The protesters were mainly upset over clauses in the bill that would grant the government the right to declare an area “dangerous” and force the residents to move.
Omi said arranging temporary resettlement for survivors was the priority.
“The transitional settlement period should last up to five or six years so that we can accurately determine whether it's possible for the victims to return to their home villages,” he said.
One survivor from the Rukai village of Sinhaocha (新好茶) (or Puhakele) in Pingtung County said he had no confidence in the plan to move villages.
“Thirty years ago, Rukai tribesmen followed government policy and left their homes in Kopachangan [舊好茶],” he said. “But look at what happened. Pulhakele is often flooded and was almost completely destroyed this time, while Kopachangan stands unaffected.”
Lee Li-ming (李黎明) of Nansalu Village (南沙魯), formerly known as Minzu Village (民族), in Kaohsiung County's Namasiya Township (那瑪夏), said Bunun culture is deeply connected to the land, and that cutting people off from their lands could destroy their culture.
“What you [the government] think is right is not always right in our eyes,” Lee said.
In related news, Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) said yesterday the government will coordinate non-government organizations and businesses in post-Morakot reconstruction to ensure work is implemented thoroughly.
“The [government's] response to disaster relief must be quick, but reconstruction work should be done in a delicate way that fully respects the opinions of victims,” Liu said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SHIH HSIU-CHUAN
Also See: Finance ministry cancels Land Bank share scheme
Also See: Survivors concerned about bill
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