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The KMT's view of Hakka culture

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said he wanted to promote a law that would make Hakka an official language in cities and counties with a Hakka population of more than 40 percent, providing for it to be taught in school and used in public affairs.

He also promised to establish a national Hakka television channel and double the budget for Hakka affairs during his four years in office if elected. Ma also advocates using Broadcasting Corporation of China's (BCC) internet radio or its Formosa Network to establish a national Hakka radio station.

Such tactics are likely to increase now that the elections are drawing near. Voters concerned with Hakka issues should judge politicians by their actions as well as their words. Only then can voters choose which leader will really help Hakka culture to thrive.

The KMT ruled Taiwan for more than 50 years, and there were many resources and plenty of time to support Hakka culture. Yet during that period, Hakka, Hoklo and Aboriginal cultures were severely threatened. The languages of these three groups had been designated as "dialects" and derided as not belonging to higher culture, and it was forbidden to use these dialects in schools and public areas. How was that a policy respectful of Hakka culture?

Soon after the Democratic Progressive Party took office in 2000, the Council for Hakka Affairs was established, Hakka TV started broadcasting and Hakka museums opened their doors. When Hakka Yeh Chu-lan (葉菊蘭) was chairwoman of the Council for Hakka Affairs, it organized the Tung Blossom Festival, with great respect for Hakka culture, and this greatly increased the proportion of people identifying themselves as Hakka.

At that time, Yeh overcame a lot of difficulties. She pressed for institutes of Hakka studies at national universities in Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli, all of which have large Hakka populations.

There are still some people in the academic world who doubt the legitimacy of Hakka studies, but in the past year the Ministry of Education has already given three colleges for Hakka studies complete freedom in appointing teachers and this year the Cabinet checked and ratified an overall plan for Hakka research.

I participated in the establishment of the College for Hakka Studies of National Chiao Tung University, and I ardently hope that all the people on this piece of land can be equal and respect one another. I also hope that Ma, when he advocates giving more support to Hakka culture, would also thoroughly review the past conduct of the party he represents, and really put into effect the practical spirit of the policies for promoting Hakka culture.

Lin Chien-cheng is a professor at National Chiao Tung University's Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

Translated by Anna Stiggelbout
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