Kolas Yotaka

Kolas Yotaka (born 17 March 1974), formerly Yeh Guan-lin (Chinese: 葉冠伶) [1][2][3][4] is an Amis Taiwanese politician and journalist.

Kolas Yotaka
Executive Yuan spokesperson
Assumed office
16 July 2018
Preceded byHsu Kuo-yung
Member of the Legislative Yuan
In office
1 February 2016 – 15 July 2018
Succeeded byChiang Chieh-an
ConstituencyRepublic of China
Personal details
Born (1974-03-17) 17 March 1974
Hsinchu, Taiwan
NationalityRepublic of China
Political partyDemocratic Progressive Party
EducationMaster's degree
Alma materTunghai University
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionJournalist

She is the spokesperson for the presidential office in Taiwan. She has worked as a reporter for Formosa Television and a news anchor for the Taiwan Indigenous Television. She was the director for the Aboriginal People's Administration of the Taoyuan City Government. In 2016, she was elected as a non-divisional legislator and an aboriginal affairs representative of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). In 2017, she was elected as a visiting scholar of the US Department of State's International Leadership Program. In July 2018, she joined the cabinet and became a spokesperson for the Executive Yuan. She is the first Taiwanese aboriginal to hold the position.

Name

The Pangcah people (aka Amis people) pass their name in a connected system. Kolas' grandfather received the Japanese name Yoshinari during Japanese rule, so her father followed the tribal system with the name Yoshinari Yutaka (吉成豐). The family was assigned the Yo sound as the Chinese surname Yeh (葉) by the KMT government after Japanese rule ended.[5][6][7] Kolas followed the system by using her father's name as her own, and thus got the name Kolas Yotaka.[8] 

She changed her Chinese name on her household registration to her indigenous name around 2005-2006, after new legislation made it possible for indigenous people use their indigenous name legally.[5] She uses the romanized Kolas Yotaka rather than the Chinese phonetic translation (谷辣斯·尤達卡).[9]

Early life

She was born in Hsinchu City and belongs to the Amis Harawan tribe of Yuli, Hualien.[2] She obtained her bachelor's and master's degree in sociology from Tunghai University in 1996 and 1999 respectively. 

Journalism career

After completing her studies, she worked as a program producer and reporter on PTS and FTV. She also worked at weekly business magazine, Harvard Business Review and other magazines, as well as CNN Interactive English.[10] She translated the book Routes: Travel and Translation the Late in Twentieth Century by anthropologist and historian James Clifford to Chinese.

From 2005 to 2013, she served as the assistant, producer and anchor at Taiwan Indigenous Television. She also served as the interview leader and the anchor for the English news. She was responsible for logistics, special planning, documentary filming and international news interviews. In 2007, while she was a producer and anchor of "Indigenous Peoples Evening News," the show received an Excellence in Journalism award. It was also nominated for the award in 2008 and 2011.[11]

In 2014, she began producing and hosting the weekly international news program "Mata! See the World".[12] She also produced 14 documentaries on indigenous activism. This series is called "Indigenous Movements". Several of her documentaries were nominated for and received a range of awards. "Wounds of Sami" was nominated for the 2012 Award for Excellence in Journalism,[13][11] "The Death of Wufeng" won the silver at the 2013 Nepal International Aboriginal Film Festival,[14][12] and "Fight for the Island-Punsu No Tao" was nominated for the 2014 International Uranium Film Festival in Rio.[15]


Political career

Kolas served as the director of the Aboriginal National Administrative Bureau of the Taoyuan City Government, the Ninth Legislative Yuan (representing the Democratic Progressive Party), and spokesperson for the Executive Yuan.

Aboriginal National Administrative Bureau of the Taoyuan City Government

At the end of 2014, Cheng Wen-tsan, then mayor of Taoyuan City, appointed her as the first female director of the Aboriginal Administration of the Taoyuan City Government;[16] and revised the name of the institution which has been used for 14 years to “Indigenous Peoples Administration Bureau”. It took effect on March 11, 2015 and required the name card to be include aboriginal scripts.[17]

Legislative Yuan

In the 2016 general election, Kolas was elected as a legislator under the DPP. The Citizens Congress Watch rated her as an outstanding legislator in the Third Session. Sometimes she write her legislative reports in Amis language.[18]

