Thu, Aug 27, 2009 page3

• Aboriginal activists decry Morakot reconstruction bill

  • By Loa Iok-sin / STAFF REPORTER
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  Upset by the proposed Typhoon Morakot reconstruction bill, Aboriginal activists and representatives from disaster-torn Aboriginal communities staged a protest in front of the Presidential Office yesterday, urging President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to halt the legislative process for the bill.

  “Ma Ying-jeou promised us yesterday [Tuesday] that he would hold further discussions on the Typhoon Morakot reconstruction bill with Aborigines,” said Ma Cheng-kuei (馬成貴), a Bunun pastor from a church in Meilan Village (梅蘭), Taoyuan Township (桃源), Kaohsiung County, as dozens of activists and community representatives protested on Ketagalan Boulevard.

  “If the bill passes [today], Ma Ying-jeou should be held responsible,” he said.

  The pastor said that the president should step down if he broke the promise he made to typhoon survivors from Taoyuan and Namasiya Townships at a temporary shelter in Kaohsiung County’s Neimen Township (內門) on Tuesday.

  However, Ming Yu-teh (明有德), a typhoon survivor from Namasiya, said he did not believe the president’s promise.

  “Whatever Ma Ying-jeou said was just bullshit. I don’t think he would or could do anything once the bill passes,” Ming said. “I used to respect him a lot, but now I’m totally disappointed.”

  What caused the upset was the addition of clauses in the post-Morakot reconstruction bill proposed by the Cabinet — which might be passed today — that grant government authorities the power to declare disaster areas “danger zones” and thereby force residents to resettle.

  Omi Wilang, a long-time Aboriginal rights activist and pastor at a Atayal church in Fusing Township (復興), Taoyuan County (桃園縣), said the Cabinet bill was in violation of the Aboriginal Basic Act (原住民族基本法), which requires the government to consult Aboriginal residents and obtain their consent before doing anything in Aboriginal areas.

  “The Act protects Aborigines’ rights to know and to participate [in policy decision], but the reconstruction bill grants the government too much power while establishing no mechanism to supervise it,” Omi said. “How do we know how the NT$100 billion [US$3 billion] would be used?”

  Supervision and mechanisms ensuring local participation were included in the 921 Earthquake reconstruction bill, but not in the Morakot bill, he said.

  “Typhoon survivors are panicking,” he said. “Everyone is worried that reconstruction will just bring about the next wave of destruction.”

  A public relations official from the Presidential Office accepted a petition from the protesters and promised to forward it to the president.

  Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) said the Executive Yuan had heard the protesters’ voices and would respond to their request in an appropriate manner.

  ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY KO SHU-LING
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