August 1-7, 2011
Editorial
Editorial: Two years after Morakot, indigenous are still waiting
Translated by Lydia Ma
Shortly before the 2nd anniversary of Typhoon Morakot, President Ma Ying-jeou took part in a forum organized by various colleges in Kaohsiung and Pingtung area. Held at National Sun Yat-sen University, the forum’s theme was “Creativity, Cooperation, and Sustainable Housing.” Not only did President Ma praise the timeliness of rebuilding efforts during that forum, he also proudly announced that 90% of all permanent housing units had already been completed.
Though Ma may laud his administration’s accomplishments, a look at the lives of indigenous peoples and their communities in the 2 years since the typhoon tells as starkly different story. In a recent forum sponsored by PCT Indigenous Ministry Committee on the topic of aboriginal self-rule held at Presbyterian Bible College, participants made a number of conclusions after extensive discussion and study, including:
1- The Ma administration’s handling of resettlement issues is inherently wrongheaded because policies tilt heavily toward “temporary settlement” rather than “rebuilding a permanent home” for indigenous peoples;
2- The Ma administration’s forced resettlement policies led to much strife, and forced separation among indigenous who came from the same community;
3- Indigenous currently living in Da-Ai Community in Sanlin are facing massive unemployment;
4- Indigenous who moved to an urban permanent housing unit were forced to sign away their rights to their former homes. Now, not only are these areas are now without water or electricity, those indigenous are not allowed to return to the premises. Such an agreement is an infringement on people’s mobility rights.
5- Rebuilding efforts at indigenous reserves are moving at a snail’s pace, especially road repair.
In addition to the above, the Ma administration changed land zoning rules 6 times in the span of one month, a tell-tale sign that all policies related to giving indigenous new homes were most likely made hastily and without much consideration. If the way this administration handled land zoning laws is any indication or reference, the plight and nightmare of indigenous in reclaiming various rights has only begun.
It is our hope that the Ma administration would turn instead to agreements or guidelines set forth in the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the 10th additional article of the R.O.C. Constitution, and Indigenous Basic Law. It is only by doing so that it will convince us that it cares about the rights and dignity of indigenous in Taiwan.
