come to the island.
It is sad that when well meaning people, willing to endure hardships are given a tough time instead of full co-operation which will further speed up the pace of relief work. One doctor went so far as to say that he had worked many years and felt that he would be a better administrator than the present SRO, whom he felt displayed no
There was discontent among others staff members who said that Mr. Pereira and a few 'trusted aides' ate separately cooked food while the others ate on the road surrounded by dogs. (One said, "Ek aadmi khane baitha hai toh ssath mein chaar kutte aa jaate hain.") This was a complaint of more than one person.
In these working conditions the need of the hour is an officer who people can look to for leadership and a support.
There have been many complaints against the Special Relief Office at Teressa, Mr. Justin Pereira. He did not enjoy the confidence of the people at Camorta where he was earlier posted. He is reported to have behaved in a high-handed manner against the tribal people at Teressa. The officer must be replaced quickly and not transferred to any islands that are currently in crucial need of effective administrators.
Distribution of Oxfam material
Rasheed distributed cycles, 1 sewing machine per island and some tools. These had been given to the Tribal Council, Nancowry by Oxfam. Teressa has vast grasslands where camps are situated and cycles could be of help here. Similarly, travel from Bengali to Minyuk is tough and these cycles will be used well.
It is unfortunate that this has taken so long as some of these items could have been made available to people earlier with proper assistance from NGOs.
Temporary shelter
Too much time has gone by already. No survey has been carried out. No tools have been made available.
In such a scenario, people can wait no longer and have started making their hosues with whatever material was available. They don't understand this temporary and permanent any more.
When we saw the residents of Bengalie village, they had started building their own houses.
The Dhani Patti that was used in roofing was earlier available in creeks and has now been washed away.
There seems to be little sense in talking about 'temporary' shelters, to be replaced by 'permanent' ones before monsoon at this stage of time. The minimum requirement is to build shelters that will last at least till the end of the monsoon &endash; about 6-8 months. Given the community opinion, these may largely be built in the traditional style, with space being left for those who choose differently. As mentioned earlier, if construction can begin with existing tools, no matter in how small a way, it will be a significant achievement apart from serving as a huge morale-booster. The bureaucrats around will certainly make capital out of such a development, but perhaps, that is secondary to the more essential and immediate requirement for rehabilitation to begin asap.
Two in-boats may be provided to the village heads of Bompoka and Chaura to visit their islands for establishing plantation before the monsoon since they are camped in Teressa Island.
The time for moving into more 'permanent' dwelling places is fast running out, given the early onset of the monsoon in these parts. The traditional dwelling places of the Nicobarese have been elaborately built huts of bamboo and locally available natural material. According to Rasheed, about 80% of the community still favours this for permanent housing. The remaining one-fifth wants to move into semi-pucca houses, which require construction material such as cement and tin sheets, which are not locally available. Traditional huts can be built in a space of about a couple of weeks. Dhani patti, which is used for roofs is not available currently because most plants have been lost in the tsunami. The demand therefore, is for tin sheets. But two questions arise here. One, have ALL the dhani patti plants across the Nancowry group of islands been destroyed? Is there absolutely none left? Two, if this alternative is completely closed, is there no other naturally occurring substitute? What about coconut palm leaves? Does nobody in the community have an answer to this?
