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August 2, 2016

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Taiwan apologizes to its indigenous people

Source: AFP | August 2, 2016, Tuesday | Print Edition

WEARING traditional dress from feather headdresses to loincloths, members of Taiwan’s indigenous community met the island’s leader Tsai Ing-wen yesterday as she made a landmark apology for centuries of suffering including the loss of ancestral lands.

Tsai, the island’s first leader with aboriginal heritage, will personally head a committee to investigate past injustices as part of government efforts to ease tensions with the native community.

“I apologize to the indigenous people on behalf of the government, offering our deepest apology for the suffering and injustice you endured over the past 400 years,” she said.

“We need to look at history seriously and speak the truth,” she said, adding that apologizing was “another step forward.”

The indigenous community, which makes up about 2 percent of Taiwan’s 23.5 million people, have seen their traditional culture eroded since immigrants started arriving from China’s mainland centuries ago.

Much of their land is now a designated public park, leading to clashes over hunting, fishing and foraging in areas where permits are needed.

Aboriginals have also complained of developments on their ancestral land, which make up two-thirds of the island, were approved without seeking their views.

Tsai pledged to increase the autonomy of aboriginal communities, restore their lost land rights and protect tribal languages.

But for dozens of aboriginals protesting outside her office yesterday morning, Tsai’s promises were not enough. “The apology was well said and very touching, but her proposals for action don’t meet our expectations,” said Mayaw Biho, an indigenous activist from the Amis tribe.

Since coming to power in May, Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has not made legislation promoting indigenous rights a priority in parliament, he said.

“It’s unfair. It’s not being taken seriously,” he said.

Indigenous people remain a marginalized group in Taiwanese society, with wages about 40 percent below the average, as well as a higher rate of unemployment.

Tsai listed numerous wrongs done to the indigenous population, including storing nuclear waste on Yami tribe’s land on Orchid Island.

“We have been protesting for over 30 years,” said Capen Nganaen, an 80-year-old Yami representative wearing a loincloth, who spoke after Tsai. “I hope Taiwan’s government and Tsai will truly deliver on the promises made in this apology.”

Tsai and the DPP came to power after winning a victory in January over the Kuomintang (KMT).

The Indigenous Peoples Basic Law was adopted in 2005, during the DPP’s last reign, but critics say actions to amend relevant laws have stalled. This means many aboriginals have been arrested or fined for “illegal” hunting or fishing, which is allowed in the basic law.

Earlier yesterday, tribe members who had been invited to Tsai’s speech burned millet stalks in front of her office as part of a traditional ceremony welcoming the ancestral spirits to join them.

Tsai greeted the representatives from each of the island’s 16 recognized tribes, who were all wearing their tribal clothing.

Nation


 

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