Yang Jen-fu
{{Short description|Taiwanese Amis politician (1942–2024)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Yang Jen-fu
| native_name = {{nobold|楊仁福}}
| native_name_lang = zh-tw
| honorific-suffix = MLY
| image =
| imagesize =
| smallimage =
| caption =
| order = Member of the Legislative Yuan
| constituency = Lowland Aborigine
| term_start = 1 February 1999
| term_end = 31 January 2012
| predecessor = Chuang Chin-sheng
| successor = Sra Kacaw
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1942|2|16}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2024|9|4|1942|2|16}}
| death_place =
| nationality = Republic of China
| party = Kuomintang
| otherparty =
| occupation = Politician
| profession =
| education = National Taiwan University (BA)
}}
Yang Jen-fu ({{zh|c=楊仁福|p=Yáng Rénfú}}; 16 February 1942 – 4 September 2024) was a Taiwanese Amis politician.
Early life
Yang graduated from National Taiwan University with a degree in political science, then became a teacher.{{cite news|title=Yang Jen-fu (6)|url=http://www.ly.gov.tw/en/03_leg/legIntro.action?lgno=00168&stage=6|access-date=9 July 2017|agency=Legislative Yuan}}{{cite news|title=Yang Jen-fu (4)|url=http://www.ly.gov.tw/en/03_leg/legIntro.action?lgno=00165&stage=4|access-date=9 July 2017|agency=Legislative Yuan}} He was of Amis descent and was active in a Hualien County-based association of Amis people.{{cite news|title=Yang Jen-fu (5)|url=http://www.ly.gov.tw/en/03_leg/legIntro.action?lgno=00163&stage=5|access-date=9 July 2017|agency=Legislative Yuan}}{{cite news|last1=Loa|first1=Iok-sin|title=Lawmakers urge new Aboriginal constituencies|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2010/03/12/2003467807|access-date=10 July 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=12 March 2010}}
Political career
Yang served three terms on the Taiwan Provincial Consultative Council before his 1998 election to the Legislative Yuan. Shortly after the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake, Yang formed an inter-party parliamentary group which sought to provide disaster relief to aboriginal communities.{{cite news|title=Typhoon bringing landslides at rate of 100 per day|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/1999/10/09/5722|access-date=9 July 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=9 October 1999}} At the start of his second term, Yang expressed interest in joining the economics and energy committee. He was not offered membership, and as a result, scaled back his participation in Kuomintang caucus activities.{{cite news|last1=Ko|first1=Shu-ling|title=DPP denies secret start of alliance|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/03/04/0000126259/1|access-date=9 July 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=4 March 2002}} In June 2002, Yang was formally admonished for voting against the caucus.{{cite news|last1=Low|first1=Stephanie|title=KMT gives boot to four lawmakers|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2002/06/26/0000141819|access-date=9 July 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=26 June 2002}} Yang won a third term in 2005, and his forth term in 2008, despite a coalition of LGBT rights groups opposing his candidacy.{{cite news|title=Legislative elections and referendums|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/images/2008/01/13/TT-970113-P04-1-IB.pdf|access-date=9 July 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=13 January 2008}}{{cite news|last1=Loa|first1=Iok-sin|title=Activists urge boycott of 'homophobic' candidates|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/01/05/2003395759|access-date=9 July 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=5 January 2008}} He helped reestablish the aboriginal caucus within the Legislative Yuan in 2009.{{cite news|last1=Loa|first1=Iok-sin|title=Pan-blue Aboriginal lawmakers planning to revive caucus|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/05/21/2003444138|access-date=9 July 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=21 May 2009}} In March 2010, Yang was named convenor of the legislature's transportation committee alongside Chu Fong-chi.{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=Flora|title=Pan-blues to head all 16 committees at Legislative Yuan|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2010/03/04/2003467167|access-date=10 July 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=4 March 2010}}
Political stances
Over the course of his legislative career, Yang has defended the political and property rights of aborigines.{{cite news|title=Aboriginals unite against lack of progress on self-rule|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/10/27/0000177253|access-date=9 July 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=27 October 2002}}{{cite news|last1=Loa|first1=Iok-sin|title=Aboriginal political rights at risk: critics|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/12/26/2003432075|access-date=10 July 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=26 December 2008}} Upon the passage of the Aboriginal Basic Law in January 2005, Yang commented that it would "provide indigenous rights with a strong basis in law, to give Aboriginal people a stable and secure environment for survival."{{cite news|last1=Hong|first1=Caroline|title=Law protecting Aboriginal rights is praised|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/01/22/2003220456|access-date=10 July 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=22 January 2005}} He has stated of the aboriginal workforce, "Everybody says they love Taiwan, but they don’t love my people. They say they can’t find workers, but that is just an excuse. The government has offered these companies many tax benefits. How can they simply ignore the rules and disregard the interests of local employees?"{{cite news|last1=Shan|first1=Shelley|last2=Loa|first2=Iok-sin|title=Legislators slam free trade ports bill|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/05/14/2003443548/1|access-date=10 July 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=14 May 2009}} Yang also maintained an interest in transportation.{{cite news|last1=Shan|first1=Shelley|title=MOTC plans harbor bureau to oversee port operations|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/10/29/2003457143|access-date=10 July 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=29 October 2009}}{{cite news|last1=Shan|first1=Shelley|title=Mandatory use of OBU devices for tolls is questioned|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2010/11/30/2003489790|access-date=10 July 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=30 November 2010}}
Death
Yang died on 4 September 2024, at the age of 82.[https://news.ipcf.org.tw/137564 前立委楊仁福病逝享壽83歲 生前致力原民事務] {{in lang|zh}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
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Category:Kuomintang Members of the Legislative Yuan in Taiwan
Category:Members of the 4th Legislative Yuan
Category:Members of the 5th Legislative Yuan
Category:Members of the 6th Legislative Yuan
Category:Members of the 7th Legislative Yuan
Category:National Taiwan University alumni