More than 50 Aboriginal organizations representing both Pingpu Aborigines and recognized Aboriginal tribes issued a joint statement yesterday to condemn the Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) for its “homeless beggar” remark about Pingpu people.
In a press release in response to a demonstration by Pingpu activists demanding recognition for all Pingpu Aborigines, the CIP told the Pingpu not to act like “the homeless beggar who kicked the clergy out of the temple” — a commonly used analogy to describe anyone who tries to get rid of a person who helped them in order to take his or her place.
The CIP said in a press release that the Pingpu chose assimilation into Han culture and society, that they never stood with other Aborigines, but that now they want to gain access to resources. It said that the Pingpu have disrespected other Aborigines by claiming themselves to be Aborigines without first asking the permission of other tribes.
The Aboriginal organizations and individuals who signed the joint statement yesterday criticized the CIP’s remarks, accusing it of trying to drive a wedge between Aborigines, and called on CIP Minister Chang Jen-hsiang (章仁香) to apologize.
The Pingpu are Aboriginal tribes that lived on the plains and who lost their culture to differing degrees because of interaction and intermarriage with Han immigrants from China. Most of the tribes also lost official Aboriginal recognition after World War II because they did not register their Aboriginal status with the then-Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government.
“I would say that it’s the CIP that does not respect all 490,000 [officially recognized] Aborigines — because we never authorized the council to speak on our behalf,” Omi Wilang, an Atayal pastor from Fusing Township (復興), Taoyuan County, told a news conference yesterday at the release of the joint statement.
“I’ve always lived and worked among Aborigines, and I’ve never heard anyone voicing opposition to restoring Aboriginal status to the Pingpu,” Omi said. “I think it’s the CIP officials and some Aboriginal politicians who are worried that Pingpu may harm their political interests.”
Shih Cheng-feng (施正鋒), dean of the College of Indigenous Studies at National Dong Hwa University, said the Pingpu did not choose to become assimilated into Han culture, but were forced to do so.
He said the Pingpu, who lived mostly on the western plains, were the first Aborigines to be affected by the arrival of European and Chinese settlers 400 years ago.
“If the Europeans and Chinese had landed on the east coast, it would be CIP officials from the Amis tribe, such as Chang, [CIP Deputy Minister] Mayaw Dongi, and [specialist] Sra Kacaw who would have to take to the streets to gain Aboriginal status today,” Shih said. “I would actually like to ask these officials if any of them have ‘stood with Aborigines’ or took part in the Aboriginal rights movement in the 1980s and 1990s?”
The activists called on Chang to apologize to the Pingpus, “otherwise we will take stronger action,” said Pan Chao-cheng (潘朝成), chairman of the Kavalan Development Association.
Although the CIP declined to comment, a secretary at the minister’s office surnamed Chung (鍾) said she didn’t understand what all +the controversy was about.
“The Pingpus are just not Aborigines,” she said.
Taiwan is to have nine extended holidays next year, led by a nine-day Lunar New Year break, the Cabinet announced yesterday. The nine-day Lunar New Year holiday next year matches the length of this year’s holiday, which featured six extended holidays. The increase in extended holidays is due to the Act on the Implementation of Commemorative and Festival Holidays (紀念日及節日實施條例), which was passed early last month with support from the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party. Under the new act, the day before Lunar New Year’s Eve is also a national holiday, and Labor Day would no longer be limited
COMMITMENTS: The company had a relatively low renewable ratio at 56 percent and did not have any goal to achieve 100 percent renewable energy, the report said Pegatron Corp ranked the lowest among five major final assembly suppliers in progressing toward Apple Inc’s commitment to be 100 percent carbon neutral by 2030, a Greenpeace East Asia report said yesterday. While Apple has set the goal of using 100 percent renewable energy across its entire business, supply chain and product lifecycle by 2030, carbon emissions from electronics manufacturing are rising globally due to increased energy consumption, it said. Given that carbon emissions from its supply chain accounted for more than half of its total emissions last year, Greenpeace East Asia evaluated the green transition performance of Apple’s five largest final
Taiwan is to extend its visa-waiver program for Philippine passport holders for another year, starting on Aug. 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said on Friday. Lin made the announcement during a reception in Taipei marking the 127th anniversary of Philippine independence and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The decision reflected Taiwan’s commitment to deepening exchanges with the Philippines, the statement cited Lin as saying, adding that it was a key partner under the New Southbound Policy launched in 2016. Lin also expressed hope
Temperatures in New Taipei City’s Sindian District (新店) climbed past 37°C yesterday, as the Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued heat alerts for 16 municipalities, warning the public of intense heat expected across Taiwan. The hottest location in Taiwan was in Sindian, where the mercury reached 37.5°C at about 2pm, according to CWA data. Taipei’s Shilin District (士林) recorded a temperature of 37.4°C at noon, Taitung County’s Jinfeng Township (金峰) at 12:50 pm logged a temperature of 37.4°C and Miaoli County’s Toufen Township (頭份) reached 36.7°C at 11:40am, the CWA said. The weather agency yesterday issued a yellow level information notice for Taipei, New
RSS