Police reaffirm respect for aboriginal hunters

The Taitung branch of the Forest and Nature Conservation Police Unit also stressed in a press statement that it fully respects the Pinuyumayan tribal hunting culture.

The forest police squad issued the statement after more than 60 Pinuyumayan tribesmen converged Sunday to voice their wrath over what they called the Taitung forest police squad's late-night chase and body search of tribal hunters in the county's Chihpen mountain township late last month.

The tribesmen said they were eligible to hunt in the Chihpen mountainous region from Dec. 26, 2007 through Jan. 1 to celebrate the tribe's annual hunting festival, stressing that the activities were approved by the Taitung county government in advance.

However, they claimed, armed forest police launched a raid at around 2 a.m. Dec. 31, chasing tribal hunters from the areas reserved for the Pinuyumayan tribe. In the process, they claimed that some hunters were chased around the rugged mountainous terrain in the dark, while several others were subjected to body searches.

The tribal protesters, including members of youth clubs and elders clubs in the Chienho, Chulu and Lihia communities, demanded that forest police and other relevant government units give an explanation of the incident.If such an explanation is not forthcoming, they said, they will stage an even more vocal protest in the near future.

In response, a forest police unit press statement said the hunting activities are allowed only in the Pinuyumayan reservation areas. Police officers took action only after hearing gunshots in the Chihpen forest park, where hunting is prohibited, according to the statement. It also claimed that the police only persuaded the tribesmen to leave the region and did not target any specific individuals. Moreover, the statement denied that any body searches were carried out.

Reiterating that no guns are allowed in the forest recreation park, the statement said the police officers were carrying out their duties in accordance with the law.

To avoid future misunderstanding, the statement said, the forest police squad will strengthen communications with the tribesmen and exercise caution and prudence in maintaining law and order during important tribal festivals.