Aboriginal rights activists yesterday rallied on Ketagalan Boulevard in Taipei, calling for changes to place names in Aboriginal regions across the country from the current government-imposed names that hold political connotations.
Dozens of activists yesterday rallied on the road in front of the Presidential Office Building, protesting the government’s naming of places such as Guangfu Township (光復) in Hualien County and Fusing Township (復興) in Taoyuan County.
The term guangfu literally means “restoration of Taiwan,” referring to the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) regime’s takeover of the country after the Japanese surrendered in 1945, while the term fusing means “revival of the nation,” referring to the KMT regime’s goal to reclaim the mainland.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
In addition, Renai (仁愛) and Sinyi (信義) townships in Nantou County mean “benevolence” and “fidelity and honesty” respectively, while Heping District (和平) in Taichung means “peace.”
“There are 55 Aboriginal townships around the country, but during 30 years of the Aboriginal rights movement, only the former Wufeng Township (吳鳳) in Chiayi County and the former Sanmin Township (三民) in former Kaohsiung County have been successfully renamed — Alishan and Namasiya — so far,” said Yapasuyongu Akuyana, a Tsou Aborigine representing the Indigenous Peoples’ Action Coalition of Taiwan, addressing demonstrators and the media. “As more and more tribal elders who still clearly remember the original Aboriginal place names are leaving us, those names will eventually be forgotten if we don’t stand up to demand the change now.”
“Wufeng” is the name of a historic figure who is said to have sacrificed his own life to “correct” the headhunt custom of Tsou Aborigines, while “sanmin” refers to the Three Principles of the People coined by Republic of China founder Sun Yat-sen (孫逸仙).
Lin Shih-wei (林世偉), an Atayal artist from Jianshi Township (尖石), Hsinchu County, burst into tears while saying that the government has not only taken their lands, but also changed the names, forcing them into exile on their own lands.
“I am especially heartbroken that, despite our invitations, none of the Aboriginal lawmakers showed up in the rally,” he said.
Earlier in the week, a group of young Amis Aborigines from Tafalong and Fata’an villages in Guangfu protested the township’s name by painting the two villages’ names and the question “whose restoration is it?” on the walls of the Guangfu Township Office.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
Carrefour Taiwan is to begin using a new name from the start of July, but it cannot divulge the name until then, the chairman of the supermarket chain's parent company said today. President Chain Store Co chairman Lo Chih-hsien (羅智先) was asked by reporters after a shareholders' meeting to confirm whether the company has settled on a new name for the supermarket brand. In March, the government-registered name of two Carrefour Taiwan branches was quietly changed to "Le Chia Kang" (樂家康) in Chinese, raising speculation that has been selected as the name. Lo said that because of local regulations and contractual obligations, the
The Philippines would likely be involved in any conflict over Taiwan due to its proximity to the democracy claimed by China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said, reiterating a stance that risks angering Beijing. “In the Philippines, we do not have a choice because Taiwan is so close to the Philippines and we have almost 200,000 Filipino nationals living and working in Taiwan,” Marcos said in an interview with Japanese media in Manila on Monday. The Philippine leader’s comments come ahead of a state visit to Japan next week, where he is to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss security
RSS