Survival has presented a petition with 50,000 signatures in support of the Jarawa tribe to Sonia Gandhi in Delhi and to the Indian High Commission in London.
Buddhist monk Prajnalankar Bhikkhu presented the first 5,000 signatures to Sonia Gandhi's office in Delhi, and Survival's chairman Rafael Runco presented the remaining 45,000 to the Indian High Commission in London today.
The petition, signed by people from all over the world, calls on the government of India to close the road that runs through the Jarawa's land and to prevent poachers, settlers and other outsiders from entering the reserve.
Rafael Runco said today, The threat to the Jarawa is very serious. Local settlers are invading the reserve, exploiting the Jarawa and hunting the animals they depend on. Unless the government acts now to prevent this, the Jarawa may be completely wiped out.'
To read the text of the petition click here
Photos available. For further information contact Miriam Ross on (+44) (0)20 7687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org
Act now to help the Jarawa
Survival’s Andamans campaign focuses on the Jarawa, because their situation is the most precarious of the four tribes. Your support is vital for the Jarawa’s survival. There are lots of ways you can help.
- E-mail the Indian government asking it to stop the ‘human safaris’ threatening the Jarawa
- Donate to Survival’s campaign for the Jarawa and other threatened tribal peoples
- Write to the Indian government using Survival’s online letter-writing tool
- Write to your MP or MEP (UK) or Senators and members of Congress (US).
- Write to your local Indian high commission or embassy
- If you want to get more involved, contact Survival
