Taiwan Church News
3191 Edition
April 22-28, 2013
Headline News

Reported by Lin Yi-ying

Written by Lydia Ma

On April 22, one day before the world marked Earth Day, indigenous groups assembled in front of the Presidential Palace on Ketagalan Boulevard to let out a traditional indigenous smoke signal. This smoke signal was an appeal to President Ma on various environmental and indigenous rights issues.

Indigenous groups petitioned that President Ma issue a demolition order for the illegal Meiliwan Resort out of respect for the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, observing the Indigenous Basic Law by respecting the rights of indigenous groups, oppose corporations that are taking over indigenous lands in coastal areas, and preserve the pristine quality of the Taiwan’s east coast by protecting Taiwan’s beachfronts, endangered corals, and green turtles.

Hsieh Ruo-lan, an associate professor in the Department of Ethnic Relations and Cultures at National Dong-Hwa University and a parishioner of Fenglin Presbyterian Church in Hualien cut off her long hair during this rally to underscore that indigenous cultures are similarly being uprooted and quickly disappearing. She urged the Ma administration to protect indigenous cultures and indigenous villages because these are quickly disappearing and being destroyed by colluding corporations and local governments.

More than 30 singers, artists, and representatives from filming industries attended this rally and performed songs to highlight the demands of indigenous groups. When Sanyuan Bay’s representative Sinsing went to the stage to say a few words, her eyes welled up with tears as she thanked attendees for their support. Sinsing spoke about the struggles that her family had endured in the past few years. As she spoke, many in the crowds also wiped away tears and then showed their support for her with their clapping.

PCT Indigenous Ministry Committee Secretary Omi Wilang remarked that Sinsing was a key supporter of the movement against the Meiliwan resort when it first began a few years ago. He added that he, along with PCT Church and Society Committee Secretary Huang Che-yen, took her to the Presidential Palace at the time to file a petition there. However, to this day, the Ma administration has not replied to her petition about demolishing the Meiliwan Resort.