Requirements for Temporary Rehabilitation in the Nancowry Group of Islands
by TRIBAL COUNCIL NANCOWRY and NICOBAR YOUTH ASSOCIATION
received from MADHUSREE MUKHERJEE,
lopchu@att.net
8 Feb 2005
Most of the Tsunami affected areas in the Indian mainland are behind with their relief phase and are half way through with their temporary rehabilitation phase. On the contrary, the Nicobarese of the Nicobar islands, where nearly 15,000 people have died and the remaining 6,500 are still struggling for basic relief support, let alone temporary rehabilitation. Until now the Administration has spent only Rs. 10 lacs in the Nancowry group of islands where about 1,500 families need to be rehabilitated. Moreover, even the projected figure given by the Administration is also Rs. 10 lacs for this area. One can imagine that with this meagre amount, what kind of relief the Nicobarese must have got, and what one can expect. It is distressing to state that the basic requirement of the Nicobarese, which are tools, have still not arrived after one and a half months. On repeated requests to the Administration to send tools and tin roofs with which the Nicobarese need to construct their temporary shelters, arrange for water, and make their canoes, have not arrived. The women are ones that have been entirely neglected. They still wear men's clothes and are waiting for cloth and sewing machines with which they can make their traditional dresses. The conditions of the relief camps, though sufficient in rice and potatoes, is not what the Nicobarese are accustomed to. With lack of work, anxious to construct their temporary shelters, and stressed clamped environment of the relief camps is triggering new dynamics such as inter-generational conflicts, questions of leadership, redistribution of land and resources, and the restructuring of the former joint family system. As the deadline for the monsoons is drawing near, and tired with beauracratic procedures, the Tribal Council and the Nicobar Youth Association has decided to make arrangements on their own. To meet our goal of providing a respectable rehabilitation before the outbreak of monsoons, we request Oxfam India Trust, to provide the following materials through SANE who is helping us in relief and rehabilitation. The goods listed below are for the entire Nancowry group of islands which include the islands of Nancowry, Camorta, Trinket, Katchal, Teressa, Chowra, and Bampooka which have 31 villages and about 1,500 families.
Tools (for temporary homes, wells, canoes and agriculture)
The essential belonging for a Nicobari are a set of tools. Without tools, they are totally helpless, and cannot undertake any steps towards rehabilitation. It takes several years until each Nicobari family can accumulate the tools a family needs. Unfortunately, the Tsunami washed away the most important capital of the Nicobarese. It is distressing that the importance of tools for the Nicobarese was not recognised as an important precondition for temporary rehabilitation. Below are listed the implements each family needs to construct their homes, dig new wells, make their canoes, and establish horticultural and vegetable gardens.
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List of required tools, materials, sizes, quantities here. This detailed information can be made available as "Word" file. Request this per E-mail from andaman.association (at) bluewin.ch and use the catchline "Nancowry material" |
Connectivity and Communication
The main means of transportation for the Nicobarese has been boats. While canoes were used for fishing and transportation of a few people over short distances, an engine driven boat (dungi) was used to transport copra, rice and other goods, along with loads of people. Each village had a few boats owned privately by some families but could be used by all when necessary after contributing to the diesel. The Tsunami destroyed every single boat in the islands. As a result, the Nicobarese are completely marooned in their villages and depend on someone to come and provide them goods. In case of emergency they cannot even commute to the hospital which is in Camorta proper. Some villages are about 20 km from the headquarters/market. Moreover, barring a couple of villages, none have any means of telecommunication. While laying of regular telephone cables may take forever, a mobile network is about to start in these islands which could facilitate communication rather soon. Furthermore, the Nicobarese wish to move on higher hinterlands to avoid any further devastation by the sea. As a result, the Administration is trying, on the request of the Nicobarese, to connect certain villages with the market by a dirt road. A land-based connection seems to be appropriate for certain villages far out, which will also facilitate the transport of materials and goods for reconstruction. The Tribal Council, however, has maintained that the road will be owned and maintained by the Nicobarese and will ensure that there is no infiltration of outsiders into their territories. However, in order to remain independent of any outside transporters, some of the villages will maintain a tractor to transport goods on their own. Below is a list of requirements to facilitate connectivity and communication.
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List of required tools, materials, sizes, quantities here. This detailed information can be made available as "Word" file. Request this per E-mail from andaman.association (at) bluewin.ch and use the catchline "Nancowry material" |
We hope that OXFAM India Trust would be in a position to support the temporary, and partly long term rehabilitation of the Nicobarese of Nancowry Group of Islands.
With kind regards,
Ayesha Majid Chairperson, Tribal Council
Swept Into the World
by PAUL WATSON
Published by TIMES NEWS
Received from MADHUSREE MUKHERJEE,
lopchu@att.net
3 Feb 2005
Ancient knowledge saved endangered tribes from the
tsunami,
but the aid that poured in from outside could imperil their
future.
Nine days after giant waves struck Little Andaman island, a child was born in a soccer stadium and the Onge tribe of hunters and gatherers took a step away from extinction.
|
Editor's note: |
The rain forest that surrounds the tribe, along with traditional Onge wisdom, saved it in a catastrophe that killed more than 150,000 people across southern Asia. Now some experts fear that the tsunami's aftermath will prove more dangerous than the waves.
The Onge are one of five endangered hunter-gatherer tribes that have lived for tens of thousands of years in the forests of India's far-flung Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where the pressures of modern development have threatened to wipe them out.
The birth of a girl, at a makeshift relief camp at the stadium, raised the Onge population to 97. Although the outside help that arrived after the tsunami may have improved the odds of survival for the anemic mother and her newborn, activists fighting to protect the archipelago's indigenous people say the aid, including inappropriate shelter, food and clothing, is among several post-disaster shocks that have endangered the ancient societies.
"As far as the aboriginal tribes are concerned, they don't need aid," said environmentalist Samir Acharya, who runs the Society for Andaman and Nicobar Ecology in Port Blair, the Indian territory's capital. "It's a mindless thing to do. That's how we're spoiling them."
The islands lie just a few hundred miles northwest of the epicenter of the Dec. 26 earthquake that triggered the tsunami. Yet none of an estimated 840 people in the five aboriginal tribes was injured when the waves struck, said Khitish Chandra Ghoshal, a tribal welfare official in Port Blair.
An elder of the Jarawa tribe led his people to safety on a hilltop after a boy's sudden dizziness signaled the distant tremors that presaged the tsunami, Ghoshal said.
"The old man told them that when he was a child and these types of things happened, his father told him that he should follow this procedure if they happened again," he said.
The Onge knew when the level of the creek running through their village suddenly dropped that it meant the sea was pulling back, preparing to strike like a fist. They, too, fled to the hills, as their ancestors had taught them.
Down the coast in Hut Bay, where settlers from India's mainland took over tribal land decades ago, the waves killed at least 48 people.
After the disaster, government officials led most of the Onge tribe from its remote tribal reserve, one of several created by the government, to the soccer stadium, in a town five miles away. Anindo Majumdar, an official sent from New Delhi to coordinate the relief effort on Little Andaman, said the government gave aid to the Onge only when they asked for it.
The Onge camped out on the sports field for almost two weeks, along with homeless settlers. They were two worlds separated only by the chalk-white line marking center field. The settlers and the Onge ate the same rations of lentils, rice, cookies and mineral water, and received blankets, clothes and flip-flops.
Tribespeople found themselves surrounded by foreign ways, unable to choose when to be seen or heard, longing to return to the forest that sustained their spirits.
Experts on the tribes say the government's help was the kind that could do more harm than good. They have become familiar with the risks through the archipelago's history of intrusions, beginning with a British penal colony 150 years ago and, a decade later, the first logging of the islands' hardwood.
For centuries, the rain forest was the Onge's provider and protector. It fed them wild boar, hunted with poison-tipped arrows, as well as jackfruit and the honey of giant rock bees. The trees shielded them against time's advance.
For decades, Indian governments sought to bring the tribes into what officials called the mainstream. Critics say the policy was intended to remove the tribal people and their reserves, as obstacles to logging.
When India opened a third of the Onge's rain forest reserve to loggingin the early 1970s, it also launched an ambitious effort to change thousands of years of Onge tradition.
Officials moved the tribe's semi-nomadic people into two settlements and gave them houses with corrugated asbestos roofs. But the houses were not as cool in the tropical heat and humidity as their huts had been.
Welfare workers also taught the Onge the basics of Indian currency and encouraged them to work on palm oil plantations and use their earnings to buy goods from settlers in Hut Bay.
Many of the Onge now suffer from malnutrition because the rice, sugar, tea and other food rations they came to depend on replaced their traditional diet. Ailments such as anemia, tuberculosis and diarrhea have become endemic.
Outsiders passed on unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking. Some raped Onge women or exploited them sexually, said Acharya and other experts who worry that the current relief effort may only make matters worse.
"We've seen what 30 years of intervention, in what started off as relief efforts, did to them," said anthropologist Sita Venkateswar, a professor at New Zealand's Massey University. "It was terrible for them."
Andaman and Nicobar is an archipelago of nearly 600 tropical islands, islets and rocky outcroppings spread in an arc across 3,100 square miles of the Bay of Bengal.
Only 24 of the islands are inhabited. Most of the nearly 400,000 residents are settlers from the Indian subcontinent.
The tribes numbered several thousand at the turn of the 20th century, but their population has dropped steadily under the pressures of colonization, logging and tourism.
