Hundreds of Aborigines from across the country took to the streets of Taipei yesterday to call on the government to respect Aboriginal rights as outlined in the Aboriginal Basic Law (原住民族基本法) and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
"We would like to call on the government, which is actively seeking UN membership, to respect the rights outlined in the UN declaration, as well as in our own Aboriginal Basic Law," Yohani Isqaqavut, leader of the parade, said before the marchers departed from National Taiwan University.
Yohani is a minister of the Taiwan Presbyterian Church and was formerly minister of the Council of Indigenous Peoples.
PHOTO: CNA
The declaration and law include the rights to lands, resources, culture and self-determination.
"We'd also like to urge all non-Aboriginal fellow countrymen to respect and support our cause," Yohani said. "But most importantly, we want to raise the awareness of all Aborigines about their own rights -- because rights don't just fall from heaven, you must fight for them."
Many members of other non-governmental organizations, such as the Taiwan Association for Human Rights, joined the march.
At Ketagalan Boulevard, in front of the Presidential Office, representatives from the groups took copies of a petition to the Legislature, the Executive Yuan and the Presidential Office, hoping to meet Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) and President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
However, only Chang was available to receive the delegates.
"I asked Chang why the government did not respond when the declaration was passed in September, but he didn't answer. He said the declaration and the Aboriginal Basic Law already overlap by about 90 percent," Payen Talu said after returning from the Executive Yuan.
The answer did not satisfy the activists.
"If the Basic Law is the answer, how come Aborigines in Hualien were never consulted on the planned construction of the Suhua Freeway, which will pass through regions inhabited by those Aborigines?" Omi Wilang, an activist asked.
Demonstrators also urged the legislature to pass the Aboriginal autonomy bill sent for legislative review by the Cabinet earlier this year.
"We will continue our struggle until the day when Aboriginal autonomy becomes a reality," a demonstrator said.
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