Skip to main content

Saisiat Aborigines Demand Autonomy

This article from the March 5, 2009 issue of the Taipei Times on the Saisiat tribe's struggle for autonomy. The article argues that autonomy is a route toward cultural and linguistic salvation, but it does explain how the two are linked. Nor does the article explain what autonomy means or how it will work, and it also glosses over what the Incompetent Horse meant in his campaign promise by a "trial basis" for autonomy.
(The photo here was taken during my visit to the Saisiat tribe's central village outside of Miaoli a couple of years ago. Dare we let a sleeping dog lie?) The photo in the article comes from http://www.epochtimes.com/b5/9/3/5/n2450852.htm.

Saisiat Tribe Issues Challenge on Autonomy

By Loa Iok-sin Taipei Times, Thursday, Mar 05, 2009, Page 3

Worried that their tribe's culture and language may soon perish, Saisiat Aborigines yesterday demanded the government fulfill President Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) campaign promise on Aboriginal autonomy as soon as possible.

“We, the Saisiat, are facing a crisis in our language and culture because outside governments — from the Japanese to the Republic of China — have restricted our right to speak our own language,” Saisiat chieftain Chao Shan-yu (趙山玉) told a news conference at the legislature before marching to the Executive Yuan to deliver a petition with dozens of other Saisiat tribesmen. “There are not many of us — less than 10,000 — but we're determined to preserve our culture and language, and we urge the government to respect our rights and take our demands seriously,” Chao said. Chao Shan-ho (趙山河), the deputy speaker of the Saisiat Assembly, said while his tribe has been actively preparing for tribal autonomy since the Aboriginal Basic Act (原住民族基本法) — which provides a legal basis for Aboriginal autonomy — took effect in 2005, they were shocked when UNESCO listed the Saisiat language as “critically endangered” in a report released last month and they believe autonomy is now an urgent matter. The Saisiat assembly was modeled on the traditional tribal decision-­making mechanism and was set up more than three years ago. Last year, an election was held for the assembly's lower house and a Saisiat autonomy bill was drafted. After being ruled by various governments, the Saisiats now realize that the only way to preserve their language, culture and social system is through autonomy. “We are calling on the government to lend us a hand,” Chao said. The Saisiat have been actively preparing for tribal autonomy, but they are not happy that the government has ignored their wishes. “President Ma promised Aboriginal autonomy 'on a trial basis' and we've been working hard to prepare for it, yet we haven't heard anything back from the government,” assembly spokesman Obay a Awi said. “The government should listen to our voices and not make policy decisions from the top.” The tribesmen later marched to the Executive Yuan and were received by officials who accepted their petition. “We'll wait for a response from the Cabinet for a month. If nothing happens we will take other action,” Obay said after walking out of the Executive Yuan. He said the Saisiat were considering coordinated action with other Aboriginal tribes seeking autonomy to pressure the government.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

China Arrests Anti-Poverty Activists

At times it feels hopeless to imagine that the Chinese government will ever develop a sense of universal rights or even common decency. More proof of this from the following Associated Press article printed in the local Taipei Times newspaper on Sunday, February 08, 2009, Page 1. Days before China's human rights record comes under scrutiny before a UN panel, the government's grip on dissent seems as firm as ever. Government critics have been rounded up and some imprisoned on vaguely defined state security charges. Corruption whistleblowers have been bundled away, while discussion of sensitive political and social topics on the Internet remains tightly policed. On Friday, officers stationed outside a government building in Beijing took away at least eight people — members of a loosely organized group of 30 who had traveled to the capital from around the country seeking redress for various problems, almost all of them involving local corruption. One member of the group, Li Fengx...
Post a Comment
Read more

"Invisible Nation" and the Indivisibility Difference

Invisible Nation will probably disappoint Taiwan audiences, largely because the documentary was produced for is intended for international audiences, though the film is pragmatically “for Taiwan.” Completed in 2023 and made available to the global documentary film circuit last year, Invisible Nation finally found its way to movie screens throughout Taiwan on June 13, 2025 — a Friday the 13 th release, to be precise.  Produced and directed by Vanessa Hope , Invisible Nation was filmed with the cooperation and encouragement of Taiwan’s first democratically elected female president, Tsai Ying-wen (whose Administration of the Republic of China spanned two terms, 2016-2024). Hope could easily be understood as something of a “China hand,” though she would probably not be comfortable with the label. Prior to becoming a filmmaker, Hope had been a scholar of international studies for the Council on Foreign Relations in her hometown of New York City. She also earned a doctorate from C...
Read more

Food Shortages and Short Memories

Professor Lei Li-fen wrote an opinion piece worth reading. His essay arises from the recent scandal in Miaoli County, where the local nationalist government is dispossessing farmers so more land can be given to industrial expansion. People have short memories of the food shortages that hit many parts of Asia a couple of years ago. Read Lei's essay: " Agriculture Deserves More Support ." ( Taipei Times , July 24, 2010, pg. 8.)
Post a Comment
Read more