Taiwan Today

President Tsai Ing-wen reiterated the government’s commitment to achieving transitional justice for the nation’s indigenous peoples in an impromptu meeting with protesters in front of the Office of the President in Taipei City Aug. 3, two days after offering an official apology to indigenous groups on behalf of the Republic of China (Taiwan) government. Acknowledging the indigenous protesters’ concerns and suggestions, Tsai reaffirmed the government’s determination to address past injustices and promote reconciliation through the establishment of an Indigenous Historical Justice and Transitional Justice Commission under the Office of the President. When asked where she places the nation’s indigenous peoples by one of the demonstrators, the president held her hands to her heart and responded, “You are here.” A local newspaper cited a member of the National Security Council as saying Tsai will embark on a tour of indigenous communities across the country in the next two weeks to discuss the government’s plans and gather opinions. Tsai made the formal apology for the discrimination and neglect suffered by Taiwan’s indigenous peoples over the past four centuries Aug. 1 at an event commemorating Indigenous People’s Day at the Office of the President. During the address, she said the government will pursue reconciliation by setting up the IHJTJC, implementing the Indigenous Peoples Basic Law, and establishing a platform for eventual indigenous autonomy. The president also vowed her administration would give greater attention to the economic and social development of indigenous peoples and create an Indigenous Legal Service Center to address conflicts between tribal customs and modern laws. Following the apology, protesters gathered in front of the Office of the President to express reservations about the potential effectiveness of the IHJTJC due to its lack of investigative powers. Tsai responded to their concerns by explaining the government will continue to review relevant laws going forward and, if necessary, create new legal frameworks to promote indigenous transitional justice. During the meeting with the protesters, Tsai vowed to fulfill the pledges in the apology, in which she stated the government would begin the process of delineating and announcing indigenous traditional territories and lands Nov. 1. According to the Cabinet-level Council of Indigenous Peoples, indigenous Malayo-Polynesian peoples have lived in Taiwan for millennia. The latest CIP statistics revealed that the population of these groups in Taiwan stood at about 530,000, or 2.3 percent of the nation’s total. (WF-CM) Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw