樂生紐約聯合國遊行—寫下國際漢生病患人權運動的歷史紀錄

[丘延亮]

樂生紐約聯合國遊行—寫下國際漢生病患人權運動的歷史紀錄

■ 樂生保留自救會、青年樂生聯盟 2007/04/05

 
樂生保留自救會與青年樂生聯盟國際請願團八位成員，與二十幾位到場聲援的國際人士及台灣於當地的留學生、大學教授與社運工作者，於紐約時間四日上午十時三十分（台北時間五日下午十時三十分）在紐約聯合國總部前集結，就樂生院保留與國際漢生病患（Hansen’s Disease, 即通稱之痲瘋病）人權議題，展開請願，並遊行紐約市中心曼哈頓街頭，寫下國際漢生病患人權運動的歷史紀錄。  
 
四日清晨紐約即下起傾盆大雨，且氣溫驟降至攝氏四度。樂生保留自救會成員周富子等不畏惡劣的氣候，與前來聲援的國際非政府組織代表、青年學生與學者一同延著紐約曼哈頓鬧區第四十二街，從第一大道走到第五大道。請願隊伍舉起數面大橫幅，在曼哈頓街頭一路高喊 “Stop Eviction, Preserve Lo-sheng”(停止迫遷，捍衛樂生)、“For Leprosy Patients’ Dignity” （捍衛痲瘋病人的尊嚴）等口號，引起不少紐約民眾的注視。此次請願遊行得到紐約市政府的正式批准,並得到聯合國經濟社會委員會(Economic and Social Council)特別諮詢機構(Special Consultative Status)、全球最大漢生人權倡議組織IDEA（International Association for Integration, Dignity, and Economic Advancement）的官方協助，IDEA國際總協調Law Anwei女士全程參與遊行 。 
 
 
 
遊行終點為至台灣美東駐外單位, 駐紐約台北經濟辦事處抗議,遊行隊伍抵達時, 駐紐約台北經濟辦事處副處長副處長季韻聲即出面接見,收下抗議信(請參見附件),並表示會將遊行訴求轉達給相關單位。Anwei女士則當面對季副處長表達對於台灣政府的不滿,她表示世界各地都有漢生人權問題，是國際社會關注的焦點，而樂生院的案例更是全球漢生人權運動以及許多國際非政府組織關注的焦點，她認為此次請願遊行已經寫下國際漢生人權運動的新歷史,是史上第一度漢生人權組織在聯合國與紐約市中心進行遊行請願的國際串聯行動,此外Anwei女士更急切呼籲台灣政府應立刻停止迫遷樂生院，與樂生院民及所有關心樂生院未來的社會人士共同尋找所有可能的替代方案。 
 
 
 
本次請願的主要訴求為： 
 
1. 抗議台灣政府限定在2007年4月16日將對樂生療養院進行的驅離、拆遷政策，透過樂生療養院中漢生病患的議題，引起國際各界對該項漢生病患權益的重視。 

2. 紀念在全世界歷史上曾經為漢生病患奮鬥的無數鬥士，以及漢生病患曾經遭受的非人道待遇，包括人身控制、監視、內體上的懲處、強制性的結紮、藥物實驗、截肢、特別是這保護往往漢生病患的鬥士往往也以罹患漢生病而離開人世。

 
3. 三、特別是要再一次洗刷數千年來漢生病患的所遭受的污名，以及遲遲未出現的正義。 
 
而在遊行結束之後, 樂生保留自救會與青年樂生聯盟國際請願團於紐約時間下午三點舉行國際記者會,由Anwei女士擔任引言人,樂生院民周富子女士現場演唱自己創作的「每天早上蟬在叫」，令所有在場人士動容，之後由青年樂生聯盟成員、曼徹斯特大學訪問學者楊友仁博士進行正式英文簡報，主題為

Why we are appealing to international society for preserving the Lo-Sheng Sanatorium (Taiwan’s emblem of human rights and cultural/historical relic) ? On Leprosy residents' human rights and cultural/historical relic's preservation in developing country – A global perspective． 
 
楊友仁博士強調，

”Lo-Sheng Sanatorium is a cultural/historical relic belongs to the world”(樂生療養院是國際的歷史文化珍寶),”Lo-Sheng Sanatorium’s preservation movement is exactly the nexus of global anti-Leprosy movement, since Taiwan is just lying between advanced countries and developing countries”

(樂生院保留運動是現階段全球漢生人權運動的焦點,因為台灣的表現正是先進國家與發展中國家之間關於漢生人權議題銜接的環節),他強調樂生院的古蹟價值無庸置疑,甚至已經得到聯合國教科文組織世界文化遺產專家的認可

(“The Vice President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, ICOMOS, a consultative body of UNESCO on evaluation of World Heritage, Professor Yukio Nishimura, had visit Lo-Sheng many times, and is engaging in reporting Lo-Sheng accompanies others sanatoriums that were built in Japanese colonial age to The World Heritage Committee”). 
 
楊友仁博士並指出,經過多年的努力,樂生院保留運動也得到國際社會的普遍尊重,樂生院民並獲邀參加2008年1月於印度舉行之全球漢生人權研討會擔任特別發表人

(“This conference is hold by international NGOs concerning about Leprosy issue for a long time. And the next International Leprosy Congress is going to open in Hyderabad. The residents of Lo-Sheng have been invited to designate as representative to serve on the five-member panel in the conference 2008, and they will lead the discussion”),

若台灣政府執意拆遷樂生院,將成為國際社會譴責的對象.他並向在場人士呼籲,台灣社會對於漢生病友仍然存在相當大的歧視,包括前不久由台北縣長周錫瑋與立法委員蔡家福等人動員數萬群眾包圍樂生院的舉動,都再再顯示台灣的漢生人權問題依然嚴重,值得國際社會投注更多的關心.  
 
