Sentinelese People (Andaman Islands, India):

The Sentinelese are an indigenous tribe living in isolation on North Sentinel Island. The human rights concerns here typically revolve around their protection and right to remain undisturbed in their traditional way of life. Encroachment or attempts to contact them can violate their right to self-determination, expose them to diseases they have no immunity to, and disrupt their cultural integrity.[1]

Great Nicobar Project (Nicobar Islands, India):

The mega infrastructure project, titled “Holistic Development of Great Nicobar”, piloted by government think tank Niti Aayog and implemented by the Port Blair-based Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO), involves the construction of a transshipment port, an international airport, a township and a power plant. More than half of the area of the Rs 72,000 crore ‘Great Nicobar Project’ planned in the Great Nicobar Island lies over the Tribal Reserve Area, they pointed out. The riparian and forested parts of the area are currently in use by the forest dwelling particularly vulnerable tribal group, the Shompen.[2]

The project comes under the purview of India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and is also supported by the port and Tribal affairs ministries.The project, these entities argue, will transform this remote island into a world-class free trade zone like Hong Kong and usher in “development” for its people.[3]

This project has faced criticism for potentially violating the rights of Indigenous Peoples, such as the Nicobarese and Shompen. Critics argue that the project’s clearances and developments might ignore or marginalize the views and rights of these indigenous communities. This could infringe upon their land rights, cultural integrity, and right to participate in decisions affecting their territories.[4]

Human Safaris in Andaman Islands:

Tour operators organizing “human safaris” in the Andaman Islands, particularly targeting Indigenous Peoples like the Jarawa, have been criticized for treating Indigenous Peoples as tourist attractions. This practice violates their rights to privacy, dignity, and self-determination. It also poses risks of exposing them to diseases and disrupting their traditional lifestyles.[5]

Andaman Islands and the Jarawa People:

The Jarawa people face threats from encroachment on their land and exploitation by outsiders, including poachers and tourists. Such activities can violate their rights to land, cultural integrity, and freedom from exploitation. There are concerns about ensuring their protection and respecting their right to live undisturbed in their ancestral lands.[6]