– Public official supports new regulation focused on restoration services
Saxony-Anhalt’s Recovery Commissioner Johannes Beleites believes it is time to provide easier relief to those who suffered under the SED regime. He told the German Press Agency: “This is our last chance to change the legal framework so that those affected can welcome democracy and the rule of law with joy.” He is referring to those who were unjustly imprisoned in the GDR, suffered injustice in children’s homes and juvenile detention centers, were used as doping subjects or suffered psychological or physical abuse.
A proposal for these new rehabilitation regulations is currently being discussed in the Bundestag and the Bundesrat. However, it is unclear which groups will be included and what standards of proof will be established.
According to Beleites, the new rehabilitation law should resemble military law, which assumes that subsequent health problems result from military service.
Many people have spent decades fighting for their rights in court, often feeling humiliated during the process. They must prove that their health problems stem from their incarceration and repression. Expensive experts can put them back into a trial setting, further traumatizing them. Officials who have not lived through the GDR system may not understand the existential crises faced by those affected, demanding explanations.
“We are treating a large group of people as enemies,” Beleites stressed. Relatives, children and friends of those affected witness these ongoing difficulties. “It shouldn’t be like this,” he stressed.
The significant demand for the Saxony-Anhalt hardship fund shows the need among those affected. The fund has increased from 50,000 euros last year to 100,000 euros this year, but is expected to run out before it can process all the applications.
Last year, 40 applications were submitted, of which 12 received €46,519. So far this year, 48 applications have been submitted, with approximately €50,000 paid out. Up to €5,000 can be granted in the event of financial hardship, for example to improve mobility with an e-bike or for household chores.
Commissioner Beleites advocates extending rehabilitation aid to the community of people who have suffered under the SED, as they deserve to welcome democracy with joy. Given the enormous demand for the hardship fund in Saxony-Anhalt, it is clear that many in the community are still struggling economically.