On the eve of International Mother Language Day in 2016, Kolas promoted “mother language justice”,[19] and proposed amendments to the “Names Regulations”[20] and “Public Officials' Choice of Law”. It suggested that the name of the National Identity Card of the Republic of China can be used without Chinese characters, so other writing systems (such as tribal language orthography) can to used to register the name.[21] It is possible to include both aboriginal languages and Chinese documents together on the election gazette.[22] In mid-December of the same year, the draft Act on the Development of the Languages of Indigenous Peoples was proposed.[23]

In May 2016, Kolas, Chen Chi-mai, and 17 other legislators proposed a bill to abolish the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission.[24]

On 20 May 2016, 18 legislators including Kolas and Chen Qimai proposed the Draft Amendment to Article 16 of the Immigration and Immigration Law, which was passed on November 1, 2016.[25][26]

On 5 September 2016, Kolas visited the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India. She was the first Taiwanese aboriginal legislator to meet with the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama was very interested in the Amis sash on Kolas. He said that President Tsai Ing-wen's apology to the aborigines was "very good, it is a trend".[27] On the following day, the Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan held their first press conference in Dharamsala.[28]

On 15 February 2017, Kolas accompanied a Taiwanese-Tibetan family to the Executive Yuan to submit a request;[29] on the 20th of the same month, the Ministry of the Interior's Immigration Department abolished the principle of "collective review of the application for residence of Tibetan spouses holding Indian travel permits" and established  “following the Nationality and Immigration Act, Article 16, Item 4, Tibetan residents who have changed their nationality and hold Indian travel permit can apply for stay in Taiwan”.[30]

On 23 April 2017, the Ministry of the Interior, at the request of the Kolas, canceled the ceremony of the Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor, and the Central Government would no longer sent representatives of the Ministry to attend the Zheng Chenggong Festival, breaking the 54-year political convention and reflecting Taiwan's change in attitude to identity and multiculturalism.[31]

On 17 June 2018, Kolas was invited by the Hawaiki Project (an Indigenous social initiative) to seek funding from the Council of Indigenous Peoples to allow New Zealand Māori children to come to Taiwan on 23 August 2018 for a 10-day origin trip and participate in traditional tribal ceremonies; and at the same time plan in mid-February 2019, allow Taiwanese aboriginal children go to New Zealand to experience Maori culture.[32]

Executive Yuan spokesperson

Because of her August 2014 drunk driving record,[33] she has expressed her willingness to serve as an anti-drunk driving volunteer for life.[34][35] KMT members of the Legislative Yuan argued with the social consensus of the "zero tolerance" policy for Kolas to be dismissed.[36][37] Ho Hsin-chun, the head of the Democratic Progressive Party Committee, believes that a person who admits their mistake should be given the opportunity.[38]

On 15 August 2018, when President Tsai Ing-wen passed through Los Angeles, she visited the local 85°C store. Therefore, 85 °C was bombarded by Chinese netizens as a “Taiwan independence enterprise”.  85 °C immediately issued a statement that they “Support the 1992 Consensus”. Kolas Yotaka said she "sympathize 85 °C very much" and also strongly condemns the use of self-righteous ideology in specific countries to suppress free markets and international companies.[39]

On 22 August 2018, the Ngāti Manu tribe of the Maori in New Zealand came to Taiwan for a cultural trace. After arriving in Taiwan, the traditional leader (rangatira) Arapeta Hamilton led the team to the Executive Yuan to thank spokesperson Kolas Yotaka, expressing their excitement in finding a link between Maori culture and Taiwanese aboriginal culture.[40][41][42][43]

On 20 September 2018, at the invitation of Queen Bilung Gloria Salii of the Republic of Palau, she participated in the "25th Anniversary Conference of the National Women's Conference" as the guest speaker. She was the first representative of the Taiwanese government to ever attend the conference.[44][45][46][47]

Controversies

In March 2018, lawyer Jewel Chen implied online that Kolas was cohabiting with politician Icyang Parod, so Kolas sued her for defamation. On October 3, 2018, the Taiwan Taipei District Prosecutors Office pointed out that since representation of the electorate is elected by the public, the handling of public affairs, whether private or honest, will affect the purity and credit of the public office, so it must be criticized by the outside world. Even if there is a need for private inspection, it should be publicly available. In this matter, since it was implied, the lawsuit was dropped.[48][49][50][51][52]

On 6 October 2018, Kolas requested assistance from the Legal Aid Foundation with lawsuit. This action was subsequently criticized as a misuse of Legal Aid resources.[53][54][55][56][57][58]

Personal life

In 2007, she was in a relationship with politician Icyang Parod.[59] 

gollark: <@330678593904443393> If many passwords are known only by employees, what if they get hit by a bus or turn evil or something?
gollark: Bad idea.
gollark: <@330678593904443393> Seems unlikely.
gollark: <@341618941317349376> Use a third party app.
gollark: <@532303369725935617> They probably it packed with user tracking stuff.

