Aboriginal rights activists and politicians yesterday clashed with police as they tried to get into the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislative caucus office to deliver a petition voicing their opposition to the Executive Yuan’s draft Aboriginal autonomy bill.
“[KMT caucus whip] Lin Yi-shih (林益世) come out! Lin Yi-shih, come out!” dozens of Aborigines shouted as they protested outside the KMT’s caucus office.
They were eager to get into the office to deliver a petition to voice their opposition to the draft bill, which they consider a “fake autonomy bill” as it gives Aborigines neither a budgetary increase nor the right to land and natural resources.
Although the caucus office eventually allowed them in, no one was there to take their petition and several protestors with KMT membership threatened to withdraw from the party.
Things went more smoothly when they visited the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus office, as DPP Legislator Lin Shu-fen (林淑芬) received them and promised to stand with them on the autonomy issue.
Outside the Legislative Yuan, there were hundreds of other protestors.
“We are here to defend our rights,” former DPP legislator Payen Talu of the Atayal tribe told the crowd that represented all 14 officially recognized Aboriginal tribes in the country.
“What good would an autonomy bill do us if it will not give us the right to fully manage our own traditional domains and natural resources within — as the Aboriginal Basic Act [原住民族基本法] promises — and will not allow autonomous regions to receive budgets directly from the central government?” Payen said.
Payen and the demonstrators were upset because the Executive Yuan’s version of the draft bill keeps major decision-making powers in the hands of existing central and local government organizations, leaving mostly culture-related policy-making power to Aboriginal autonomous regions.
Typhoon Saudel has shown signs of weakening but is still expected to affect Taiwan when it comes closest to the nation on Friday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. The radius of Saudel shrank to about 220km as of 8am today from 250km a day earlier, and its maximum sustained winds were down to 155kph from 184kph previously, the weather agency said. As of 8am, Typhoon Saudel was 980km east of Taipei, moving west-northwest at 18kph, it said. Under the influence of a Pacific high pressure system, the storm is moving northward, meaning it is less likely to make landfall in Taiwan,
Minister of Sports Lee Yang (李洋) today said the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association (CTBA) has been urged not to undermine Taiwan’s credibility in international competitions, after a Taiwanese team advanced to the semi-finals of the 45th William Jones Cup over the Philippines last week due to a controversial new rule guaranteeing a semi-final place to the host team. The Republic of China Blue team advanced to the semi-finals after winning just one game in the group round due to a “host guarantee” spot, overtaking the Philippines, who held a 5-1 record ahead of the semi-finals. The Blue team finished the tournament
A sea warning for Typhoon Saudel, which has shifted to a more northerly track as it nears Taiwan, is expected early tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. As of this morning, Saudel was about 650km east-northeast of Taipei, moving west-northwest at 12kph with maximum sustained winds of 162kph, CWA data showed. Although Saudel remains a moderate typhoon, it has weakened and is expected to weaken further as it nears Taiwan due to unfavorable atmospheric and ocean conditions, CWA forecaster Lin Po-tung (林伯東) said. The storm is forecast to make its closest approach to Taiwan tomorrow and on Friday, Lin added. According to
SEA WARNING EXPECTED: As atmospheric conditions are unfavorable for its development, the storm’s intensity is continuing to weaken, a CWA official said Typhoon Saudel is continuing to weaken and shift its path northward, with a sea warning expected to be issued this evening, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency did not rule out issuing a land warning for outlying Lienchiang County (Matsu) tomorrow morning, although all storm warnings could be lifted by Friday night. Saudel is expected to be closest to Taiwan from tomorrow night to Friday, bringing localized heavy rain to northern and southern Taiwan, as well as central mountainous areas, the agency said. As of 2pm yesterday, the center of moderate Typhoon Saudel was about 890km east-northeast
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