2007年3月31日 星期六

Why Lo Sheng must be preserved

By Liao Hsien-hao 廖咸浩

Sunday, Apr 01, 2007, Page 8

The Cabinet and the Taipei County Government have decided to evict the residents of the Lo Sheng (Happy Life) Sanatorium on April 16 to make way for the construction of a Mass Rapid Transit maintenance depot. If this isn't stopped, it will be a black day indeed in Taiwanese history. Not only will the government destroy a major cultural artifact and compound the misery of the residents, but even more importantly, it will show us how single-minded politicians lack respect for culture, history and human rights. This is a real tragedy for all Taiwanese.

Of about 60 such institutions around the world, Lo Sheng Sanatorium is one of the few to have survived until today. It bears witness to the process of modernization, in which state violence is used to "purify" society as well as besmirch and oppress disadvantaged groups -- including those of different ethnicity, the lower classes, the mentally ill, the diseased and dissidents.

Preserving Lo Sheng would not only let Taiwan retain one of its cultural assets, but it would also preserve a piece of history for the entire world. The International Association for Integration, Dignity and Economic Advancement, a UN-related organization dedicated to promoting the rights of Hansen's disease patients, also believes that the sanatorium is part of a global heritage and has asked the Taiwanese government to protect it.

In preserving these buildings, Taiwan would allow the residents to continue to live there instead of uprooting long-standing community networks in the name of modernization. This would conform to the community spirit of the "villages" set aside for protection under the Cultural Heritage Preservation Law (文化資產保存法). It would also let the residents, who have been victimized by the Japanese colonial and Taiwanese governments, satisfy their modest wish to live out their lives in suitable and familiar surroundings.

No one can say how much effort has been wasted in the six years that have passed since former Lo Sheng director Chen Ching-chuan (陳京川) applied to have the sanatorium considered a historical site in 2001. Yet politicians from all parties still delay in executing the most basic of their duties -- confirming the sanatorium as a cultural asset.

According both to the spirit and the regulations of the preservation law, officials must fulfill their responsibilities and assess whether or not a location is a cultural asset after receiving an application. Any other considerations must wait until the status has been confirmed. Yet the entire Lo Sheng case has been handled backwards from beginning to end. It began with the idea that construction should be prioritized over culture. Officials discussed the feasibility of the project first and only talked about cultural preservation afterwards. This is the reason why even today Lo Sheng hasn't even entered the appraisal process.

Next, government technocrats should of course perform their bureaucratic responsibilities instead of trying to make things easier for themselves. The Taipei Department of Rapid Transit Systems has held on to information and given several, constantly changing reasons for the demolition, none of which held water in the end. How could this stalemate have continued for six years if there weren't politicians directing and conniving behind the scenes, using technocrats as an excuse to get their own way?

And did the Council for Cultural Affairs (CCA) arrive in time to put a stop this? It seemed to be acting in earnest when it listed Lo Sheng as a temporary historical site in 2005 and later commissioned Hsin Lu Engineering Consultancy to draw up a plan to preserve 90 percent of the sanatorium. But its present claim that the sanatorium's designation is a local affair, and that the central government can only encourage but not intervene, is a serious dereliction of duty.

Article 101 of the preservation law says very clearly that "when city and county regulating organizations fail to act according to this law on issues within their jurisdiction, leading to the jeopardization of the preservation of cultural assets, the Cabinet or central government overseeing organizations shall name it as such for a limited period of time. If the local government still fails to act after that time, the central government should handle the issue for them. But in urgent matters, it should handle the situation directly."

Lo Sheng has always been on the brink of harm. First, during Premier Su Tseng-chang's (蘇貞昌) time as county commissioner, no action was taken out of consideration for major construction projects. Second, during commissioner Chou Hsi-wei's (周錫瑋) term, the government told the CCA it couldn't do anything because of development projects.

Faced with the first case of a local government failing to act since the passage of the preservation law and a sanatorium whose fate is still threatened because it lacks status as a cultural asset, the CCA continues to ignore the existence of this article. It is once again passing the buck back to the local government.

For a long time this case has remained clouded in a myth. Namely, it is misunderstood to be a conflict of interest between 100 sanatorium residents and the several million people living in Taipei. But the preservation of cultural sites has always been for everyone, not just a few, which is clearly illustrated in this case.

Even if preserving the sanatorium were to affect the opening of the MRT line, this shouldn't be seen as a zero-sum relationship. When technocrats cease to monopolize information, especially after the plan to preserve 90 percent of the sanatorium comes out, we will see more clearly that modifying the plans for the maintenance depot will not delay opening the line in the least.

Taiwan, which claims to be a progressive country, has instead acted just the opposite on many issues, including comfort women, human rights for foreign laborers and the sanatorium. If it wants to be respected in the international community, it must do more than just pay lip service to these cases. It must put its full weight into promoting progressive values. These problems persist due to a lack of will, not of ability, and Lo Sheng is no exception. Whether or not Taiwan can repair its tarnished name will depend on the Cabinet adopting the 90 percent preservation plan.

