The Plains Indigenous Peoples held a press conference today (on the 21^st) to appeal regarding the draft of the “Plains Indigenous Peoples Status Act," which has not been clearly included in the system of the “Indigenous Peoples Basic Law." The Council of Indigenous Peoples explained that the Executive Yuan passed the draft of the “Plains Indigenous Peoples Status Act” during the plenary sitting resolution on May 15, and it has been submitted to the Legislative Yuan for review. The contents of the draft were developed in accordance with the intent and spirit of the constitutional judgment. The Council of Indigenous Peoples will also further explain to the public to establish a diverse, inclusive, and open society with all Taiwanese.

The Council of Indigenous Peoples stated that the Constitutional Court's Judgment Xian-Pan 17 of 2022 clearly reveals that “Legislators shall comply with the above-mentioned intendment of protection granted by the Constitution to fully consider the historical development context and the current situation of each indigenous people and its members while taking into account the allocation of national resources to further formulate new regulations.” Many judges also clearly stated the judgment's intent in their concurring opinions. For example, Judge Huang Rui-ming demonstrated that “The benefit matters for indigenous peoples regulated in current laws are not automatically applicable to the Plains Indigenous Peoples who are granted the status, but it’s required to further formulate new regulations." Judge Huang Zhao-yuan also pointed out that “The above-mentioned term “To further formulate new regulations” means that in current laws, the various protection regulations related to mountain indigenous peoples and plain indigenous peoples do not automatically apply to other indigenous peoples (Note: which refers to the Plains Indigenous Peoples).” “As for the matters and coverage of rights protection of other indigenous peoples (Note: which refers to the Plains Indigenous Peoples), legislators shall further formulate new laws and regulations and determine one after another from the beginning.”

The Council of Indigenous Peoples pointed out that based on the protection of substantive equality granted by the Constitution, the government will plan measures for the protection of the rights of the Plains Indigenous Peoples in accordance with the political, economic, social, and cultural conditions and the needs of the Plains Indigenous Peoples to truly implement the intent of the constitutional judgment. Therefore, regarding whether the “Indigenous Peoples Basic Law” is applicable, or how the regulations shall apply to the Plains Indigenous Peoples, shall be individually reviewed and regulated based on their specific background and actual needs to ensure that it reflects the specific situations, rights, and demands of different ethnic groups.

Finally, the Council of Indigenous Peoples stated that it will continue to collaborate and communicate with various Departments and Offices to confer a complete rights protection mechanism that corresponds with the spirit of the constitutional judgment and can appropriately respond to the needs of the Plains Indigenous Peoples.