Posted on 01/03/2005 11:04:53 PM PST by LibWhacker
An Indian helicopter dropping food and water over the remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been attacked by tribesmen using bows and arrows.
There were fears that the endangered tribal groups had been wiped out when massive waves struck their islands.
But the authorities say the attack is a sign that they have survived.
More than 6,000 people there are confirmed as either dead or missing, but thousands of others are still unaccounted for.
The Indian coastguard helicopter was flying low over Sentinel Island to drop aid when it came under attack.
Dozens of tribesmen fired bows and arrows at the helicopter, a traditional warning that outsiders aren't welcome.
A senior police officer said the crew weren't hurt and the authorities are taking it as a sign that the tribes haven't been wiped out by the earthquake and sea surges as many had feared.
The Andaman and Nicobar archipelago is home to several primitive tribes, some so isolated that they are still stuck in the stone age.
Officials believe they survived the devastation by using age-old early warning systems.
They might have run to high ground for safety after noticing changes in the behaviour of birds and marine wildlife.
Scientists are examining the possibility to see whether it can be used to predict earth tremors in future.
The Gods Must be Crazy!
(Were those arrows supplied by the French?)
Doubt if they need any gubbmint help, anyways. To them, sh!t happens.
where shooting at visitors is considered a traditional sign of welcome?
Philadelphia?
Is that kinda like running out of bullets and throwing the gun? Or maybe they were holding on to the wrong part? Hmmm....
If the overall situation over there weren't so serious this would be hilarious.
... an important tip to all you aspiring outsiders.
I want the autograph of this reporter's journalism professor.
Drudge is leading with this story now because it is hysterical...
Maybe they're just hungry.
...oh...well, in that case...
Texas at night, so I've heard.
Wrong. No man is an island; all people are in life together. "This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do the things that I command you." John 15:12-14
I always believed that those aid helicopters should have machine guns mounted on them - just in case like the present one.
That's truly absurd. Machine-gunning a tribesman armed with a bow? For shooting an arrow at a flying helicopter. Yeah.
Indian coastguard choppers aren't known to be armed with external weapons.They are mainly used for interception & search/rescue.That could change when the new Advanced light helicopter enters service.
& besides the helos went to the region expecting & more importantly hoping for such a reaction to know that people were still alive.
LoL - bows and arrows being an integral core element of the PEWS - Prehistoric Early Warning System.
__________________________________________
Officials believe they survived the devastation by using age-old early warning systems.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.