Taiwan's Siraya Indigenous Group Demands Legal Recognition

TaiwanPlus News

Leaders of Taiwan's Siraya Indigenous community are renewing calls for official recognition in Taiwan, which would make them the 17th group to achieve the status. Despite a landmark court ruling affirming their identity, formal approval has yet to be granted.

Transcript

00:00Urgent calls for justice here in Taipei as the Saraya indigenous community fight for recognition.

00:11The Saraya is one of Taiwan's Plains Indigenous groups.

00:15Its leaders are urging all branches of government to finally acknowledge them as one of Taiwan's

00:19officially recognised indigenous groups.

00:22There are currently 16.

00:24Such recognition would give them access to more legal rights, protections and resources.

00:29The push follows a 2022 Constitutional Court ruling affirming their identity.

00:34But nearly three years later, the Council of Indigenous Peoples has yet to submit their

00:38case for final approval, and the Saraya are tired of waiting.

00:44Indigenous leaders are also challenging proposed legislation they say would prevent individual

00:49ethnic groups within the wider Plains Indigenous Peoples from attaining the highest level of

00:54recognition.

00:59Protesters have invited President Lai to talk on the issue, one they say he has supported

01:11in the past, but has neglected to see through to the end.

01:15By Thursday this week, the legislature is expected to have a verdict for the Saraya people, a decision

01:21that will define their future status as one of Taiwan's many indigenous communities.

01:26Klein Wang and Ri says in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.

Category

Transcript

Recommended