Press Release: March 20, 1999

More Information About IPAN Animal Refuge Veterinary Services Education Animal Conditions Project Reports "Loki" the Indian Elephant and related issues How you can help

German Tourist Assaulted and Forced to Sign “Confession” By Indian Police

Elephant Cruelty Extended to Tourist:

Iris Begun, a 31-year old woman from Bavaria, touring India, was manhandled and punched by Tamil Nadu State Forest guards on the afternoon of March 18th. She was then held in custody for interrogation by the Wildlife Warden Udaiam for photographing an elephant at the Teppakadu Elephant Camp in the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in the Nilgiris, South India.

Later that evening the Warden did not come, but telephoned instructions that she be taken to the District Superintendent of Police in the town of Gudalur some one and a half hours away. Iris, in terror, was pushed into a bus by 25 Forest Department employees and police. The incident was witnessed by dozens of tourists and local guest lodge operators and reported to Deanna Krantz, Director of India Project for Animals and Nature (IPAN), who runs an animal refuge near the Elephant Camp and is the only resident Westerner in the area. They told her that the young woman was badly beaten, taken in the bus with 15 men and 10 others following behind in 2 jeeps to Gudalur, a one and a half hour drive from the scene.

Iris returned to seek refuge with Deanna Krantz, IPAN Director, at 1:30 am the next morning, prior to going to seek medical help and documentation of her injuries.

She cried and said she would have signed anything to get out of the police station where she was threatened with imprisonment. They said to her, “You know what we do to women in prison.” She was forced to sign a “confession” that had already been written and that she did not fully understand, to the effect that she was working as an undercover operative for Deanna Krantz and had “clandestinely” taken photos and video of Loki the elephant. But in fact, she was totally unaware that photos could not be taken, since she had a letter from Warden Udaiam that had been published in a newspaper, saying that “people concerned about the animal could come and see it”. Local Indian press have been allowed to photograph the elephant, after his wounds have been covered cosmetically with powder. No signs had been posted prohibiting tourists from taking pictures at the Elephant Camp.

Fearing for her life, and terrorized by authoritarian intimidation, she signed the statement the police had prepared for her. The evident intent of the police is to use the false document to file charges against Deanna Krantz and IPAN.

“I would have signed anything to get away. I was afraid for my life,” she told Deanna. They confiscated her cameras. She told the police that she was taking pictures of Loki to show Deanna because she understood that Deanna was not allowed to see the elephant, whose life she had saved. “I told them they were her cameras so they would let me go. I didn’t know what “clandestinely” means.”

That the Tamil Nadu State Forest Department and police should so terrorize a young woman means that they must have much to hide. But by their actions, what is revealed does not bode well for a country that purports to be a democracy and claims to have reverential respect for all life. Nor does it speak well to the world of India’s ability and commitment to cooperate and collaborate with the outside world to protect endangered species, like the elephant, from extinction and from suffering.

Iris is now seeking legal counsel. But will Deanna be exported because she knows too much about why elephants and other wildlife will soon be extinct in the Nilgiris? Will the good works of IPAN come to an end?

Please express your concern to:

• Indian Ambassador in your own country
• Indian Consulates
• Indian Newspapers
• Tourism Advisory Authorities
• And anyone else you can think of!

Please see the following web sites for excellent lists of all appropriate people to send letters of protest to:

• http://members.aol.com/mjartisian/OtherAnimalsHope.html
• http://www.globalmeditations.com/Loki.htm