The Presidential Office yesterday said it respects Aborigines’ opinions and criticism after Amis pop-rock singer Chang Chen-yue (張震嶽) criticized the manner in which President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) apologized to Aborigines.
“We respect every Aboriginal person’s opinion. All sorts of criticism and views are extremely appreciated, and will be gladly accepted. We are also willing to engage in more discussions and exchanges with everyone,” Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang (黃重諺) said yesterday.
Huang said Tsai’s formal apology on Monday to Aborigines on behalf of the government for the discrimination and neglect they suffered over the past 400 years does not mean an end of the matter. Rather, it signals the beginning of the government’s endeavors to engage in self-reflection and push for concrete reforms, Huang said, adding that Tsai’s administration is determined to do its utmost to let the nation’s Aborigines realize historical and transitional justice.
Photo: Chen I-kuan, Taipei Times
As for the choice of venue for the ceremony, Huang said as Taiwan is a democratic nation, the Presidential Office belongs to the public and the Aborigines are the masters of Taiwan.
“Just like in Australia and Canada, a national leader apologizing on behalf of the government at a venue symbolizing supreme power is a gesture of the highest standard and sincerity,” Huang said.
Huang made the remarks after Chang, who is also known by his Amis name, Ayal Komod, took to Facebook on Monday evening to denounce Tsai’s apology as an unnecessary “farce.”
The apology was made after a ceremony in front of the Presidential Office Building on Indigenous People’s Day on Monday morning, which was attended by the representatives of Taiwan’s 16 recognized Aboriginal communities.
“The president did not need to apologize at all. No one would give her a hard time if she just addresses all the problems facing Aborigines,” Chang said.
Chang criticized Tsai’s decision to let the people on the receiving end of the apology come to her office instead of the other way round, and asking the Aboriginal representatives to line up and wait for her apology “as if she is an empress.”
In related news, People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) yesterday urged the government to prioritize fixing five problems that Aborigines face — the need for improvements in healthcare; increased employment opportunities; improvement and legalization of Aboriginal communities in urban areas; renovations of industrial roads leading to Aboriginal communities in rural regions; and the re-establishment of laws concerning Aboriginal communities.
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