Taiwan Church News
3814 Edition
March 31 ~ April 6, 2025
Weekly Topical
The Indigenous Condemn the Irresponsible Budget Cut by KMT and TPP Lawmakers
Reported by Lin Yi-ying
On March 27, representatives from the PCT Indigenous Mission Committee and various ethnic district assemblies gathered at Shuang-Lian Church of Chi-Hsin presbytery to attend the seminar, entitled as “The Impact to the Indigenous After Irresponsible Budget Cut in Congress”sponsored by Association for Taiwan Indigenous Peoples’ Policies.
Before the Legislative Yuan, in the morning on February 28, these representatives stood with some NGO groups to read a statement, emphasizing that Taiwan Congress should facilitate the welfares of people, recognize their power come by the people, and lawmakers are only servants for the people.
The statement reads, ”We will join hands in hands to cherish and protect the island, as Taiwan is the only land of our indigenous ancestors since ancient times, and it will be protected for generations to come.” The assembly protest against such irresponsible pro-China legislature and an indiscriminate budget cut by KMT and TPP lawmakers, causing devastating damages to the legal rights and interests of the indigenous across Taiwan.
Evangelist Yuhani Isqaqavut, former minister of the Council of Indigenous Peoples and former ambassador to the Republic of Fiji, points out that the constitutional reform of Taiwan democracy has restored the indigenous a historical master status on Formosa and hence has ushered in waves of multiculturalisms.
“From the implementation of The Indigenous Peoples Basic Law, to former president Tsai Ing-wen’s public apology to the indigenous, historical justice is just about to restore in the country, but now the devastating havoc wrecked by KMT and TPP lawmakers to slash the budget, sabotage democratic government and act as the fifth column for China is absolutely irresponsible,’ he says.
“Although the indigenous population is only about 600,000 more, the indigenous are the owner of the land of Taiwan,” he stresses, “since ancient times, the island Taiwan belongs to the indigenous, never a part of China.” He also feels deeply regret that KMT and TPP lawmakers, colluded with China to abuse the Congress majority, shamelessly destroy social security and well-being of all Taiwanese peoples, including the indigenous.
Mr Utux Lbak, speaker of Tayal National Assembly, criticizes some indigenous lawmakers for incompetent legislatures with examples: delete the budgets for the indigenous, suppress the churches which have been devoted to recover the indigenous mother tongue cultures for decades, change the law to let representative become a non-paid position within each Sub-council of Indigenous Peoples, resulting the holistic planning and implementation for the indigenous become totally ruined. He strongly protests against these indigenous lawmakers, saying ”You don’t deserve to be lawmakers, let alone to be aborigines!”
Rev Rii Taljimaraw, former education secretary of the PCT General Assembly HQ, talks about the importance of the church’s concern for domestic politics and social issues. He points out that malicious people constantly attacked the citizen society built on the ideals of justice, peace and love with slanderous lies, false accusations, and dirty tricks. “Are not these evil attacks equal to attacking the kingdom of God that Christians strive to establish on the earth?”, he asks.
Ms Savungaz Valincinan, chairman of Taiwan Indigenous Youth Public Participation Association, says that when Taiwan Congress wrecks havoc in congress and constitution, the opposition voice of the indigenous has never been absent. She calls for not letting the pro-China indigenous lawmakers to represent the indigenous society. “The indigenous, like all ethnic groups on this beautiful land, will protect democracy and freedom of Taiwan!”, she solemnly swears.
Mr Kalrimadrau, speaker of Rukai National Assembly, calls KMT and TPP lawmakers to stop hurting the indigenous. “Don’t put the party’s interests before the duty of lawmaker, but work as an authentic indigenous lawmaker for the interests of Taiwan!”, he says.
Payuan National Assembly (Paiwan/payuan a rarasudjan) condemns KMT and TPP lawmakers for exacerbating the unequal distribution of resources through a ruthless amendment of Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures, because the tribe sustenance will finally be stranded like a financial orphan. Therefore, Papuan National Assembly calls the indigenous lawmakers to reconsider their responsibilities after delivering a messy budget, full of errors and paradoxes, in May 2024.
Translated by Peter Wolfe
