Legislature passes basic law for indigenous people's rights (fwd)

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Legislature passes basic law for indigenous people's rights

2005-01-22 / Taiwan News, Staff Writer /
http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/Politics/2005/01/22/1106362019.htm

After more than 10 years of deliberation, the Legislature yesterday
passed a basic law for indigenous people that will allow autonomy for
aborigines, recognize their traditional land, and require the
government to take necessary measures to protect their culture,
languages, and educational opportunities.

Aboriginal lawmakers thanked their colleagues for their support of the
legislation, which was initiated by aboriginal opinion leaders more
than 10 years ago because of concern in declining aborigines' economic
and social status in the Chinese-dominated society.

This legislation is seen as a reassurance of what the government has
promised over the past years to do for 420,000 aborigines, who account
for about 2-3 percent of Taiwan's population of 23 million.

The law requires the government to provide funds every year for the
autonomy of indigenous people and local governments governing the areas
with indigenous populations should have a special unit for indigenous
affairs set up.

These local governments should also have special units to study and
develop the languages of the indigenous people and should establish a
system to test and certify the indigenous people's ability to speak
their mother tongues, according to the law.

These governments should also recruit government employees from among
the indigenous people through public examinations in which the
indigenous peoples' language ability must be tested. Within their
areas, the indigenous people may hunt wild animals, gather wild plants
and fungus, mine, dig and gather earth and rocks, and utilize water
resources. The government should seek the indigenous people's consent
before developing the land or exploiting natural resources in these
areas and should allow them to take part in any such activities.

The government should seek the indigenous people's consent before
establishing national parks or national scenic areas in the areas of
indigenous people and should administer these parks and scenic areas
together with the indigenous people.

The law also prohibits the storage of toxic materials in the area of
indigenous people, and forbids the removal of indigenous people from
their areas unless there are clear and immediate dangers.

Walis Peilin, a legislator of the Non-partisan Solidarity Union, said
the passage of the law is proof that Taiwan has become a modern
country, where citizens of different ethnic backgrounds are equal with
the rights of the minorities protected by the law.

Walis Peilin's colleague, Kao Chin Su-mei from the NSU, praised the
passage of the law as a milestone and a historical movement in Taiwan's
history. She said he hopes that the Council for Economic Planning and
Development would carefully study the law and think more of the
aborigines while planning economic polices for Taiwan.

People First Party Legislator Tsai Chng-an thanked his colleagues for
their support. "What is more important is for the government to carry
out the law faithfully and thoroughly," he said.