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PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGNS: Tsai unveils new Aboriginal policies
By Hsieh Chia-chun / Staff Reporter
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文)
yesterday announced her Aboriginal affairs policy, pledging to establish a
national investigation and settlement commission, implement Aboriginal autonomy,
create just and equal chances for Aborigines in cities and revitalize the tribal
economy.
Tsai, while attending the launch of a support group formed by Aborigines in New
Taipei City’s (新北市) Shulin District (樹林), said the DPP’s 10-year policy
guidelines stated that the most important goal is to “realize justice” to lead
to a future where all ethnicities live in harmony.
Tsai said that when the DPP was in power, it did its best to stand by the side
of Aborigines. However, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KTM), after taking power,
not only failed to propose new laws to benefit Aborigines, it even blocked the
DPP’s proposed Aboriginal land and marine spaces act (原住民土地及海域法), she said.
The KMT wished to forcefully pass the indigenous people’s autonomous area act
even when the contents of the draft were not considered acceptable by the
majority of Aboriginal people, she said, adding that the KMT government should
not pass laws in haste just to have something to show for its policies when it
has not given Aborigines real power or peace.
Tsai pledged to set up a national investigation and settlement commission to
investigate the loss of Aboriginal land and culture and various other unequal
treatments and would compensate Aboriginal people for past misdeeds.
The president should apologize to Aboriginal people for their losses during the
colonial era on behalf of the government, she said, adding that the move would
show that the government is willing to change and “to re-establish relations
between the Aboriginal people and the nation.”
“The president should take the lead and set an example for all other government
chiefs and give back to the Aboriginal people the respect they deserve; and on a
new basis of mutual benefit, the government should establish policies and take
the first step in establishing friendly relations with Aboriginal tribes,” Tsai
said.
Tsai said she would recognize the rights of Aboriginal tribes and implement an
Aboriginal autonomous government, establishing autonomous areas for tribes who
wish it.
The autonomous areas would be given steady funding, giving Aboriginals “true
autonomous rule, unlike the KMT’s unwillingness to give a steady source of
funding and autonomy over natural resources,” Tsai said.
There should be equal and just chances for development of Aboriginal populations
in urban areas, Tsai said.
Because more than half of the Aboriginal population currently lives in cities
and remit money back to their elders in tribal areas, Tsai said there should be
systems put in place to help pass on Aboriginal culture and language in the
future and also provide an active job market, good education, housing
opportunities and chances to participate in politics for Aboriginal people.
Jobs have to be created for the revitalization of tribal economies, Tsai said,
adding that funds and plans have to be developed to let tribes develop their
local economies in accordance with their characteristics.
Aboriginal-only industries and Aboriginal-based financial loans should also be
put in place so that they no longer have to be other people’s workers, but can
have the chance to develop their own businesses and be their own masters, she
said.
Translated by Jake Chung, Staff Writer
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