Aborigines will be able to establish their own autonomous region to preserve their traditional culture, language and land, if a draft bill on the establishment of the Aboriginal autonomous region passes into law.
The Executive Yuan is set to discuss and approve the draft bill today during its weekly closed-door Cabinet meeting. Once approved, it will proceed to the legislature for further review and final approval.
According to Cabinet Spokesman Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), the draft is aimed at realizing an agreement signed between President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Aboriginal tribes on Sept. 10, 1999 in the run-up to the presidential election.
In the agreement, Chen pledged to promote an autonomous region for Aborigines as well as other rights, such as the use of natural resources, land ownership and the resumption of using ethnic names of Aboriginal tribes, rivers and mountains.
"To make good on the president's promise to take care of the welfare of Aborigines, the government has enacted several new laws since 2000, including the Temporary Statute Governing the Monthly Pension of Aboriginal Senior Citizens of 2002 (
The statute on the establishment of the Aboriginal autonomous region would allow the nation's 11 Aboriginal tribes to set up a tribal council of their own to be in charge of the establishment of their own autonomous region.
Different Aboriginal tribes could also jointly set up one autonomous region and one single tribe could set up more than two or more autonomous regions.
The autonomous region would have its own law, land ownership, political structure, economic system, society and culture.
The central government could provide financial assistance to those autonomous regions with financial difficulties.
Should there be any disputes between the regions, the central government and the autonomous region or regions in dispute could ask the Legislative Yuan to mediate.
Autonomous regions having disputes could also turn to the Executive Yuan for intervention.
To help the Aboriginal tribes with the establishment of autonomous regions, the Cabinet has completed a study project on the Ami Aboriginal tribe as well as the Atayal and Tsou tribes.
The Cabinet is assisting the Thao tribe of Orchid Island to set up a tribal council and the Tsou tribe to establish a committee dedicated to the establishment of an autonomous region.
To resolve the land disputes, the Cabinet is considering establishing an Aborigine land tribunal as well as amending existing land-related laws and enact a new law on the management of Aborigine's traditional land areas.
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