- The Public Official Advocates for a Fresh Regulation Focused on Restoration Services
The Commissioner for Reprocessing in Saxony-Anhalt, Johannes Beleites, thinks it's past due for individuals who suffered under the SED regime to get easier rehabilitation and assistance. He stated to the German Press Agency, "This is our final chance to alter the legal framework so those impacted greet democracy and the rule of law with joy." This refers to people who were wrongfully imprisoned in the GDR, faced injustice in children's homes and juvenile detention centers, were turned into doping subjects, or suffered psychological or physical abuse.
A proposal for these new rehabilitation regulations is currently being debated in the Bundestag and Bundesrat. However, it's uncertain which groups will be included and what evidence standards will be set.
According to Beleites, the new rehabilitation law should mirror military law, which assumes prior military service as the source of later health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder.
Many people have spent decades fighting in courts for their rights, often feeling humiliated during the process. They must prove that their health issues stem from their incarceration and repression. Expensive experts can place them back in a trial setting, further traumatizing them. Officials who haven't experienced the GDR system may not comprehend the existential crises faced by the affected, necessitating explanation.
"We're treating a large group of people as enemies," Beleites pointed out. Relatives, children, and acquaintances of the affected witness these continuous hardships. "That should not be," he emphasized.
The significant demand for Saxony-Anhalt's hardship fund demonstrates the need among the affected. The fund increased from 50,000 euros last year to 100,000 euros this year, but it's anticipated to run out before all applications can be handled.
Last year, 40 applications were submitted, with 12 receiving 46,519 euros. So far this year, 48 applications have been submitted, with approximately 50,000 euros disbursed. Up to 5,000 euros can be granted in cases of financial hardship, such as for improved mobility through an electric bicycle or home renovations.
The Commissioner Beleites advocates for extending rehabilitation aid to The Community of individuals who suffered under SED, as they deserve to embrace democracy with joy. Given the overwhelming demand for the hardship fund in Saxony-Anhalt, it's clear that many in The Community are still struggling economically.