References
  1. 三立新聞網 (2016-03-06). "蔡易餘叫不出原民立委谷辣斯 幸有林昶佐一旁打PASS | 政治 | 三立新聞網 SETN.COM" (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  2. "人物特寫》曾任原民台主播 正名爭取認同 - 政治 - 自由時報電子報". Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  3. "Kolas的小革命 修法還原住民真實姓名權 - 翻爆 - 翻報". 翻爆 - 翻報 (in Chinese). 2018-08-12. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  4. 中時電子報. "旺視界 》Kolas小革命 為原民正名". 中時電子報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  5. "Kolas專訪-關於成長 | 台灣新社會智庫全球資訊網". www.taiwansig.tw (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  6. 中時電子報. "Yotaka是父親日本名 Kolas曾說「光復」是痛苦開始". 中時電子報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  7. "Kolas Yotaka的「豊」絕非「夜鷹」——從姓名標記事件思考多元社會和文化". nippon.com (in Chinese). 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  8. Storm.mg. "民進黨不分區 原民Kolas Yotaka、鍾孔炤列安全名單-風傳媒" (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  9. "名字堅用羅馬拼音 政院新發言人：盼大家適應 | 政治 | 中央社 CNA" (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  10. Storm.mg. "「強烈地震躲桌下急撥電話」谷辣斯憶記者生涯　「快狠準」非常受用-風傳媒" (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  11. 臺大新聞e論壇 (2014-02-26). "臺大新聞e論壇: 【活動預告】原民台主播、製作人Kolas Yotaka：Mata！原民新聞之眼". 臺大新聞e論壇. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  12. "【Mata 活動報】你想像中的原民新聞應該長怎樣？讓原民台當家國際新聞主播 Kolas 來解答！ | Mata Taiwan". Mata Taiwan. 2014-03-01. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  13. "第十一屆卓越新聞獎 ｜電視類評審實錄（上） - 卓新獎". 卓新獎 (in Chinese). 2018-04-07. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  14. 臺大新聞e論壇 (2014-03-05). "臺大新聞e論壇: 族人的口、族人的眼：原住民新聞人Kolas". 臺大新聞e論壇. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  15. "Fight for the Island - Punsu No Tao | International Uranium Film Festival". uraniumfilmfestival.org. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  16. "桃市原民局關切原住民女性發展 - 大紀元". 大紀元 www.epochtimes.com (in Chinese). 2015-03-08. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  17. "桃園"原住民族行政局" 上路". 原傳媒 (in Chinese). 2015-03-11. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  18. 陳漢墀 (2018-02-14). "數位網路報: Kolas Yotaka除夕發布「期中報告」， 全文阿美族文字書寫!". 數位網路報. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  19. "綠委Kolas推原民「正名」9成6原住民贊成 - 政治 - 自由時報電子報". Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  20. 好房網News. "內政部：姓名條例修正　中文登記原則不變". 好房網News (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  21. "立委盼晶片身分證 用羅馬字登記族名" (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  22. "世界首創！世界母語日前夕立委提草案，讓原民不再需用中文寫自己的名字 | Mata Taiwan". Mata Taiwan. 2016-02-22. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  23. "議事暨公報管理系統". lci.ly.gov.tw. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  24. "質詢覺安慈仁 Kolas感嘆：物換星移 - 政治 - 自由時報電子報". Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  25. 中華民國立法院. "議案系統-議案查詢明細". misq.ly.gov.tw (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  26. "流亡藏人在台過「非人生活」 盼行政院處理 | 公民行動影音紀錄資料庫". 公民行動影音紀錄資料庫 (in Chinese). 2016-10-21. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  27. "【民報】達賴喇嘛會Kolas Yotaka ：蔡英文向原住民道歉很好" (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  28. "西藏台灣人權連線代表團：新成立人權網絡將加強支持西藏-達賴喇嘛西藏宗教基金會". www.tibet.org.tw. