Taiwan’s Legislature on Tuesday approved a bill to grant the relatives of political dissidents killed by the authorities during the authoritarian era NT$12 million (US$405,227) in compensation, doubling the amount they were previously allowed to claim.
According to the bill, which cleared the Legislature, the relatives of political dissidents who were either killed or went missing during the period of authoritarian rule from 1945-1992 will be entitled to claim NT$12 million in compensation.
Previously, the relatives of a political dissident killed by the government during the Feb. 28 incident in 1947 or the marital law period from 1949-1987 were only allowed to claim compensation of up to NT$6 million according to two acts introduced in the mid-1990s.
In addition, the bill says political dissidents who were detained, jailed, or deprived of personal freedom by the authoritarian government, or the relative of such people, will be entitled to claim compensation of up to NT$11.39 million.
Those who have already claimed compensation according to the existing laws and are eligible for more can apply to a government-designated foundation to receive the difference, the bill says.
The bill also provides for the return of private property previously confiscated by the government, or compensation for people whose property was confiscated by the authorities during the authoritarian period.
According to the bill, a foundation should be set up under the Executive Yuan to handle related matters and the funds for compensation be drawn from government budgets.
Meanwhile, the Legislature on Tuesday also passed an amendment bill to establish a “transitional justice board” under the Cabinet to handle relevant affairs after the disbandment of the Transitional Justice Commission (TJC) on May 30.
According to the amendments, the board will be headed by the premier and convene regularly to review and coordinate tasks taken on by different government agencies.
The work of redressing judicial and administrative wrongdoings during the authoritarian era will be taken on by the Ministry of Justice, and work involving the removal of authoritarian symbols and exoneration of the victims of political persecution will be handled by the Ministry of the Interior, the amendments said.
The Ministry of Culture will be responsible for preserving historical sites of injustice, while the Ministry of Education will be tasked with promoting education pertaining to transitional justice and human rights, according to the amendments.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel