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Ecologists have asked the Andaman and Nicobar Islands authorities to cancel the search for the body of an American killed by the threatened Sentinel tribe after entering their island the week before last.
Survival International, which seeks to protect the rights of tribal peoples, said the Indian authorities should cancel the operation, which is "extremely dangerous" for both parties. "The risk of a deadly outbreak of influenza, measles or other external diseases is real and increases with every contact of this type," group director Stephen Corry said in a statement. "Mr. Chau's body should be left alone, as well as the Sentinels."
Allen Chau, 26, was killed by arrows fired by Sentinel hunter-gatherers last week after being illegally landed in an apparent attempt to convert the tribe into Christianity. The tribe whose population is estimated at about 150 people categorically refuses contact with the outside world.
A group of Indian experts, including anthropologists and researchers who study the Sentinel tribe, have also expressed concern that research teams traveling to the South Andamans Island may escalate the voltage.
"The media reported nervous tensions between teams trying to land on North Sentinel to recover the body and members of the sentinel community who clearly find that these incursions are not welcome," the team said. experts.
"The pursuit of these efforts could well lead to further violence and loss of life totally unjustified," says the statement signed by the anthropologist and authors Pankaj Sekhsaria Visvajit Pandya, Manish Chandi, Madhusree Mukherjee and Sita Venkateswar. .
"The rights and desires of the Sentinels must be respected and nothing can be achieved by intensifying conflict and tension, and worse, creating a situation in which more damage is caused," they said.
The police said they would avoid any form of confrontation with the Sentinels. the opinion of experts who understand the ways of the tribe. The police used a helicopter and a ship to approach the protected island but did not locate Mr. Chau's body or identify the place where he was killed.
"The law forbids anyone to go there (North Sentinel Island) But a murder case has been closed and we need to investigate We do not seek confrontation and do not want to stress the Sentinels" " , said NDT senior police officer Andamans, Dependra Pathak.
The recovery of the body may take days.If this happens, the authorities insist that they do not may disturb the tribe or its habitat in the highly sensitive area.
In a 13-page diary left by Mr. Chau, he explained how he managed to deceive the police, the Navy and the front coastguards. to reach the island
With the data of the AFP
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