新院區有比較差嗎? (5) IDEA的關切信與各國案例介紹

(圖片來源：小柯之《在樂生．看見光》)


今年三月十四日，IDEA ( International Association for Integration, Dignity and Economic Advancement ) 愛地芽國際協會寫了一封給美國台北經濟文化代表處，信中對於台灣政府強迫樂生院民搬遷一事，表達嚴重的關切，並在信末附上各國政府如何安置漢生病友的實際案例，以作為台灣的借鏡。

IDEA是一個國際性的組織，在全球三十幾個國家都設有分會，成員大多是漢生病友，其宗旨在消除社會對漢生病友的歧視，以協助病友重返社會，取得應有的尊嚴。

在2006年一月二十四日的聯合國非政府組織(NGO)會議裡，IDEA被推薦為六個具有特別諮詢地位(Special Consultative Status) 的機構之一，可以在聯合國人權委員會裡(UN Human Rights Commission)，反應各國政府危害漢生病友人權的事證。

事實上，IDEA有一部分資助來自日本財團(Nippon Foundation)，IDEA日本分會的理事長森元美代治(也是日本財團的一員)，曾對台灣政府強制迫遷的政策，表達嚴正抗議︰『假如台灣政府強制執行此政策，意味著台灣政府對漢生病友，犯「第二次大錯」。歷史上將永遠留下「汙點」同時成為全世界的笑話。』

IDEA的台灣代表賴澤君也曾參與樂生保存的抗議行動。

為了暸解更多國外安置漢生病友的具體做法，我將IDEA的信件與附錄轉載如下︰

(英文全文可參考《搶救樂生國際鬥陣》，中文翻譯可參考《苦勞網》或《青年樂生聯盟》)

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收信人︰美國台北經濟文化代表處

Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural
Representative Office in the United States
901 Wind River Lane
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
FAX: (240) 235-5410
March 14, 2007

敬啟者︰

Dear Sir/Madam︰

我們針對台灣當局強迫樂生療養院的居民搬遷一事，表達嚴重的關切，樂生院不僅僅是這些居民的家園，同時也在國際的麻風病史上扮演了重要地位。

We are writing to you to express our grave concern over the proposed forcible eviction of the residents of Lo Sheng Hospital in Taiwan from the place that has become their home as well as the proposed complete destruction of this internationally significant site in the history of leprosy.

IDEA 為最大型的國際促進協會與網絡，以提供支持予麻風病友（也稱漢生病）為宗旨，這些人終其一生都在與麻風病搏鬥。我們的組織大部分同樣由漢生病友所組成。

IDEA is the largest international advocacy organization and network of support for individuals whose lives have been challenged by leprosy, also referred to as Hansen’s Disease. Our leadership is largely made up of individuals who have themselves had this disease.

去年，IDEA受聯合國經濟與社會理事會認定為特別諮詢地位(Special Consultative Status) 的機構，可以在聯合國人權委員會為任何我們認定的重大人權事件作證。

Last year, IDEA was granted Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and, as such, can testify before the UN Human Rights Commission on matters of great concern to us.

過去病友們因為社會對麻風病的的恐懼而被強迫離開自己的原生家庭，而今又再度因為地權問題而被迫離開家園，這已成為高度優先的人權議題，我們將會向聯合國人權委員會反應此一事件。

The forced displacement from their homes of people who were first separated from their families due to society’s fear of leprosy and are now facing a second displacement because land rights are being given priority over human rights, is an issue that we plan to bring before the UN Human Rights Commission.

藉著治癒麻風病的名目，世界上許多麻風患者因而被迫與他/她們的家庭分離，並且被孤立隔離在遠離社會的醫療院所裡。

Prior to the advent of a cure for leprosy, people throughout the world were forcibly separated from their families and isolated in hospitals far removed from society.

假保護社會之名，卻讓他人的生命與家庭付出嚴重的代價。事實上，許多案例中，整個家族血脈就因為獨生子女染上麻風，而就此斷絕。

This was done for the supposed protection of society at great cost to the lives of the individuals and their families. In fact, in some cases, whole family lines came to an end if an only child had leprosy.

現在，這些醫療院所腳下的土地變得有價值，開發土地的計畫紛紛提出，對於這些一再被迫遷離家園的人們，完全罔顧道德上與人道上的議題。麻風病患的個人生存自 由遭受剝奪，被迫住進與世隔離的麻風病院。

Now that the land that many of these hospitals are located on has become valuable, plans are made for the use of the land that does not take into consideration the ethical and humanitarian issues surrounding the repeated displacement of people from the places that have become their homes.

