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Taiwan Church News 3049 Edition August 2~8, 2010
PCT forum probes shortcomings on eve of Morakot 1st anniversary
Reported by Chiou Kuo-rong Written by Lydia Ma
On the eve of the first anniversary since Typhoon Morakot’s catastrophic landfall in Taiwan, PCT leaders involved in rescue and rebuilding efforts held a forum on recent developments and future endeavors of post-Morakot rebuilding projects.
The forum held at Our Lady of Providence Girls’ High School on August 2~3, 2010, focused on themes such as environment, self-governance, Aborigine rights, education, and cultural development of Aborigine reservations. Organizers invited academics and experts to share their views on these subject matters with participants.
The forum began at 10:00 a.m. with a worship service. PCT Indigenous Ministry Committee Chairman Rev.Palri delivered a sermon inspired from Psalm 39. He commented that government aloofness and controversial rebuilding plans in the past few months had prompted him to wonder whether officials had placed monetary value on the worth of Aborigines’ lives.
PCT Church and Society Committee Secretary Rev. Huang Che-yen summarized ministries spearheaded by all PCT rebuilding centers around Taiwan. He highlighted how PCT had helped homeless Christian victims originally housed in local shrines to find shelter in churches and reported PCT had fundraised more than NT$256 million as of July 23, 2010, to help Morakot victims.
Commenting on the present state of areas hit by the typhoon, Indigenous Peoples Action Coalition of Taiwan (IPACT) convener Rev. Lituan choked back tears. “I feel very lonely as I travel on this journey,” he said, explaining that PCT’s trademark spirit and support of social justice had virtually disappeared from Aborigine reservations.
Rev. Lituan felt Aborigine pastors had not done enough in raising awareness among their people about Aborigines’ circumstances in accordance with biblical teachings. This in turn had resulted in many Aborigines becoming unaware and disinterested about issues that mattered to them and affected their futures.
If Aborigines want to preserve their cultures and identities and keep these intact as rebuilding efforts unfold despite challenges from government agencies and Buddhist Compassion Relief, they must speak up for themselves more, said Rev. Lituan. He urged PCT Aborigine pastors to take heart, remain in solidarity with one another, and fulfill their calling during these critical times.
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