Ruling overturns some Aboriginal hunting curbs
‘REGRETTABLE’ DECISION: Although the ruling tasks authorities with amending regulations that contravene the Constitution, Aborigines said it does not do enough
By Chang Wen-chuan and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer and AFP
The Council of Grand Justices yesterday ruled that some hunting restrictions on Aborigines were unconstitutional, but stopped short of supporting a total overhaul of regulations, which some hunting advocates had called for.
Hunting restrictions have become a contentious issue among Aboriginal communities.
Under current regulations, Aboriginal communities are only allowed to hunt with self-made shotguns during certain festivals and only with prior approval from authorities.
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image captionTaiwan s indigenous groups are only allowed to hunt on specific days, with advanced permission from officials
Taiwan s indigenous communities have lost an eight-year legal battle over hunting rights.
Indigenous groups can only hunt on certain days, using homemade rifles, and need special permission to do so.
Campaigners argued that hunting wild game is culturally important to them.
But Taiwan s top court ruled that while some of the current rules are unconstitutional, it wouldn t overturn them, because environmental protections are equally important . The constitution recognises both the protection of indigenous people s right to practice their hunting culture and the protection of the environment and ecology, Hsu Tzong-li chief justice of Taiwan s Constitutional Court said.