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網記者江夏編譯報道：正當加拿大保守黨少數政府起勁地為藏獨張目，參與詆毀北京奧運會時，沒想到自己的2010年溫哥華冬季奧運會，也面臨著原住民的人權挑戰。
加拿大最大報章《多倫多星報》4月23日發表專欄作家歌雅（Carol Goar）題為「不舒服的奧林匹克聚光燈」的評論。她引述加拿大「第一民族議會」全國大酋長方丹（Phil Fontaine）的話說，那些在北京奧運會舉行前，高聲反對中國政府處理西藏手法的加拿大人，應當回頭瞧瞧自家的後院。他們更應當感到激憤的是第一民族的處境。
方丹說：「我們遭到忽視。我們提出的建議無人理睬。」在加拿大各地的第一民族聚居區，學校不符標準，住宅東倒西歪，朽爛不堪。自來水往往不能夠安全飲用。土著兒童因絕望而自殺，社區看不到福祉。(www. 記者專稿 轉載請註明出處)
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方丹已經發出了始終存在的威脅性聲音——第一民族將利用2010年冬奧向世人表達不滿！其他土著領袖也警告說，將採取封鎖道路、抗議和其他活動形式。方丹說：「要把我們社區絕望的形勢告訴大家。」
這並不令人驚奇。任何主辦奧運會的國家，都等於在邀請國際社會前往詳查其人權記錄。如果一個國家的原住民族缺乏清潔的飲水、像樣的住房、足夠的醫療保健服務，以及改善其生活標準的手段，那麼這個國家就應該料到會面對此類尷尬問題。
加拿大聯邦政府印第安事務部長斯特勞爾（Chuck Strahl），將抗議溫哥華冬奧的言論，淡化為「零星的東西」。他說：「冬奧對第一民族來說是極其振奮的活動。」這不止是對舉行冬奧地區的斯誇米希（Squamish）、馬斯魁（Musqueam）、里爾瓦特（Lil'wat）、澤爾-沃圖思（Tsleil-Waututh）四個土著部族而言，對加拿大各地的第一民族都是如此。
負責溫哥華冬奧事務的聯邦貿易部長艾民信（David Emerson）說：「這是加拿大一代人才有一次，讓自己登上全球舞台的機會。」他警告可能抗議的人說，任何負面的活動，像遊行示威、封鎖道路、公開宣傳運動等，將損害、醜化人們的觀感。
這番話可能激勵運動員、政客、冬奧贊助商，但是對無緣分享國家成就，無法阻止自己的孩子自殺，不想奉承加拿大的第一民族，卻毫無份量。當2010年冬奧給了土著領袖可資利用的手段和曝光問題的機會，他們為什麼不善加利用？既然冬奧那一瞬間把加拿大置於聚光燈下，他們為什麼不乘機發出自己的聲音？(www. 記者專稿 轉載請註明出處)
許多加拿大納稅人想知道，聯邦政府印第安及北部地區事務部每年耗費70億加元，加上其他聯邦部門花費的20億加元，為什麼還不能緩解許多土著保留區糟糕透頂的生活條件。
許多選民也想知道，為什麼哈珀總理要廢棄2005年的基隆那協議（Kelowna Accord）。那項歷史性的協議最終將聯邦政府、和全國10個省政府和第一民族領袖聯繫在一起，共同改善土著社區的教育、住房、醫療保健、公共衛生，推動經濟發展。(www. 記者專稿 轉載請註明出處)
許多加拿大人都樂於知道，加拿大如何將自己扮演為全球人權冠軍，但同時卻有那麼多的原居民族生活在悲慘、絕望的狀況中。抗議並不能解決加拿大第一民族積重難返的問題。國際的抨擊不能迫使哈珀政府和土著領袖合作。公眾的壓力也沒有使長達數世紀的不公正狀態結束。
但是抗議是有幫助的。當現狀不再能繼續下去時，變革也就開始了。明年年底，當冬奧火炬開始傳遞到溫哥華，世界的眼睛也將集中到加拿大身上。任憑哈珀動用什麼鐵腕控制手法，都無法左右人們的目光。真相將以自己的方式顯現在聚光燈下。
英文原文：http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/417200
Uncomfortable Olympic spotlight
Apr 23, 2008 04:30 AM
Carol Goar
The unspoken threat was always there. Now Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, has put it into words. Canada's indigenous people will use the Vancouver Olympics to air their grievances.
"We're ignored. Our proposals are dismissed. They're not taken seriously. Our efforts to establish a healthy, respectful relationship with this government obviously are not compelling enough," Fontaine said last week.
While he stopped short of calling for disruptive tactics, other native leaders are warning of blockades, protests and other forms of activism. "What that speaks to is the desperate situation in our communities," Fontaine said.
He urged Canadians who have joined the pre-Olympic outcry against the Chinese government for its treatment of Tibet, to look in their own backyard. "They should be just as outraged – if not more so – about our situation," he said.
If this is a surprise, it ought not to be. Any country that hosts the Olympics is inviting international scrutiny of its human rights record. Any nation whose indigenous people lack clean water, decent housing, adequate health services and the tools to improve their standard of living, should anticipate embarrassing questions.
Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl says he considers talk of Olympic protests "a little odd."
The four bands on whose traditional lands the 2010 Games will be held – the Lil'wat, Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh – have worked closely with Olympic organizers, he points out. They have secured jobs, economic opportunities and a say in the planning and delivery of the 16-day event.
"It's going very well and it's going to be an exciting Olympics for First Nations, not just from the area but from across Canada."
That may be the way it looks from Ottawa. In Kashechewan, Yellow Quill or York Factory – where the schools are substandard, the housing is ramshackle, the water is often unsafe to drink and there isn't enough hope to deter kids from killing themselves – the benefits are harder to see.
Trade Minister David Emerson, who is responsible for the Vancouver Olympics, advises the dissidents think twice.
"It's a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Canada to assert itself on the global stage," he warns would-be protestors. "Any kind of negative activity like that (demonstrations, blockades, public awareness campaigns) detracts and could somewhat contaminate the impression people get."
This message might be compelling for athletes, politicians and Olympic sponsors. But it doesn't carry much weight with people who haven't shared in the nation's success, can't stop their kids from committing suicide and don't think Canada deserves adulation.
The Olympics offers aboriginal leaders leverage and exposure. Why wouldn't they use it?
The 2010 Games are Canada's moment in the spotlight. Why shouldn't they speak up?
It's not just native activists who want answers.
Many taxpayers would like to know how Indian and Northern Affairs Canada can spend $7 billion a year (other federal departments spend an additional $2 billion), without alleviating the abysmal conditions on many native reserves.
Many voters would like to know why Prime Minister Stephen Harper scrapped the 2005 Kelowna Accord, which finally brought together Ottawa, all 10 provinces and aboriginal leaders in a historic pact to improve education, housing, health sanitation and economic development in native communities.
Many citizens would like to know how Canada can portray itself as a global champion of human rights, when so many of its indigenous people live in misery and despair.
Protests won't solve the deep-rooted problems facing Canada's first inhabitants. International disapproval won't force the Harper government to work with aboriginal leaders. Public pressure won't put an end to more than a century of injustice.
But it will help. Change begins when the status quo becomes insupportable.
Late next year, when the Olympic torch begins its journey to Vancouver, the world's eyes will be on Canada. Harper, for all his iron control, won't be able to dictate what people see. The truth will find its way into the spotlight.
Carol Goar's column appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. |
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