PCT forum probes shortcomings on eve of Morakot 1st anniversary

      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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