Chen Ding-nan looks to deny illegal immigrants cash

Illegal Chinese immigrants injured or killed while trying to enter the country might not receive any compensation, Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (陳定南) said yesterday.

"Although the Criminal Victim Protection Law (犯罪被害人保護法) stipulates that those who fall victim to criminals are eligible for a certain amount of monetary compensation, victims may not receive any compensation at all or in part if they themselves are involved in criminal offenses," Chen said.

Chen Ding-nan made the remark yesterday morning in response to a talk by TSU Legislator Chen Chien-ming (陳建銘) during Tuesday's weekly closed-door Cabinet meeting.

Chen Chien-ming argued that Chinese women who lose their lives while illegally entering Taiwan or who use fake marriages to enter the country to become prostitutes should not be covered by the protection law.

He was referring to the recent deaths of six Chinese women who were forced to jump off a Taiwanese boat while being chased by the coast guard in waters off Miaoli County .

Media reports said the justice ministry has planned to grant each victim's family NT$1 million in compensation.

According to the Criminal Victim Protection Law, those injured during a criminal offense are entitled to a maximum compensation of NT$400,000 to pay for their medical expenses. Those seriously injured are eligible for compensation of up to NT$1 million.

Those who lost their lives can receive funeral compensation of up to NT$300,000. They are also entitled to compensation of up to NT$1 million to help pay for the education expenses of their bereaved children.

According to Coast Guard Administration Director Wang Chun (王郡), the nation was home to about 2,500 illegal immigrants as of last month, about 84 percent of whom are women.

While 28 percent of women engaged in the sex industry were smuggled into the country, 29 percent of them entered the country with a fake marriage and 31 percent of them entered with the excuse of visiting relatives, Wang said.

Coast Guard Administration statistics show that about 37 percent of the women smuggling into the country came from Fujian Province, while 17 percent were from Sichuan Province and 13 percent from Hubei and Hunan provinces.

About 64 percent landed in northern Taiwan, while 22 percent in central Taiwan and 10 percent in the south.

To curb the smuggling problem, Wang said, it is important to nail the smuggling ring one month after busting illegal immigrants.

"Our study found that smuggling rings start to make profits about one month after successfully making the delivery. In other words, we must act fast to locate the kingpin of the illegal syndicate during this month-long critical period," Wang said.

According to Wang, about 26 percent, or 275, of the illegal immigrants interviewed between July last year and August this year said they were arrested on the same the day of their attempted illegal entry to the country.

More than 59 percent, or 600, were arrested one month after their illegal entry and 10 percent, or 111, were arrested two to three months after their illegal entry.