Taiwan Church News

3375 Edition

October 31 - November 6, 2016

Church Ministry

Tao Aborigines Of Orchid Island Urge Legislation Of Nuclear Waste Processing And Compensation

Reported by Lin Yi-yin

Supported by many lawmakers, including Wu Yu-ching, Chen Mang-li, Tsai Pei-huei, Kawlo Iyun, Chen Yin and etc., agroup of representatives from Tao aborigines held a press meeting in front of Legislative Yuan on October 27. Moderated by Rev Omi Wilang, secretary of PCT's Indigenous Mission Committee, these Tao people asked President Tsai Ing-wen to fulfill her campaign promise and chanted the slogans:"No Empty Words, But A Real Law!", "No Lofty Charity, But A Dignified Compensation!', and "No More Dealy, Roll Out of Orchid Island Immediately!".

These Tao representatives also visited caucus of each political party in Legislative Yuan, urging them to form analliance on nuclear waste issue and pass Act of Orchid Island Nuclear Waste Processing And Compensation as soon as possible in order to restore justice to the exploited Tao aborigines for decades.

Rev. Omi Wilang sharply criticized KMT government's preposterous cheating given to Tao aborigines 35 years ago.They said a fish can factory would be built up on the island, yet the beautiful site was finally turned into a hazardous site for radioactive nuclear waste rejected by Taiwanese people, remarked Rev Omi Wilang. It is estimated that, from 1982 to 1996, about 96,000 barrels of low-rank nuclear waste had been shipped to Orchid Island.

Wudu Mijan, chairman of Association for Taiwan Indigenous Peoples' Party(ATIPP), expressed his deeppessimism about any feasible solution to this problem as these nuclear wastes had been placed in Orchid island for over a generation no matter whichever party was given the ruling power of this country.

But Dr Chiu Kai-ly, an assistant professor of Taiwan Theological College and Seminary, remarked hr optimistic solution todeal these nuclear waste on Orchid island could be simply found in a classical saying: "Treat others in the way you like to be treated". "Do you want to let a barrel of nuclear waste to be placed in your house?", questioned Dr Chiu.

"We are all sinners! How dare we can ship these nuclear waste to Orchid island in lies and cheating! Are we really take Tao aborigineson Orchid island as human being?! Let us and all Taiwanese churches to support Tao people and restore for them a clean island without nuclear waste ever!", urged Dr Chiu.

Translated by Peter Wolfe