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  29. "台藏家庭与人权团体赴行政院陈情". Radio Free Asia (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  30. "流亡藏配在台依親、居留成問題 促政府專案援助 - 生活 - 自由時報電子報". Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  31. "打破54年慣例 中樞不再主祭鄭成功 - 焦點 - 自由時報電子報". Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  32. "新南向／紐國毛利部落來台尋根 原民立委加巧思". Rti 中央廣播電臺 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  33. "臺灣臺北地方法院刑事103交簡2475號". Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  34. 中時電子報. "Kolas認酒駕 很後悔希望大家都不要發生相同錯誤". 中時電子報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  35. TVBS. "準發言人曾酒駕！法官斥「漠視法令」　網酸：千杯再千杯│TVBS新聞網". news.tvbs.com.tw. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  36. "立院國民黨團要求 Kolas應比照江春男請辭 - 政治 - 自由時報電子報". Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  37. 快點TV. "藍委高喊 「酒駕零容忍、從內閣開始做起」" (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  38. 聯合新聞網. "政院發言人Kolas初登場 院會剛好報告原鄉醫療 | 賴內閣改組上任 | 要聞 | 聯合新聞網". 聯合新聞網. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  39. "行政院發言人Kolas：同情85℃ 譴責中國以意識形態打壓企業 | 中國 | 新頭殼 Newtalk". 新頭殼 Newtalk (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  40. "紐西蘭毛利族來台尋根 kolas激動落淚 - 生活 - 自由時報電子報". Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  41. TVBS. "紐西蘭毛利族部落來台尋根　感謝Kolas促成│TVBS新聞網". news.tvbs.com.tw. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  42. "部落交流！毛利族學生賣力在政院舞唱 Kolas感動落淚（影） | 生活 | 新頭殼 Newtalk". 新頭殼 Newtalk (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  43. 中時電子報. "南島一家親 毛利青少年訪問團抵台尋根". 中時電子報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  44. "赴帛琉演說 谷辣斯︰感謝你們挺台灣 - 政治 - 自由時報電子報". Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  45. "史上首例！行政院發言人Kolas受邀帛琉演說感謝支持台灣 | 政治 | 新頭殼 Newtalk". 新頭殼 Newtalk (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  46. 聯合新聞網. "拚外交！行政院發言人Kolas以官方身分赴帛琉演說 | 政治 | 要聞 | 聯合新聞網". 聯合新聞網. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  47. "Kolas受邀帛琉演說：太平洋把我們緊緊連在一起". 民報官網 : www.peoplenews.tw. 2018-09-19. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  48. 中時電子報. "影射谷辣斯同居 原民律師不起訴". 中時電子報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  49. "為原民政策槓上谷辣斯·尤達卡 律師陳采邑不起訴 - 社會 - 自由時報電子報". Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  50. 中時電子報. "律師批原民政策挨告 檢「打臉」谷辣斯·尤達卡". 中時電子報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  51. 聯合新聞網. "「立委感情可公評」 Kolas告律師不起訴 | 法律前線 | 社會 | 聯合新聞網". 聯合新聞網. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  52. "批谷辣斯．尤達卡為同居人背書　公益律師不起訴 | 蘋果日報". 蘋果日報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  53. "谷辣斯濫用法扶？　包正豪轟她：最糟糕的原住民政客--上報". Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  54. "谷辣斯申請法扶告法扶律師　黨內同志：不相信她沒錢請律師 | 蘋果日報". 蘋果日報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  55. "月入20萬立委 用免費資源打官司 谷辣斯找法扶 告法扶前律師 | 蘋果日報". 蘋果日報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  56. 聯合新聞網. "谷辣斯申請法扶告法扶律師　蔡正元：太那個了 | 政治 | 要聞 | 聯合新聞網". 聯合新聞網. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  57. 中時電子報. "被控濫用施壓法扶 谷辣斯喊冤". 中時電子報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  58. "申請法扶告法扶律師？包正豪怒批Kolas：把荒謬進行到底 | 政治 | NOWnews 今日新聞". NOWnews 今日新聞 (in Chinese). 2018-10-06. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  59. "質詢和備詢... 昔日戀人在立院重逢是否尷尬？ - 政治 - 自由時報電子報". Retrieved 2018-11-08.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.