Taiwan president gives first ever apology to indigenous groups

Tsai, the island’s first leader with aboriginal heritage, will personally head a committee to investigate past injustices as part of government efforts to ease tensions with the native community. “I apologise to the indigenous people on behalf of the government, offering our deepest apology for the suffering and injustice you endured over the past 400 years,” she said in speech. “We need to look at history seriously and speak the truth,” she said, adding that apologising was “another step forward”. 

The indigenous community — which makes up about two percent of Taiwan’s 23.5 million people — have seen their traditional culture eroded since immigrants started arriving from China centuries ago. Aboriginals have also complained of developments on their ancestral land, which campaigners say make up two-thirds of the island, were approved without seeking their views.

Tsai pledged to increase the autonomy of aboriginal communities, restore their lost land rights and protect tribal languages. Indigenous people remain a marginalised group in Taiwanese society, with wages about 40 percent below than the national average, as well as a higher rate of unemployment.