Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) yesterday asked Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) Minister Chang Jen-hsiang (章仁香) to map out a comprehensive reconstruction plan for typhoon-hit Aboriginal communities to help them rebuild their hometowns.
The premier said the plan must include “the views of Aborigines.”
Liu made the remarks in response to widespread concerns that a reconstruction plan without the participation of Aborigines might not meet the needs of Aborigines and could lead to the destruction of their culture, traditions and customs after resettlement.
Typhoon Morakot devastated many villages with substantial indigenous populations in Chiayi, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Nantou and Taitung counties.
Government statistics show that nearly half of the victims were Aborigines.
Concerns have been voiced by Aboriginal communities and activists over the lack of representation of Aborigines in the Executive Yuan’s Post-Typhoon Morakot Reconstruction Committee, the highest organ in charge of post-disaster resettlement and reconstruction.
The 31-seat committee, led by Liu, is composed of 21 officials from different government agencies, including Chang, and nine representatives from business and academia.
During a meeting with Aborigines in Kaohsiung County’s Namasiya Township (那瑪夏) the previous day, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said he welcomed Aborigines to join the reconstruction committees at the central and local government levels, but he left the decision on how to determine their participation to the Executive Yuan.
Liu yesterday said he would stick to his initial plan to keep the composition of the committee unchanged.
He said, however, that the government would “communicate and consult with Aborigines face-to-face on all problems encountered during reconstruction” and invite them to join discussions on various reconstruction issues in the committee on a case-by-case basis.
“The CIP has to present a proposal that reflects government resources in different departments,” Liu said.
Meanwhile, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said yesterday a task force composed of senior decision-making government officials agreed to maintain a level of flexibility on the ceiling for the funds earmarked for post-Typhoon Morakot reconstruction.
Wang told reporters at the legislature that members of the Presidential Office task force had all agreed that the central government should receive more funding for reconstruction work.
Wang said it was now up to the legislature to decide whether to raise the budget request, but added it would be impossible for the legislature to agree to giving the Executive Yuan unlimited funding.
Wang’s remarks came after a number of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators voiced support for unlimited funding for reconstruction on Tuesday. KMT caucus whip Lin Yi-shih (林益世) had expressed reservations about the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus’ call for granting the central government an unlimited budget.
KMT Legislator Yang Chiung-ying (楊瓊瓔) said on the legislative floor on Tuesday that the Executive Yuan’s NT$100 billion (US$3 billion) budget would be insufficient to cover the full reconstruction costs.
Yang said she hoped the legislature would not impose a ceiling for the budget.
KMT legislators Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順) and Wong Chung-chun (翁重鈞) also supported Yang’s call. However, legislators were unable to reach a consensus regarding a cap on the budget.
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