Taipei, Oct. 30 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian reaffirmed Saturday his campaign promise to include a special chapter on the rights of indigenous people in the new constitution that he plans to introduce in 2008.
Chen pointed out that he signed a document on "the new partnership between the aborigines and the Taiwanese government" with tribal representatives on Orchid Island during the run-up to the 2000 presidential election and promised to set up a special chapter on the issue in the new constitution.
Chen said the aborigines are the earliest settlers of Taiwan and that they must enjoy dignity and hope in order to make Taiwan dignified and hopeful.
Over the past few years, the government has proposed various projects and legislation to realize the concept of a "quasi nation-to-nation" partnership between the aborigines and government, Chen said.
These include a project aimed at restoring the traditional territories of aboriginal tribes, which will involve land surveying and mapping of the traditional distribution of indigenous people, he added.
The president said representatives of various aboriginal tribes have participated in drawing the map, which he said symbolizes the exercise of self-determination of the indigenous people.
He said the government will continue to work to complete the rights of the indigenous people by realizing their natural autonomy, right to land and self-government.
Chen made the remarks while participating in a briefing held in Pingtung on the aboriginal tribal territories survey project.