Granting autonomy to Taiwan's Aboriginals has been widely recognized as the only way to guarantee the long-term survival of their culture and to protect them from losing their identity and resources.
"We used to seek resolutions to our plight through legislation or offering suggestions to the government. Yet we were never given a chance to participate in the decision-making process nor implementation of polices that were supposed to help us," said Isak Afo, a former Aboriginal rights activists and member of the Council of Aboriginal Affairs.
Yohani Isqaqavut, the council's chairman, said that through discussing proposals for autonomy, Aboriginals would become more aware of their identity and the steps they can take to ensure the survival of their cultures. "Our people will finally be able stand up rather than remaining a burden to the state. Given administrative rights to the natural resources in our territory, we can also help protect the environment."
The transfer of political power from the KMT to the DPP last year has been viewed by observers as giving a boost to Aboriginal rights.
The DPP government seems more open to Aboriginal requests for autonomy than the KMT regime, analysts point out. President Chen Shui-bian (
"Of course we were very happy with Chen's endorsement," said Isak Afo. "It shows a totally different attitude from the long standing Han discrimination [of the KMT]."
As a pro-autonomy activist, Yohani Isqaqavut's being invited to lead the council was seen a nod from Chen in favor of autonomy. Promoting autonomy has since become Yohani Isqaqavut's major task. The council's draft of the Autonomy Law has been sent to Aboriginal groups and villages throughout Taiwan for discussion before being finalized and sent to the Cabinet for approval.
Yohani Isqaqavut is optimistic about advancing the autonomy cause. "Hopefully within the next three years we will have the draft passed by the legislature and at least one special administrative region set up."
Yet there are many stumbling blocks ahead on the road to autonomy, and few think it will be achieved before the end of Chen's tenure.
Aboriginal leaders and activists believe that the KMT regime's policy of suppressing the autonomy movement has left behind a deeply entrenched fear of discussing the issue in Aboriginal communities.
Isak Afo and Kysul Lousu, another member of the council, said the KMT was very successful at eliminating the Aboriginal elite during the martial law era, which came as a serious blow for the autonomy movement. Both activists were once accused of sedition by the KMT.
Omi Wilang, a former activist and council member, said fear of prosecution was an effective way to intimidate people into staying away from the autonomy issue. The government even recruited Aboriginals to serve as functionaries, "to learn to be grateful for and obedient to the state," Omi Wilang added.
"My people used to be defiant," said Voyu Yakumangana, a Tsou Aboriginal and executive director of the Association for Taiwan Indigenous People's Policies. "Now even a wild pig is braver than us -- we dare not to even howl before being killed."
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