The visit came after the president offered an official apology Aug. 1 on behalf of the Republic of China (Taiwan) government to the nation’s indigenous peoples for the discrimination and neglect they suffered over the past four centuries.
During the meeting, Tsai discussed the government’s plans to establish a commission under the Office of the President to address past injustices and foster reconciliation. “Its goals are to promote indigenous autonomy and land justice while preserving the cultures, history, languages and lifestyles of the nation’s indigenous peoples,” she said.
“The government’s policymaking has to meet the expectations of indigenous communities and promote their economic and cultural rights,” the president said. “I sincerely hope the discussions we have had today will help build trust and pave the way for collaboration in tackling the problems facing indigenous peoples.”
According to Tsai, the government plans to organize public briefings in 55 tribal townships and villages nationwide to bring indigenous communities up to speed on measures to advance historical and transitional justice. As each indigenous community has its own challenges and expectations, the president said she will visit more villages to seek further input.
With regard to traditional territories and lands, Tsai said the next step is to clearly delineate these areas and provide effective regulations for the implementation of related rights as outlined in the Indigenous Peoples Basic Law, adding the government will ensure procedural transparency in related policymaking. She proposed designating several trial sites for autonomous rule of such lands, with Atolan village a candidate in this regard.
Tsai also vowed to take a firm stance in resolving infringements on indigenous peoples’ rights stemming from land development projects.
In terms of education for Taiwan’s younger generations, the president noted the Cabinet-level Council of Indigenous Peoples and Ministry of Education have been directed to include indigenous cultural elements in curriculums so as to promote and preserve the heritage of Taiwan’s indigenous communities. She called on tribal leaders to collaborate with the government on these efforts.
According to the CIP, indigenous Malayo-Polynesian peoples have lived in Taiwan for millennia, with archeological evidence confirming their presence dating back 12,000 to 15,000 years. The latest CIP statistics revealed that the population of the country’s 16 officially recognized tribes stood at around 530,000, or 2.3 percent of the nation’s total. (SFC-E)
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