世界上許多國家皆已認定了麻風病院的歷史意義，進而以創意將之轉化使其具有新的機能，帶給社會多方面的助益 ，並且為歷史和院區住民的生活型態奠定了保存的措施。(請看信中所附上的一些實例。)

Many countries throughout the world have recognized the historical significance of the leprosy hospitals where people have been isolated as well as the rights of individuals to live out their lives in the places that have become their homes. This has resulted in creative efforts to develop adapted use facilities that work to benefit society in many ways and also provide for preserving the history and the lifestyle of individuals living in these places (please see attachment for examples of some of these).

下一屆的國際麻風代表大會(ILCs)，將於2008年一月，在印度海德拉巴(Hyderabad)舉行，屆時也將會召開一場討論這項議題的座談會。樂生的居民已受邀出席，並且將有一名院民代表參與五人代表團，主持這場討論。

A panel discussion will be held on this issue at the next International Leprosy Congress to be held in Hyderabad, India in January, 2008. The residents of Lo Sheng have already been invited to designate a representative to serve on the five-member panel that will lead the discussion. They have accepted this invitation.

我們熱切地希望台灣的政府與人民，能夠體認到樂生療養院裡的病友其實是國家的瑰寶，透過他們的生活，他能能夠教導我們這一代與下一代和平與正義的相關議題，並推廣至全世界，因為他們曾經承受隔離，卻又不心生復仇與憎恨的意念。

We fervently hope that the government and people of Taiwan will recognize that the residents of Lo Sheng are a national treasure. Through their lives, they have the ability to teach present and future generations about issues fundamental to the promotion of peace and justice in our world. They have undergone separation from that which was most dear to them yet do not harbor revenge or hatred.

他們只是單存地要求他們的歷史能夠被崇敬地對待，並且允許他們能夠繼續住在現存的家裡。

They simply request that their history be honored and that they be allowed to remain in their home.

我們希望我們能夠一起合作，以避免未來回憶起這一段台灣的歷史，將會是使用暴力與脅迫的方式對付老年人，並要他們放棄家庭與未來人生，只為了讓社會大眾感到安全，而不是正義與人道關懷。

We hope that we can all work together in a unified effort to ensure that this chapter in Taiwan’s history will be remembered as an example of justice and humanity rather than an example of the use of force and coercion against elderly individuals who gave up their families and their futures a lifetime ago in order that society could feel safe.

如有任何問題，請與我們連絡。

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

謹上

Sincerely,

Anwei Skinsnes Law, M.P.H.
International Coordinator, IDEA
Coordinator, Oral History Project, International Leprosy Association
Global Project on the History of Leprosy.

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IDEA信末所附上的各國案例：

下列幾個選定的案例，是為透過創意性方案糾正歷史上的不正義，並使這些多年來被排除於社會之外、已將院區視為家的人們能於其家園安享天年。

夏威夷：1980年，美國國會指定Kalaupapa痲瘋病患安置區為國家歷史公園，並供其居民於現地安享餘年，以做為教育以及鼓舞當今及未來世代之用。夏威夷州政府衛生局、美國國家公園服務處，以及Kalaupapa院民暨親眾組織目前正致力於推動實踐該計畫。此外，Kalaupapa的院民與政府單位和私人組織合作，協助發展Hale Mohalu內年長市民住居計畫。位於火奴魯魯的Hale Mohalu是一處提供早期痲瘋病患醫療設備的基地，並將同時保存基地內的大風子樹做為歷史資產。

英格蘭：聖蓋爾斯之家(St. Giles Home)已提供做為特殊需求者的中繼之家使用，此方式使得聖蓋爾斯之家的最後一位居民皆能於此處，亦即其家園安渡餘生。

羅馬尼亞：透過歐盟的協助，已於Thchilesti痲瘋病院旁設立專門提供老人照料之家，做為整合並促使居民於此處，亦即其家園安享天年之用。

葡萄牙：Povisco Pais醫院已做為康復中心使用，並繼續提供早期被送致此地的痲瘋病患安享天年。

西班牙：別出心裁地將San Francisco da Borja in Fontilles療養院提供做為受到社會排除的年長者及慢性病患者居所之用，使得早期因痲瘋病被集中於此的患者仍能居住於現地，即於其家園安享天年。

日本：日本的痲瘋病患者集體收容的國立療養所之一「多磨全生園」，並經營成為國際聞名的博物館。此外，該園區的栽植維護大半出於院民之手，此一「人權森林公園」並可做為當代及後世教育之用。