Bunun hunter Tama Talum, who is also known as Wang Kuang-lu (王光祿), was in 2014 sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison on weapons possession and poaching charges for using a modified rifle to kill protected wildlife. He killed the animals at the request of his sick mother, who was in her 90s.
The case was granted extraordinary appeal by Prosecutor-General Yen Da-ho (顏大和). The live broadcast of the trial in 2017 was the first of its kind in the nation’s judicial history. The Supreme Court suspended the hearing, but asked the Council of Grand Justices for a constitutional interpretation.
On
2021/05/20 12:32 Tama Talum. Tama Talum. (CNA photo) TAIPEI (Taiwan News) After a long, protracted legal battle, the Presidential Office on Thursday (May 20) issued a pardon to Bunun tribe member Tama Talum, citing the Constitution and the Amnesty Act (赦免法). On Thursday, Presidential Office Spokesperson Kolas Yotaka announced that in order to express respect for the traditions of the Indigenous peoples, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has issued a pardon to Tama in accordance with Article 40 of the Constitution and Article 3 of the Amnesty Act. Kolas said the president s decision is of particular significance amid the government s promotion of historical justice and transitional justice for Indigenous people.
President pardons Bunun man sentenced in Indigenous hunting rights case
05/20/2021 06:28 PM
Tama Talum. CNA file photo
Taipei, May 20 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Thursday issued a presidential pardon to Tama Talum, an Indigenous Bunun man who was controversially sentenced to 3.5 years in prison on illegal hunting charges in a case that ended up before Taiwan s Constitutional Court earlier this year.
The Presidential Office said in a statement that Tsai had issued the pardon the first of her administration and only the seventh under the Republic of China Constitution out of respect for Indigenous people s traditions.
Talum, whose case had been pending before the Supreme Court, reacted with disbelief upon learning of his pardon during a call with reporters on Thursday morning.
Constitutional Court issues mixed ruling on Indigenous hunting rights
05/07/2021 10:30 PM
An Atayal hunter. CNA file photo for illustrative purpose only
Taipei, May 7 (CNA) The Constitutional Court ruled on Friday that while laws on the types of guns Indigenous people can use to hunt and requiring them to apply in advance for permission to do so are valid in principle, certain aspects of how they are applied are unconstitutional.
In its ruling Interpretation No. 803 the court found that the requirement in the Controlling Guns, Ammunition and Knives Act that Indigenous people use self-made guns is largely constitutional.
However, it said, several of the regulations governing the specifications of such guns are insufficient and must be amended within two years to protect Indigenous peoples right to hunt as part of their culture.