TaiwanChurchNews 3042 Edition June 14~June 20, 2010

Reported by Sam Lee, Chiou Kuo-rong, Chen Yi-hsuan. Written by Lydia Ma

Ever since Typhoon Morakot devastated Aborigine townships and set in motion massive rescue and rebuilding efforts, Rukai Aborigines living in Pingtung have repeatedly emphasized rebuilding projects must respect the wishes and traditions of Aborigines.

After much effort, PCT, Seventh Day Adventist, Methodist, and Catholic churches finally secured government permission to build permanent housing units that would be tailored to the needs and desires of Aborigines.

A few days ago, government officials agreed to let PCT be in charge of initial preparations toward building 15 permanent housing units for Rukai Aborigines. This breakthrough is no small feat for PCT, said PCT Indigenous Ministry Committee Secretary Omi Wilang. Rukai Aborigines have always wanted Christian organizations such as PCT, World Vision, and Red Cross to help them build their new homes.

After various attempts at communicating with government officials, including Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council Deputy CEO Dr. Chern Jenn-Chuan and Pingtung County Deputy Magistrate Chung Chia-pin, responsibility for overseeing the first phase of this project was finally handed over to PCT, which will work hand in hand with Red Cross and World Vision.

According to Rukai Presbytery General Secretary Rev. Pelenge, many Aborigines have taken part in rebuilding efforts during the past few months. The presbytery hopes that many pastors will continue to minister to these Aborigines and lead them in prayer at the beginning of every work day when construction begins.

A few Aborigines commented that when they were working at other permanent housing sites managed by Buddhist Compassion Relief Foundation, they had to attend morning classes and sing Buddhist songs, which made them feel very uncomfortable. However, they also worried that they’d lose their jobs if they didn’t comply with such demands and resignedly sang along.

One Compassion Relief official who is overseeing reconstruction projects in Da-Ai Community in Sanlin, Kaohsiung County, replied that his organization respects every person’s religious affiliation and incidents such as this one wouldn’t become an issue again.

Forum evaluating past 10 months gives reconstructions a failing grade

In Taipei, public policy and social service organizations concerned about Aborigines held a symposium on June 10 focusing on the rights of Aborigine reservations to determine their own future. The symposium held at National Taiwan Normal University discussed in detail the struggles of Aborigines living in Pingtung throughout the past 10 months of rebuilding.

Guest speakers and participants decried reconstruction policies that had ignored opinions and feedbacks from Aborigines and pointed out that the Council of Indigenous Peoples had become a mere rubber stamp for the Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council. As both councils are government agencies under the Executive Yuan, their objectivity has been questioned.

As it turned out, cooperation between these public agencies culminated in a government project called “permanent housing units” which so far has only furthered emotional stress and pain among Aborigines already struggling from the devastation inflicted by Typhoon Morakot.

According to analysts, Aborigines’ plight intensified as they realized their dilemma. Some couldn’t leave their ancestral homes behind, others discovered their reservations didn’t meet the government criteria for assisted relocation, and still others barely had enough resources to rebuild their damaged old homes. In the end, Aborigines faced dire circumstances regardless of whether they chose to stay, move on, or rebuild.

According to Paiwan Presbytery General Secretary, Rev. Kao Tien-hui, Aborigines still living in reservations damaged by the typhoon are frustrated at the snail’s pace in which government reconstruction efforts are advancing. Hence, reaching out to typhoon victims is an important part of the whole reconstruction process for PCT churches.

According to a report issued by Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council on applications for permanent housing units, there were 1,364 applications as of May 31, but only 831 had been approved at the time.

When this report was distributed during the symposium, one delegate representing an Aborigine foundation pointed out that the gap between these numbers merely intensified Aborigines’ anger against the government.

Aborigines were outraged at the government for flouting accomplishments when progress had actually been unreasonably slow and contracts had been deliberately given to Buddhist organizations keen on distancing Aborigines from one another and moving Aborigines away from their religious and cultural roots.

More setbacks reported as typhoon season nears

In related news, a few townships in Kaohsiung County devastated by Typhoon Morakot such as Namasiya and Taoyuan temporarily lost contact with the rest of the country when torrential rains at the end of May destroyed roads leading up to these towns.

At one point, more than 5 villages grappled with food shortages when residents were unable to head out to replenish food supplies. In response to this crisis, PCT General Assembly, South Bunun Presbytery, and Gabriel Internet Center teamed up to send supplies to these townships.

SouthBunun Reconstruction Center’s supervisor, Rev. Chu Mei-fang, said she was worried torrential rains in the past few days might destroy more roads and prevent Aborigine reservations from replenishing food supplies. She urged Christians to help and pray for Aborigine villages.

Chuadded that a makeshift road that had been built by a riverbed in the aftermath of Typhoon Morakot was destroyed by heavy rain at the end of May. With that road now gone, the farthest volunteers can go is a few reservations in Chinhe Village, Taoyuan Township.

Using four-wheel drive vehicles, a team of volunteers from South Bunun Presbytery and Gabriel Center have ventured into a few reservations there to send 160 bags of white rice, noodles, and canned food, as well as some meat and fresh produce.

“But it’s still very dangerous,” said Chu, who accompanied these volunteers to deliver supplies, “Some roads are too difficult even for sturdy vehicles.”

For past coverage on post-Morakot rebuilding efforts, go to http://enews.pctpress.org/