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Ma vague on Aboriginal autonomy
BY KO SHU-LING
STAFF REPORTER
Sunday, Aug 29, 2010, Page 1
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was noncommittal yesterday on
the issue of Aboriginal autonomy, saying it was difficult in reality and that he
did not want to make a promise he could not keep.
Addressing the National Assembly of Aboriginal Peoples and Groups held by the
Council of Indigenous Peoples, Ma said the Aborigines were the earliest settlers
of Taiwan and had played a significant role in its history.
There are about 490,000 Aborigines in Taiwan, Ma said, adding that many
anthropologists contend that they are the ancestors of the Austronesian peoples,
a population in Oceania and Southeast Asia that speaks languages of the
Austronesian family.
While reiterating the principles of his Aboriginal policy, which include respect
for diversity, justice, fairness and promoting the autonomy and independent
development of Indigenous peoples, Ma declined to commit to Aboriginal autonomy.
He instead repeated his promise to grant Aboriginal autonomy “on a trial basis.”
He emphasized that he did not want to “write blank checks” and he made promises
only if he could keep them.
“I know Indigenous people want to govern themselves as soon as possible, but in
reality there are many difficulties,” he said. “Many conditions must be created,
but in the meantime we can establish Aboriginal autonomous regions on a trial
basis so Indigenous people can enjoy autonomy in certain areas.”
On disaster prevention in mountainous areas, Ma said his administration would
respect the right of Aborigines to live in mountain areas and would not force
them to relocate unless a village reached a consensus to do so.
However, the government would enforce compulsory emergency evacuations should
rainfall reach dangerous levels, he said.
The legislature passed the Aboriginal Basic Act (原住民族基本法) under former president
Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and it came into force in 2005. The Chinese Nationalist
Party (KMT)-controlled legislature, however, has yet to approve the act
governing the autonomous region of Indigenous peoples.
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