In an effort to highlight the importance it attaches to Aboriginals, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) nominated seven Aboriginal candidates for the National Assembly elections on May 14.
The selection of Aboriginal candidates to be included in the DPP's list of 150 nominees for the National Assembly elections represents the party's respect for the group by including them in the constitutional amendment process, DPP officials said.
"Aboriginal peoples are the original inhabitants of Taiwan," said DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), after introducing the seven Aboriginal candidates last week. "They should enjoy the right to participate in constitutional amendments."
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
In a blessing ceremony held by the party last week, leaders and respected elders from the Paiwan, Amis, Saisyat, Tsou and Atayal tribes wore traditional clothes and performed tribal ceremonies to bless the Aboriginal candidates from each tribe.
Speaking at the event, Mayaw Kumu, Deputy Director of the DPP's Ethnic Affairs Department, said that the party wants to include the voice of Aboriginals in the decision-making process of constitutional revision.
The selection of Aboriginals also honored the New Partnership Treaty Between the Indigenous Peoples and Government of Taiwan, a document President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) signed to promote Aboriginal autonomy, Mayaw said.
"The seven Aboriginal representatives will take the opportunity to press for the establishment of an `Aboriginal clause' in the Constitution to ensure that Aboriginal peoples' treaty rights will be protected," Mayaw said.
Comparing the party's recommendation list to that of the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT), which nominated five Aboriginal candidates, Mayaw said that the DPP is giving a chance to younger Aboriginals to represent the younger generation.
"Participating in constitutional reform provides the younger generation with a great chance to understand more about national policies and the way politics work," he said.
"More importantly, the sprit of Aboriginal political movements can hopefully be handed to the next generation as they take part in the country's evolution and strive for Aboriginal rights in constitutional reform," Mayaw said.
The seven candidates are: Former presidential advisor Antonio Hong (鴻義章) of the Amis tribe; president of Yushan Theological College & Seminary Pusing Tali (高萬金) of the Atayal tribe; Voyu Yakumangana of the Tsou tribe and executive director of the Association for Taiwan Indigenous People's Policies; Liglove Awu of the Paiwan tribe and executive director of Millet Foundation; Icyang Parod of the Amis tribe and Chief of Aboriginal Affairs under the Taipei County Government; Dahurshi, who is general director of Saisyat Tribe Culture Development Association; and Tsong (曾智勇) of the Paiwan tribe and chief of Aboriginal Affairs under Pingtung County Government. Six of the seven candidates are male, and all are in their 30s or 40s.
Most of them have been selected from the Aboriginal rights, cultural, religious and political fields.
"I think the most important issue the Aboriginal candidates need to address is the establishment of the `Aboriginal Chapter' in the Constitution," said Liglove, the only female nominee among the group.
Voyu, who has been devoted to Aboriginal rights since college, agreed that including Aboriginal rights in the Constitution is the primary goal for Aboriginal candidates.
"The Aboriginal Chapter will address important issues such as the setup of an autonomous region for Aboriginals, resource allocation and land ownership," Voyu said.
"In addition to Aboriginal rights, I think participating in constitutional reform will raise the political status of the Aboriginal people and give us sort of a formal recognition by the country," Voyu said.
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