Saving Siraya: Formosa's Flowers

What is this all about?!

Saving Siraya is a blog dedicated to the protection of a Taiwanese indigenous tribe that is not officially recognized by the government and therefore denied of basic human rights.

Due to the demands of Zhong Xing University and the Taiwanese national government, starting JUNE 29th, 2011 Siraya homes will be demolished and families already suffering from poverty will become homeless. After demolition the university intends to use the land for its agricultural department.

Approximately 20 Siraya families will be affected, some of which have lived on this ancestral land for up to 150 years.

See "Saving Siraya" for a detailed post on the Siraya's situation.

** UPDATE: A recent meeting between Zhong Xin University representatives, the Tainan City mayor, city councillors, and Siraya representatives has resulted in an agreement. The city government has been granted three months to prepare documents proving that Siraya settlements predate 1920. These documents will be signed by the mayor and will thereby protect ancestral land from further disruption. The university agrees to cooperate once these documents have been approved by the Tainan City mayor! Court hearings and demolitions have been postponed three months accordingly.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Formosa's Flowers

Formosa’s flowers
cast in the shadow of authority
Formosa’s flowers
flattened by an encroaching majority

Formosa’s flowers
petals once throbbing red now dead
Formosa’s flowers
from foreigners and hearth once fled

Formosa’s flowers
above soil all visible shoots wither
Formosa’s flowers
from the slaughter guilt will come hither

Formosa’s flowers
under cover of earth protect roots so green
Formosa’s flowers
I assure you number more than fourteen

Poem by Madison Messinger