Outside the Beltway

Tribe Shoots Arrows at Aid Flight

James Joyner · Tuesday, January 4, 2005 · 2 comments

Tribe shoots arrows at aid flight (BBC)

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. A senior police officer said the crew were not hurt and the authorities are taking it as a sign that the tribes have not been wiped out by the earthquake and sea surges as many had feared.

Now that’s looking on the bright side!