Aborigines protest against illusive Aboriginal Autonomy Act

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

      Taiwan Church News

      3057 Edition

      September 27~October 3, 2010

       

       

      Aborigines protest against illusive Aboriginal Autonomy Act

       

      Reported by Chiou Kuo-rong

      Written by Lydia Ma

      Photo provided by PCT Indigenous Ministry Committee

       

       



      The Executive Yuan approved a draft of the Aboriginal Autonomy 
Act on September 23, 2010, 

      and sent it to the Legislative Yuan for review. According to 
Premier Wu Den-yih, Aborigine 

      self-rule will operate under a “Three-No Preamble”.

       



      According to reports, this “Three-No Preamble” includes: No 
change to the current 

      geographical jurisdiction of local governments, no change in 
the present vested powers 

      accorded to local authorities, and no change to the rights and 
benefits of non-aborigine 

      residents residing in self-rule regions.

       



      A spokesperson of Indigenous Peoples Action Coalition of Taiwan 
(IPACT) spoke ardently 

      against the Cabinet-approved draft of Aboriginal Autonomy Act 
as being merely hot air and 

      showmanship and devoid of substance to the point of demeaning 
Aborigines, and pointed out 

      that its unveiling was purposely timed ahead of December’s 
elections to get votes.

       



      IPACT’s dissatisfaction with the new draft was evident and on 
display when delegates 

      convened at the front of the Executive Yuan the day the draft 
was sent out and protested 

      ardently against it. 

       



      “Aborigine self-autonomy must be real and legitimate!” PCT 
Indigenous Ministry Committee 

      Secretary and IPACT CEO Rev. Omi Wilang said. This draft not 
only disrespects Aborigines, 

      but also runs counter to Aboriginal Basic Act.

       



      “This is an outright illusive self-autonomy law!” Icyang Parod 
said, echoing Omi Wilang’s 

      sentiments. He is a DPP candidate for Taipei City’s year-end 
elections former President of 

      Council of Indigenous Peoples. He offered his analysis of the 
“Three-No Preamble” to prove his point.

       



      Icyang Parod explained that, first, the new policy would 
require all plans involving the creation 

      of autonomous regions to obtain approval from tribal leaders 
and city or township councils. 

      Since Aborigines live side-by-side with Han people in most 
townships and Han people 

      outnumber Aborigines, passing such a motion will undoubtedly be 
an uphill battle.

       



      Second, the draft passed by the Executive Yuan doesn’t give 
Aborigines real autonomy as it 

      fails to grant them independent judicial and policing powers. 
These powers, even if they were 

      to be granted to some extent to self-rule areas, wouldn’t 
overrule or replace existing powers 

      granted to local authorities, creating much overlap and 
muzzling Aborigine self-rule.

       



      Third, the draft doesn’t require the national government to 
allot funds to self-governing 

      Aborigine entities as it is usually the case with lower levels 
of  government, such as cities and 

      counties, even though there are old policies requiring it to do 
so. 

       



      “Just think about it – what can local governments do if you 
strip them of national funding? They 

      are basically broke without federal government transfer 
funding.”

       

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