Although the tribal welfare system is slowly destroying the Onge's traditional way of life, members still follow customs and beliefs that have been handed down over thousands of years.
They believe, for instance, that a woman becomes pregnant with the grace of a spirit that lives in the sky above Little Andaman. According to tradition, the spirit implants the baby's soul in the honey, turtle meat or other food a woman eats.
Other tribes, such as the Shompen and Sentinelese, aggressively defend their traditional ways and threaten intruders with spears and arrows.
The tsunami shattered some of the tribes' seclusion when TV crews and other journalists entered reserves without permits, bribing police guards or hitching rides on military helicopters.
Acharya complained in a letter to the Indian official who governs the islands that the journalists had "committed abominable acts," such as photographing a Jarawa tribesman wearing VIP Frenchie underwear, an upscale Indian brand.
In their forest reserve, Jarawa men and women normally are almost naked. The men wear chest guards made of folded bark, and women dress in girdles made of leaves.
Tourists and others who travel through the reserve often toss gum, cigarettes and other items out of passing vehicles to entice the Jarawa to the roadside for a snapshot, Acharya said.
That may explain how a Jarawa tribesman came to be wearing men's briefs that are marketed on Indian TV with the promise of "hands-free comfort."
Even the Sentinelese couldn't escape the cameras. Members of the 32-person (actually 100-150 person ; iti s the far less isolated Great Andamanese tribe that has around 32 members - editor) tribe, which Indian authorities say is probably the world's only Paleolithic society without regular contact with outsiders, were provoked into firing arrows at a low-flying military helicopter carrying a TV crew, Acharya complained. The fuzzy images of an aboriginal man defending his territory went around the world, giving millions of people a fleeting glimpse of a hidden society.
Since the tsunami, Indian relief workers have delivered aid to some of the islands' most reclusive people, including at least 12 Shompen. The tribe rarely makes contact with anyone other than its 400 or so members on Great Nicobar, the closest island in the archipelago to the quake's undersea epicenter.
"They are very sober, not hostile," said Ghoshal, the tribal welfare official. "They don't want outsiders to make any disturbances. That's
why they've been allowed to stay according to their own ways. When they need food, we only provide a simple supply of dried bananas and coconuts."
Critics have long accused authorities of using such items as lures to establish a bond that leaves tribespeople dependent on outsiders and makes it easier for logging companies to encroach on the reserves.
Ghoshal said tsunami relief hadn't harmed Onge society, because the tribe already had several comforts of civilization, such as a health center, a primary school, a police camp, electricity and a TV set.
The television receives one channel, from the state-run Doordarshan network, which airs government-approved soap operas, Hindi musicals and news.
A series of court rulings in the last five years forced the government to drop assimilation policies, but the damaging intrusions continue, Indian experts said.
"There might be good intentions," said Madhusree Mukerjee, who wrote a book on the Onge and other island tribes, "but actually implementing them on the ground has been, so far, a constant fight.
"Even before the tsunami, the children didn't smile," said Mukerjee, a former member of the board of editors of Scientific American magazine. "They were curious, but they were also afraid. There's a real sense that the Onge are defeated and dying."
The tsunami's destruction of settlers' homes and infrastructure may turn out to be one of the biggest threats to the forest tribes. Three years ago, activists won a sweeping victory in India's Supreme Court, which banned logging on the islands outside existing plantations and ordered other restrictions to protect the indigenous people.
Nine days after the tsunami, on the day the 97th Onge was born, Indian authorities persuaded the court to set aside the ban for six months to provide wood for reconstruction.
Activists expect loggers to take advantage and illegally cut down mahogany and other protected trees, but Ghoshal insists that the reserves will remain closed to logging.
"Nobody can enter those areas without our permission," he said. Environmentalists have little faith in official assurances, because the islands' government and loggers have defied the law before.
The deaths of Indian settlers in the tsunami, and the tribes' struggle to survive the aftermath, reminded Mukerjee of a young Onge man she met during her visits with the tribe in the late 1990s. He was rare among the Onge because he spoke his mind to an outsider. He talked about what it meant to be a man in a forest on a small island in a vast ocean. Soon after Mukerjee finished her work there, her new friend drowned in the sea.