Liao Hsien-hao is former director of the Taipei City Bureau of Cultural Affairs and a professor at National Taiwan University.

Translated by Marc Langer

Source: Taipei Times http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2007/04/01/2003354816
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2007年3月30日 星期五

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IDEA statement -- March 14, 2007

March 14, 2007

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


Dear Sir/Madam:

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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

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.

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

Sincerely,
Anwei Skinsnes Law,
M.P.H.International Coordinator,
IDEACoordinator, Oral History Project, International Leprosy Association
Global Project on the History of Leprosy.
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1997年的資料 -- 中華日報

＊＊痲瘋村先建後拆　病患第一　醫學辭典　癩病俗稱痲瘋病　老病人：要拆村　不如叫我們去死　希望捷運部門等一等　社會大眾多關懷　台灣地區癩病罹患數及分析（８５）　台灣省立樂生療養院整建計劃辦理情形


報刊名稱 :中華日報


記錄編號: 473704


日期 :1997/08/01

版次 :11

本文受著作權法保護，不提供本文或圖檔

Source: 中央通訊社資料中心
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1997年的資料 -- 台灣新生報



1. 土地即將被徵收　唯一寄託的佛堂、天主堂等可能一併蓋在同一層樓　樂生療養院病患表明不能接受



報刊名稱 :台灣新生報



記錄編號: 498689



日期 :1997/08/08



版次 :6


圖文檔:


Source: 中央通訊社資料中心

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2007年3月29日 星期四

United Nations Press Release -- 20 July 2005

xxxxxxxxxx
UN EXPERTS EXPRESS CONCERN OVER IMMINENTEVICTION OF TAIWANESE RESIDENTS IN LO-SHENGSANATORIUM
xxxxxxxxxx
20 July 2005

Paul Hunt, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health ("the right to health", and Miloon Kothari, Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, issued the following statement today:The Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health ("the right to health") and the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living express their profound concern over information received concerning the imminent eviction of residents living in Taiwan's Lo-Sheng Sanatorium for individuals with leprosy.Lo-Sheng Sanatorium, an area of 30-hectares, is located in Sinjhuang, Taipei County and was originally built in 1930. The sanatorium originally served as an isolation hospital for leprosy patients. However, in recent years the 300 residents of Lo-Sheng have benefited from a village-like, community way of life that allows for their independence in a quiet and peaceful environment. Many individuals without limbs have "scooters", providing them access outdoors to enjoy the gardens surrounding the sanatorium.The evictions were reportedly to take place on July 20, 2005 to allow for the creation of a Mass Rapid Transit System ("MRT") by the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation. Residents of Lo-Sheng Sanatorium will allegedly be relocated to the Hui-Long Hospital.The Special Rapporteurs urge the authorities to ensure that the human rights of people affected by leprosy are fully respected. In particular, they remind the authorities of their obligations under international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, especially with regard to the right to health and the right to adequate housing. The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has stated that "forced evictions are prima facie incompatible with the provisions of the Covenant and can only be carried out under specific circumstances".The Special Rapporteurs urge the authorities to explore all feasible alternatives in consultation with the residents of Lo-Sheng Sanatorium. If no solution can be found that would allow residents to remain, legal remedies or procedures should be provided to residents that are affected by eviction orders, along with adequate compensation for any property affected, both personal and real. Any evictions that are considered justified should be carried out in strict compliance with the relevant provisions of international human rights law and in accordance with the general principles of reasonableness and proportionality.

Source: http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/63355551F63FFCAAC125704400573FB7?opendocument
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Losheng Sanatorium - Wikipedia

Losheng Sanatorium(Traditional Chinese: 樂生療養院; pinyin: lèshēng liáoyǎngyuàn) is a hospital for lepers, which is located in Hsinchuang City, Taipei County. During 1930s, this hospital was the only public sanatorium for leprosy patients in Taiwan and also the first leprosy hospital in Taiwan, designed for the quarantine and treatment of lepers. With the force of sanitary police and medical officers, the investigation, quarantine, and imprisonment of lepers were conducted thoroughly in the period from 1934 till the end of colonial governance of Japan. As a result, Losheng Sanatorium became the institution of compulsory quarantine as well as life-long imprisonment for the leprosy patients.
Losheng, named Rakusei Sanatorium for Lepers of Governor-General of Taiwan (臺灣總督府癩病療養樂生院, Taiwan Sōtokufu Raibyō Rakuseiin?) originally, was built in 1929 during Japanese colonial period and served as an isolation hospital for leprosy patients at that time. The Japanese government forced leprosy patients to live in this hospital. The first 5 buildings can offer more than 100 patients.
In 2001, due to the construction of Taipei Rapid Transit System, the authorities planed of Hsinchuang Line to transform Losheng to a community hospital, thus put an end to its dedicated hospitalization and care for leprosy patients. Many students, urban planners and NGO tried to protect this sanatorium from that time.

Source: Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Losheng_Sanatorium
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