Hundreds of Aborigines and Aboriginal rights activists staged a demonstration in Taipei yesterday to protest a recent court ruling.
The events leading up to the court case began two years ago when the only road linking Smangus, a remote Atayal village in Hsinchu County, to the outside world was blocked by a tree blown down by a typhoon.
Villagers moved the tree to the side of the road and, a month later, the Forestry Bureau cut the tree into pieces and removed most of the trunk, leaving the rest at the roadside.
PHOTO: WANG MIN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES
In a community meeting, the villagers then decided that they would use the remainder of the tree to make a wood carving.
However, three young men who were tasked with transporting the piece of wood back to the village were stopped by the police and accused of stealing Forestry Bureau property.
Although both the Forestry Law (
To residents of Smangus, as well as Aborigines from different communities and tribes that took part in the demonstration yesterday, the sentences were not only unreasonable, but also humiliating.
respect
"The government should realize that the lifestyles of Aborigines deserve respect," said Amin, one of the three convicted, during his speech to demonstrators.
"The court labeled me as a criminal, but I will never accept this label," Amin said.
"It's not about prison time or money -- it's all about our dignity," said Omi Wilang, an Atayal from Taoyuan County.
The demonstrators demanded an apology from the Forestry Bureau, the return of the disputed piece of wood, a promise from the government not to invade traditional Aboriginal domains and a negotiation between the government and the Aborigines.
Minister Without Portfolio Liu Yu-shan (劉玉山) addressed the demonstrators.
dissatisfied
However, the crowd was not satisfied with Liu's answers to their questions and said they would return in a month.
The Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) vowed to give its full support to the three convicted Smangus men.
"We'll cover all expenses for the three young men's appeal. We'll also make an effort to ask all Cabinet ministries to act according to the Aboriginal Basic Law in the future," said CIP Minister Icyang Parod, who monitored the demonstration.
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