Taiwan Church News 3026 Edition February 22~28, 2010
Reported by Chen Yi-hsuan, Sam Lee. Written by Lydia Ma. Photo by Sam Lee

On February 10, Aborigines from Nansalu Village in Namasiya Township got ready to leave Yenchao military academy near Kaohsiung and move into permanent housing units in Pinlin Village. This move is expected to take place in phases up until February 28 and about 111 families are expected to move into new housing units.

However, there are still 12 families who plan to move back to their old homes and original village and rebuild. "It feels like we've been forced to move into permanent housing units," said one villager with apparent despair as Nansalu villagers prepared a farewell gathering on February 10.

At the farewell gathering, one woman from Nansalu Presbyterian Church shared her story. Liu Ai-lin was pregnant when Typhoon Morakot devastated her village. As she was being evacuated to safer grounds, her water broke prematurely and she learned that her brother had been washed away by a raging flood. She eventually gave birth on December 26 and will soon share a permanent housing unit with other families. Despite this arrangement, she still prefers going back to her old home as it wasn't destroyed by the typhoon.

Liu isn't alone in feeling this way. Another lady from Namasiya also misses her old home and the fresh air she used to enjoy there. He Li-jiun would rather return to her old home than move into a permanent housing unit. But when she heard that the government wouldn't bail her out financially if a typhoon were to strike again, she hesitated and reluctantly agreed to move to permanent housing units for her family's safety. She will also be bringing a newborn baby with her.

According to He, many people view Morakot victims with disdain and think they enjoy undeserved benefits. She feels the public has forgotten that Morakot victims are actually homeless people who didn't choose to be treated this way.

The permanent housing units in Pinlin Village were funded and built by Tzu-Chi Buddhist Foundation. Tzu-Chi also built a chapel to go with the housing units, but construction plans went ahead without any consultation with residents who would eventually live there, causing much controversy.

According to reports, posted on the walls of the new chapel are a set of "New 10 Commandments", including articles such as "thou shall not kill any animals", "thou shall not smoke", "thou shall not inhale drugs", "thou shall not chew betel nuts", "thou shall not participate in any political activity or demonstration", etc. During the farewell meeting, Tzu-Chi volunteers repeatedly reminded villagers about the importance of keeping these new commandments.

However, not being able to hunt wild boars is unimaginable for Aborigines as hunting is an integral part of Aborigine culture and life. Furthermore, hunting wild boars is an important custom for Aborigines whenever they celebrate holidays, host wedding feasts, or mark special occasions.

A spokesperson from Morakot Rebuilding Alliance said government officials, including Kaohsiung County Mayor Yang Chiu-hsing, had signed an agreement last year promising Aborigines that new housing arrangements would respect Aborigine cultures while providing them a safe shelter. Now, these promises seem to have vanished into thin air.

To express displeasure at the government's betrayal, Morakot Rebuilding Alliance, led by South Bunun Presbytery's pastor, Rev. Lituan, held a protest against the Ma administration on February 11 when President Ma visited the new housing units in Pinlin.

According to reports, the 12 families that refused permanent housing units have listed religion as one of their reasons for not moving into these units. They said Aborigine Christians cannot get used to the community activities or regulations set up by Tzu-Chi and many would rather return and rebuild their old homes if possible.

In related news, PCT Chiayi Presbytery's Church and Society Committee donated a few wild boars and young fowls to Aborigine churches in Tsou District and Namasiya Township during Lunar New Year holidays.

Churches belonging to Chiayi Presbytery have been reaching out and comforting Morakot victims by visiting them throughout the reconstruction process and Aborigines have responded with gratitude for all the help received. According to reports, donations from churches belonging to Chiayi Presbytery for Aborigines living in Alishan and Namasiya Townships totaled NT$6 million and all the funds have gone toward rescue and relief efforts.