"He clearly had the sense of being very trapped," Mukerjee said. "He felt that there was this large world outside that he couldn't enter, not so much because he wasn't allowed to, but because he knew that the stakes were stacked against him."Swept Into the World Ancient knowledge saved endangered tribes from the tsunami, but the aid that poured in from outside could imperil their future.
Report on the Nicobars
by MADHUSREE MUKHERJEE
lopchu@att.net
Published by PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
1 Feb 2005
Madhusree Mukerjee is author of "The Land of Naked People: Encounters with Stone Age Islanders." She is also a former Guggenheim Fellow and an expert on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The following text first appeared in the "Philadelphia Equirer" of 1 Feb 2005.
Days after the tsunami, as the body count escalated and food, water and medical help were yet to reach most of the stricken, the government of India made waves by declining foreign offers of help.
"We have adequate resources to meet this challenge," explained Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Much of India's middle class welcomed the statement as a sign that the nation had finally tossed away its begging bowl. "It undoubtedly gives a shine to India's image," exulted The Telegraph, a newspaper in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). The government had dispatched ships with relief materials to Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and even to Sumatra, 1,000 miles away, in an apparent bid to display India's geographical reach and newly discovered self-sufficiency. The nation has been seeking a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, and the political leadership evidently saw the tsunami as an opportunity to enhance its portfolio.
To those of us aware of the situation on the ground, the announcement came as a shock. The small and scattered Nicobar Islands, which India inherited from British colonists in 1947, lie just north of the epicenter. Waves washed repeatedly over most of the islands, sweeping off at least a third of the people (initially numbering 45,000 or so) and leaving many others clinging precariously to trees. Several of the smaller islands sank, submerging coastal villages, while the ocean salinated virtually all drinking water wells and washed away stores of grain.
To make matters worse, getting to the Nicobars from mainland India is a logistical nightmare: Ships take five days to travel from Kolkata or Chennai (formerly Madras) to Port Blair on South Andaman, and one or two days from there to the Nicobars. Foreign agencies or governments could have dropped food and water from bases in south-east Asia within hours and sent more substantial help in three days, if they had so been allowed.
The geopolitical decision to go it alone doomed many of those who survived the initial onslaught to a desperate and ultimately futile wait for help.
On Dec. 26, the day of the disaster, the government of India dispatched five shiploads of relief materials and rescue workers to Sri Lanka _ and three helicopter loads of the same to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. For the latter, it was a drop in the bucket.
"Our children are dying in front of us, and we cannot bear it," said Ayesha Majid of Nancowrie Island to a reporter based in Port Blair, who visited four days after the catastrophe on the first relief ship to reach the region. That vessel carried 15 tons of rice _ and little else _ for perhaps 10,000 survivors in central Nicobar. Even on Little Andaman, only 75 miles south of Port Blair, the only aid to have reached in five days was, reportedly, eight packets of air-dropped food.
Weeks after the calamity, relief materials were piling up in Kolkata, Chennai, and Port Blair, while utter chaos prevailed in their transport and distribution. At this juncture, India demonstrated the one way in which it has indeed arrived: the vigor of its civil society. Volunteers poured uninvited into Port Blair and hammered away at the authorities until they were permitted to provide care. The armed forces, finally showing up in strength _ possibly also because of mounting pressures on politicians in New Delhi _ constructed makeshift helipads and braved ferocious crocodiles to remove thousands to safety. To this day, however, the evacuees depend for succor on nongovernmental agencies, which are running virtually all the relief camps on the Andamans.
A month after the disaster, survivors in central Nicobar were still living under open skies or under sheets and clothes they had strung up. The Nicobars are a tribal reserve, which outsiders can enter only with permission of the authorities. That had not stopped thousands of illegal settlers from making their homes on the archipelago, but it did keep volunteer relief workers, including many doctors cooling their heels in Port Blair, from getting there.
And, as in every disaster in India, local governance had collapsed: On Jan. 12, a middle-aged man in a relief camp died for lack of medical care. Repeated protests by the Nicobarese and others have finally resulted in one organization, Society for Andaman and Nicobar Ecology, being allowed to help with rehabilitation.
This tale demonstrates that democratic institutions do make a difference in the long run. The first instinct of India's leaders, though, was to turn calamity into political capital. There is no question in my mind that hundreds, if not more, of injured, starved and parched people, on whose behalf their government declined help, paid for that hubris with their lives.
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