Sat, Mar 11, 2000 page8

• Rights of Kinmen residents overlooked

  • By Luo Der-shoei 羅德水
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  Whenever there is an election in Taiwan, sensitive topics like ethnicity and independence instantly become the center of discussion. And such discussion has always focused on the "core area" of the country. In other words, no matter where people stand, almost without exception, talk is centered on the four ethnic groups residing on the main island of Taiwan. In contrast, the rights of the residents of both Kinmen (金門) and Matsu (馬祖), the two outlying islands, have been overlooked for a long time.

  If we add the ethnic groups of these islands into a discussion of national racial issues, which is complicated enough as it is, the discussion will turn even more heated. However, only when these groups are included can the reality of the issue be understood.

  We have to acknowledge that the public in Taiwan considers cross-strait issues from the standpoint of Taiwan rather than China. The problem is, both Kinmen and Matsu islands have not participated in the construction of the Taiwan community. As a consequence, conflicts will naturally arise between the communities in Taiwan and the outlying islands.

  The special status of the Kinmen people can be seen particularly in its complex relationship with the four primary ethnic groups. People in Kinmen share similar languages and customs with the Taiwanese Fukien people, yet in terms of historical background and national identification, Kinmen people and mainland Chinese have more similar beliefs. The Kinmen people, who are also Fukien folk, cannot be regarded as a minority group. Nonetheless, the lack of social justice in Kinmen proves its people have been a truly "disadvantaged group," or "dominated group." Their situation is no better than those of the Aborigines or Hakkas in Taiwan.

  Furthermore, the people in Kinmen and Matsu hold different views in their party affiliation from Taiwanese. Theoretically, it should be easy for the DPP to replace the KMT, which controlled Kinmen by placing it under military rule. The fact, however, is that in Kinmen the DPP does not show the collective strength it has in Taiwan. Sometimes it cannot even recommend a decent candidate. To tell the truth, the pro-Taiwanese DPP does not even have a market in Kinmen. It is the pro-Chinese New Party that can be accepted more easily by the Kinmen people.

  Such a political environment is not the same as that of Taiwan, and it is not a normal state for party politics. To analyze things further, hidden behind the issue is a conflict between the Taiwanese and Chinese viewpoints. What's more, the Kinmen people's objection to Taiwan's independence from China reflects their changing attitude toward China. The Chinese were once the primary enemy of the Kinmen region.

  After the "two-states model" was unveiled and Beijing released its recent white paper, many Kinmen residents fear they are and will always be victims of a crisis across the Taiwan Strait. The trouble was created by the central government in Taipei, but it is Kinmen that will be victimized.

  For most Taiwanese, a sense of community consolidates a consciousness of national identity. But most Kinmen residents are apparently more concerned about whether or not the Taiwanese government can further consider Kinmen's value and its right to existence, as well as the group identity of its people.

  On the contrary, Taiwan's response to Kinmen's group identity affects the consolidation of the entire community.

  More importantly, it has a direct impact on Taiwan's moral standards. Taiwan will be considered a nation which ignores social justice if the government continuously sacrifices the rights of a minority group.

  Luo Der-shoei,a Kinmen resident, is currently a teacher at Lan-Ya Elementary School in Taipei.
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