CHAPTER 4- THE PROLONGED COLONIZATION
5.2 DESIRABILITY OF INDUSTRIALIZATION AND THE
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5.2 DESIRABILITY OF INDUSTRIALIZATION AND THE INEVITABLITY OF PROGRESS
Since Taiwan was under martial law from 1947 to 1987, there was scarcely room for protest. All development in these areas would be approved by the central
government rather than by county and township authorities, as had been the case in the past. There are seven companies working at the upstream of the Nan’ao North river; their operations are located in Atayal territories. These companies maintain ambiguous relations with the neighborhood communities. The Mining Act consents to the government the entitlement of mining rights to individuals and corporations.
Local mining companies are given right to use water and forest resources without permission from indigenous peoples on the land being mined. Most
indigenous communities have been “reluctant to even participate in this development projects, saying that there is deep mistrust toward the mining corporations after decades of mineral exploration and development.”17 The democratic-elected
politician told me that “there are very few locals who are working in the mine field.”
18Different to other cases, there are more people employed by the mining corporation.
The issue is paid more attention on the traditional territory claim and environmental protection.
As the previous paragraphs have shown, to understand the Nan’ao case, it is necessary to grasp the complex relations between indigenous Atayal, the state and the
17 Interview conducted by the author with RS on September 22, 2017.
18 Interview conducted by the author with CH on September 22, 2017.
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extractive industries from a historical perspective. The conserved land was leased to the mining company by the state in 1960s with no concern for the ecological fragility of the zone and indigenous territory. Through the interview, we are able to understand the historical background. The community elder reflects:
“They (Atayal people) never thought the mine could develop in this scale…. To 1970s~80s, the entire river had been polluted. During this period, a news reporter had invited me to check the mine field. Actually, the reporter was also invited by the Biho community development association. However, when we went to the mine field together, the scene was horrible…. the land had been broken and mountain had been leveled. The reporter told me, my job was just to take the picture but I would not publish the information. When I heard what the reporter said, I felt there was no other way to solve the problem…”19
The incursion of mining companies into Nan’ao North river has destructive impacts on the natural environment. The community members lament the disastrous environmental problems engendered by large-scale development mining activities.
Local farmers, fishermen, and fish-farmers have reported damage to their livelihood and health. Many community members reveal that “there have been clear reductions in fish and people exposed to contact with river water developed skin infections and cancer.”20
19 Interview conducted by the author with YK on August 23, 2017.
20 Interview conducted by the author with BL on August 23, 2017.
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The Raka Mountain Ridge had been leveled off.
The Mining Corporation Arranges to Plant after They Mined.
The Mine Field Is under Operation. The Location Where Mining
Corporations Ditch the Wasted Soil.
The Wasted Soil and Stone Blocked the River Course.
Researcher Climbed the Mountain Ridge Above the Nan’ao North River.
Figure 13- The Current Situation of Nan’ao North River’s Landscape (Source: Data Collected by Author)
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Table 3- The First Contact of the Extractive Activity (Source: Data collected by the Author)
Informant BL21 Informant AS22 Informant YK23 When I was 18, the mitten
crabs came up from the estuary every May and June. No matter where you cast the net, there were always tons to catch. But after the mining started, when they purify the stones, the water quality got worse. There were fewer microrganism and the mitten crabs did not have enough to eat.
I came back from the military service in 1976.
It was at that moment I realized the North River had become muddy, like the color of limestone.
I recall that the mine was built in 1979. At that time, some of us had gone to catch crabs, but to our surprise, the river was polluted. When we went back to the community, we finally noticed the pollution was because people were digging for the minerals in the mountains behind our homeland.
All the informants’ report tells us that there had been a marked decline of mitten crab and fish harvest due to mining development. The fishermen surmised that it has to do with the water quality. Construction on the land would cause silation, pollution and other degradation of the river. The government at one hand promote the cultural revitalization through dancing and singing. However, as the indigenous culture is embedded with land, once the land is destroyed, can the culture revitalization
succeed? Additionally, the development of mine also alienated aboriginal people from their lands, and torn apart the community. The mining corporation’s backed up certain churches, schools and politicians on the local elections. By doing so, they can divide
21 Interview conducted by the author with BL on August 23, 2017.
22 Interview conducted by the author with AS on August 17, 2017.
23 Interview conducted by the author with YK on August 12, 2017.
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the members of the community. The corporations eventually emerge as the winner when the community is unable to unite against its common enemy. By providing limited employment, mining corporation has even been able to present itself as Nan’ao Township’s solution to poverty.