Taiwan Church News

3375 Edition

October 31 - November 6, 2016

Church Ministry

Aboriginal Bunun Hunter Tama Talum Is Petitioned For An Inmediate Amnesty

Reported by Chiu Kuo-rong

In the morning on October 26, members of Indigenous Youth Front (IYF) brought a bulk of petition signatures,signed over 1,500 people, asking President Tsai Ing-wen an immediate amnesty for the decreed aboriginal Bunun hunter - Tama Talum, instead of waiting without ends an overhaul of all related laws impairing or inhibiting aboriginal rights.

Tama Talum was given a sentence of 3 years and 6 months last year, due to his hunting for the endangered species of protected animals Formosan Serow and Reeves's muntjac using his self-made shotgun. Under a series of efforts made by some civil rights groups, The Supreme Court accepted the petition of an extraordinary appeal for Tama Talum last December and the Presecutor-General also filed an extraordinary appeal accordingly.

As the extraordinary appeal for Tama Talum does not receive any response from The Supreme Court since President Tsai's official apology to the aboriginal peoples on August 1, and Tama Talum unexpectedly fell into a comma after taking an anti-flu vaccine in October, the related civil groups concerned about this case become very anxious whether Tama Talum can receive the justice in time.

According to Indigenous Youth Front, now Tama Talum is admitted in Intensive Care Unit(ICU) and his life is maintained by Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation(ECMO) only. The life of Tama Talum is hinged on very critical conditions, said member of IYF, and it is the reason why more than 1,500 people signed an petition for an immediate amnesty of Tama Talum.

Savuganza Valincinan, member of IYF, remarked "Amnesty for Tama Talum is an immediate feasible action, basedon Article 40 of the Constituion and Pardon Act, instead of waiting a long overhaul of all related laws about aboriginal rights. There is no reason to keep torturing Tama Talum's mind and body within the legal due processes!"

Translated by Peter Wolfe