wfn.org | TCN Editorial: Respecting locals while rebuilding their homes

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>      Taiwan Church News

>3004 Edition

>September 21-27, 2009

Editorial: Respecting locals while rebuilding their homes

>Translated by Lydia Ma

A big typhoon triggered mudslides and caused many people to lose  their homes

and loved ones. It’s been more than one month since Typhoon  Morakot and we

know from reports that more than 70% of victims are Aborigines and  they are not

optimistic about rebuilding. Indeed, it is difficult for victims  to recover from such

>tragedies and heavy losses.

Some Aborigines have had enough of casually enacted reconstruction

legislations that did not ask for their opinion and participation.  They are frustrated

at the autocratic way in which rebuilding plans were laid out as  these proposals

drafted by social organizations have forced them to permanently  move away from

their old homes and resettle elsewhere and even caused ethnic  strife among

>Aborigines.

We sincerely believe aid from government agencies, charitable  organizations

and individuals were offered with the best of intentions. However,  we must also

consider whether our “love” is directing us to do things  that help and benefit those

in need, or whether our “love” and “help” are  actually veiled threats forcing others

to accept our plans for them in spite of their suffering and  unwillingness.

When visiting the four military barracks that have now become  temporary shelters

for victims, we see many Buddhist Tzu-Chi organization volunteers  visiting

typhoon victims. Their visits mainly focus on marketing government  sponsored

permanent housing and advising victims to leave their old homes.

Government officials also visit victims, but their strategy is  more aggressive and

evidenced by mild threats. Some officials have been overheard  telling victims if

they don’t accept permanent housing offers, they will be left  to fend for

themselves, or, if they don’t accept the government’s  offer now and later find out

their old homes cannot be rebuilt, they will end up without land  and house.

Because of pressure, stress, and confusion, many Aborigines have  given in and

signed contracts accepting government sponsored permanent housing.

Soon after 921 Earthquake, Atayal Aborigines from Ruei-yan reserve  were

forced to relocate to another town. Though it has been ten years,  relocation is still

>a work in progress.

Aborigines who lost their homes during Typhoon Herb in 1996 are  still living in

tiny, prefab housing though room temperatures may be scathingly  hot in the

>summer inside these houses.

These examples demonstrate that rebuilding is not just a matter of  finding

someone with the right construction materials and someone else  with the

required funds. For Aborigines, their attachment with the land,  environment,

ecosystem, etc. are all part of their culture, identity, and  ethnic consciousness

>and deeply engrained in their way of life.

In light of the pressures they face, we suggest that Aborigines  gather up some

courage to form an independent, self-regulated committee so that  they can begin

gathering and processing their own people’s opinions, form a  consensus, and

then issue a united and consistent response to all social and  public organizations

so that they can safeguard their own interests.

Finally, we urge all government officials and social organizations  to respect the

wishes of those they are helping and to patiently and sincerely  listen to what

>victims are saying.

We also urge officials and social organizations to give victims  time to heal and

form a resolution of their own. We must be open-minded and patient  if we want to

help victims overcome such difficult times and rebuild their  homes.

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