Taiwan/China: Taiwan’s President Apologizes to Aborigines for Centuries of Injustice

President Tsai Ing-wen officially apologized August 1 on behalf of the Republic of China (Taiwan) government to the nation’s indigenous peoples, vowing to promote their rights across the board as part of her administration’s efforts to further ingrain diversity and justice into society.

The president of Taiwan offered an unprecedented formal apology to its aboriginal peoples on Monday, vowing to make amends for 400 years of “pain and mistreatment”.

As the island’s only leader with aboriginal blood, the president said she would personally head a committee to investigate past injustices as part of government efforts to ease tensions with the native community.

In her apology on behalf of the government, Tsai said it was a further step toward protecting the social status of Aborigines and promoting their development in education, culture, social welfare and economic development, as laid out in an article of the Constitution that was added on August 1, 1994. Much of their historic land is now designated as a national park, leading to clashes over subsistence hunting, fishing and foraging in areas where permits are needed.

Tama Talum (R), an aboriginal hunter, prays for good luck before hunting with fellow tribe hunters at a mountain in Taitung, eastern Taiwan on July 2, 2016.

Today, indigenous groups face high levels of unemployment, low wages and less access to education and other services.

A member of Taiwan’s indigenous population taking part in a ceremony in front of the Presidential Office building in Taipei.

“I hope Taiwan’s government and the president will truly deliver on the promises made in this apology”, he said.

Mr. Capen said many Yami feared an accident would render Orchid Island uninhabitable, and he called on Ms. Tsai to address how to remove the waste.

Taiwan’s indigenous people, also known as aborigines, trace their history as far back as 3,500 years when they made up part of an Austronesian diaspora ranging from Madagascar through Southeast Asia and across the South Pacific. In addition to establishing the commission, she vowed to push through a law outlining the basic rights of indigenous peoples.

Tsai greeted the representatives from each of the island’s 16 recognised tribes, who were all wearing their traditional tribal clothing.