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Japan to pay out US$68,000 to leprosy patients

The Japanese government will give ¥8 million (US$68,000) in compensation to former leprosy patients in Taiwan and South Korea who suffered cruel treatment under Japanese rule, Jiji Press reported yesterday.

In addition to the surviving leprosy patients, the families of deceased leprosy patients will also be eligible for compensation.

Japanese leprosy patients who suffered under government policies sued and received compensation of between ¥8 million and ¥14 million each in 2001.

Taiwanese patients followed suit and won their case last October, but the court rejected the pleas of South Korean patients.

Tens of thousands of leprosy patients were locked up in sanatoriums in Taiwan and South Korea when the regions were controlled by the Japanese government.
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