Taipei - Hundreds of Taiwan aboriginals threw eggs at a heavily guarded government office on Tuesday while yelling epithets in protest against what they said was a lack of protection for historic land rights.
The aboriginals, who make up about two percent of Taiwan's population and often regarded as second-class citizens, came from around the island to pelt the Council of Indigenous Affairs building facade as riot police looked on.
Taiwan has not fully implemented a law passed four years ago that gives the natives of "Austronesian" descent more say over tracts of land and ocean once under their control before ethnic Chinese became the island's dominant race, the group said.
"The more eggs we throw the better," said Sang Puy, 30, a protester from southern Taiwan. "It's about our land, and the Council of Indigenous Peoples doesn't support us."
The protesters, organised largely by aboriginal legislators, also used insults to call on the council minister to resign. About 100 scaled a fence to attempt entry into Taiwan's cabinet headquarters, clashing with more police.
Government officials rejected protester claims that disputed government use of aboriginal land, for projects such as waste disposal and a national park, could have been averted with better law enforcement.
"Our following of the law is absolutely not an issue of someone being wronged and certainly not an issue of someone getting belittled," the council said in a statement.
Neighbouring China has claimed sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949. Beijing has vowed to bring the island under mainland rule, by force if necessary. (Reporing by Ralph Jennings; Editing by Nick Macfie) - Reuters