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Liu seeks input from Aboriginal heads

Aborigines who were affected by the floods caused by Typhoon Morakot hold up signs as they protest outside the Presidential Office yesterday. They were unhappy with the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) special draft bill on post-Morakot reconstruction and the possibility of forced removal of villagers. PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES

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 CIP has to present a proposal that reflects government resources in different departments.” — Liu Chao-shiuan, premier

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.

Executive Yuan Secretary-General Hsueh Hsiang-chuan (薛香川), who took part in yesterday’s cross-party negotiation sessions, said the Cabinet would take the DPP’s views into consideration.

Wang, who convened the negotiation, said some legislators expressed opposition to the Executive Yuan’s plan to raise funds by selling NT$40 billion in Land Bank shares because the bank could still generate NT$2.4 billion in revenues for the state coffers each year.

The Legislative Yuan is scheduled to pass the special statute for post-Morakot reconstruction proposed by the Executive Yuan today.

In related news, Liu ordered that the shelters where more than 5,000 displaced victims are currently accommodated be cleared by next Monday, saying that the 7,000 beds in military camps and veterans houses would provide a more comfortable environment for the victims.

Liu also reassured residents of villages in Linbian Township (林邊), where gutters and drains remain badly clogged by mud, that they would be cleaned up by next Monday, adding that the government would temporarily evict residents to facilitate disinfection work and prevent disease outbreaks.

Meanwhile, the premier said that the government would set up an alert system in mudslide-prone areas so that village chiefs could evacuate residents or take other actions to prevent future disasters.

Starting yesterday, Liu will work at a post-Typhoon Morakot reconstruction office in southern Taiwan for one week to coordinate relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The initiative is aimed at providing a platform for Cabinet chiefs and officials to exchange views with residents of areas in southern Taiwan affected by the typhoon on reconstruction-­related issues, Government Information Office Minister Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓) said, adding that the government also hopes to strengthen communication and coordination with displaced victims of the typhoon in terms of resettlement operations.

“In principle, Liu will stay in southern Taiwan, but will return to Taipei for important meetings,” Su said.

In related developments, Control Yuan President Wang Chien-shien (王建煊) said the country’s highest watchdog body would release a report in six months on its investigation into who should be held responsible for the administration’s flawed response to the typhoon, which resulted in the death of an estimated 500 people and left hundreds more homeless.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
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