We started our journey in Puli, crossing over range after range of mountains. Standing on the top of one of the peaks, we finally saw our destination: Fachih (
But this isolated village is not as cut off from mainstream society as one would suppose. It shares a fate similar to other agricultural villages in Taiwan: bankruptcy and over-exploitation of resources. Moreover, as the residents of the village are Aboriginies, they suffer an oppression much more serious than that of Chinese villagers living on the plains.
Even a small and remote village like Fachih is not immune from outside influences. The upper reaches of Chuoshui River, where the village is located, is the source of much of the river's abundant water resources. During the Japanese colonial period, the Wuchie Dam (
Water usage at Sun Moon Lake is nearing capacity now, leading Taipower to draw up plans to channel water from the Chingshui River (
Authorities have used a mixture of force and trickery on residents -- who rely on their land to survive -- into selling or renting their land for the project. Work has already begun, but more than half of those who gave up their land for the project have not yet received payment. Those farmers who did receive money have pretty much used up what funds they were given these past few years.
More seriously, the authorities have not yet announced to the village the result of the environmental impact assessment. Taipower and subcontracted companies say they are not clear on the status of the report. Many of the construction companies have carelessly dumped oil, scrap metal and other rubbish on land taken from the farmers. Moreover, no one is certain what effect the release of waste from cement mixing will have on the farmland. Taipower has promised to "return the land in its original state" to farmers after its five-year lease expires, but no one is sure if this is even possible.
Problems facing residents of Fachih did not start with the Chingshui River project. During the Japanese colonial era, the colonial government demanded that the village, like all other villages in Taiwan, deliver a portion of their grain harvest to government warehouses. This is when monoculture production began in the village, slowly overtaking the sustainable production that was previously its mainstay. The shift away from self-sufficient production increased after the KMT took over Taiwan, and the process is now virtually complete.
Villagers are now dependent on cash crops for their survival, yet agricultural prices have continued to decline under a policy that is attempting to drive agriculturalists bankrupt. At the same time, land quality in the village is being degraded by the Chingshui River project.
These two forces have led to a host of problems in Fachih, including a drop in agricultural production, a lack of money, the loss of young people to urban areas and the disappearance of aboriginal culture.
These problems are not limited to Fachih, of course, but can be seen in villages throughout Taiwan. The 921 earthquake merely brought these problems to our attention.
Looking over the Wuchie Dam, which is now cracked and only a half of its original thickness as a result of the earthquake, it is infuriating to think of the lack of care shown to villagers, cut off from the outside world after the quake, and already the victims of the Taipower water project. Their beautiful home has been destroyed, and they are left with piles of crops they are unable to get to market.
Unfortunately, soon even the government may not be able to help them. International competition is growing in intensity, and the government will be helpless to change policy once Taiwan enters the WTO. The trade agreement is built around full trade liberalization. It does not allow industrialized countries to subsidize or protect their agricultural sector, even though Taiwan's development relied on heavy subsidies and tariffs. The numerous subsidies the government has established to ameliorate deteriorating conditions in rural communities must be dismantled once Taiwan becomes a member of the WTO.
With increased industrial development, Taiwan's agriculture is fated to continue its decline. Once subsidies are removed, the government must also lower infrastructural costs to maintain the competitiveness of Taiwan's industrial goods on the world market. This will probably be done by lowering the price of water, electricity, land and labor in Taiwan.
This is the logic behind the government's efforts to build the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, allow private operators to construct power plants and permit the construction of dams in Meinung (
By tearing down nearly all restrictions on the import of agricultural products, liberalizing the sale of land zoned for agricultural purposes and importing foreign labor, the government has continued to force farmers to leave their land and shift to industry or the service sector. We believe this is a trend that will not change because of the 921 earthquake, but will grow in intensity.
The remoteness of Fachih -- and the fact that it is populated by indigenous people -- has meant that the public in Taiwan has never been much interested in the conditions of the 900 Bunung villagers living there, either before or after the 921 quake.
Perhaps the tall mountains have blocked the public's view, but they have not stopped outside interests from invading the village in search of profit.
In response, people in Fachih have now organized a Disaster Reconstruction Committee and are preparing to use their combined strength to resist the forces that are encroaching on their village.
After so many years of being sacrificed by the government, the residents of Fachih have every right to resist and protect the survival of their village. In all likelihood, however, the government will use all the methods at its disposal to suppress the village, in the hope of retaining high rates of capitalist development. When the villagers fight for their rights, they are portrayed in the media as irrational protesters. We hope the public does not forget the treatment of these villagers over the past century.
Cool Louder Web are managers of a Website (http://ip-148-027.shu.edu.tw) dedicated to the discussion of social issues.
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