中文新聞聯絡人：朱政騏 (NEW YORK) char...@gmail.com 
 
+886-920-336-698  

 
 
附件:抗議信  
 
To: Premier Su 
 
Executive Yuan, Taiwan (R.O.C.)  
 
via Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York 
 
Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. 
 
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco  
 
We are writing this letter to express our deeply concern to the decision you made to evict the Lo-Sheng Sanatorium. Sir, as the chief of Taiwanese government, recently your prior concern toward the MRT construction project over the human and cultural rights in the controversial issue of Lo-sheng, is truly injustice and unacceptable for us. In this crucial time of the forced eviction toward Lo-sheng, we want to express our angry and sadness of your decision to the Human Rights Council, Economic and Social Council of United Nations. We will carry this crisis of human right violation to the Bureau of Democracy, Human Right and Labor, United State of America as well.  
 
Through the twentieth century, people suffered from the Leprosy all around the world have been forced to be separated from society, leaving their dear families and friends, spending the whole life in an isolated sanatorium. In fact, in some cases, the whole family lines of a Leprosy patient breaks down, just in case of the only child suffered from leprosy. Nowadays, many Leprosy sanatoriums, since their lands are becoming valuable, project of development were proposed in their homeland. What is outrageous is that most of these develop projects concerns nothing about the ethical and humanity right of these Leprosy patients, no matter how these issues is indeed crucial in the dislocation cases.  
 
Now, these leprosy sanatoriums’ historical and cultural value is worldwide recognized. They are indeed the real treasures in our time. Many countries now not only compensate, but also try very hardly to protect the living rights of those Leprosy patients, including their house and living space. This is because these governments, such as American, Japan, and England. They have now realized the old policy of segregation is completely wrong and inhuman. This realization brings to a creative synergy, to open a new life of these sanatorium facilities, and make them be benefit to the whole society. The preservation of Leprosy history is indeed the preservation of the country’s history, as well as the people’s lifestyle in the land. (please see attachment for examples of some of these).  
 
Since the anti-Leprosy movement is still a great issue in Asia and the whole world. In the coming January, 2008, one international conference of Leprosy is going to open in India. This conference is hold by international NGOs concerning about Leprosy issue for a long time. And the next International Leprosy Congress is going to open in Hyderabad. The residents of Lo- Sheng have been invited to designate as representative to serve on the five-member panel in the conference 2008, and they will lead the discussion. We fervently hope that the Taiwanese government and people can recognize that Lo-Sheng’s residents are truly the national treasures.  
 
Although suffered form Leprosy for the whole life, the residents in Lo-sheng never stop teaching us the spirit of fighting against the distress of life. Their lives have undergone separation from society and family, yet there is no revenge or hatred in them. The simply request they propose is that their history of tear can be remembered, and they can remain living in their own home, till their very last breath. 
 
We hope that we can work together to save this important chapter of medical human right in Taiwan's history. Let this to be remembered as moments of justice and humanity, not as force and violence. We firmly oppose to the eviction toward these elders who have sacrificed their families and lives fro years and years, just for ensuring and guarding the safety of our society. Their story is our story. None of us can get rid of it.  
 
We would hope sincerely to your response and fair solution.  
 
Sincerely 
 
2007.4.4 
 
New York  
 
Examples of Adapted Uses Designed to Enable People Affected by Leprosy to Live out Their Lives in The Places That have Become Their Homes and to Ensure That Their History Will be Preserved as an Inspiration to Present and Future Generations 
 
Listed below are some of the places that have chosen to correct the injustices treatment toward leprosy suffered. They develop creative solutions to enable those people who were separated from society, to live out their lives, in the places they have come to regard as home. 
 
Hawaii: The United States Congress designated Kalaupapa Leprosy Settlement a National Historical Park in 1980, for the education and inspiration of present and future generations with a provision that the residents may live out their lives there. The Hawaii State Department of Health, the U.S. National Park Service, and Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa (an organization made up of Kalaupapa residents, family members and other interested person) are working together to ensure this promise. 
 
In addition, the residents of Kalaupapa worked with the government and private organizations, to develop a senior citizen housing complex at Hale Mohalu. The site of a former residential facility in Honolulu, and even the chaulmoogra tree inside the sanatorium, would also be preserved as a property of their history.  
 
England: St. Giles Home was adapted by Springboard as housing. They provide housing for people with special needs. This enables the last residents of St. Giles to keep living their lives here in their home. 
 
Romania: With support from the European Union, a home for the elderly has been built on the land next to Tichilesti Leprosy Hospital, as means of integrating the residents, and enabling them to live here in their home. 
 
Portugual: Rovisco Pais Hospital has been adapted as a Rehabilitation Center. It also allows those people were segregated there to keep living at their home. 
 
Spain: The Sanatorio San Francisco da Borja in Fontilles, Spain, has considered a different plan for integrating the elderly and people with chronic health problems, and the homeless people, as means of meeting their needs. This renovation also enables those former leprosy patients to live out their lives here in their home. 
 
Japan: Individuals in Japan who have suffered from Hansen’s Disease, have joined together to create an internationally renowned museum in Tama Zenshoen National Sanatorium. In addition, Mr. Yasuji Hirasawa, a resident of Tama Zenshoen, has designated the trees at Tama Zenshoen, which were planted by the residents themselves, as a “Human Rights Forest” for the education and inspiration for generations to come.