A German official said Friday that crimes committed by the former East German government should not be reduced.
Evelyn Zupke, commissioner for victims of former East German dictatorship, told the DPA she heard political leaders take the action of the German government that ruled is comparable to the repressive structure of the former socialist state.
“Those who speak like this make dictatorship easy and are filled with fear, especially those who are politically persecuted,” she said.
Zupke, a former civil rights activist, protested in the 1980s against the East German government and its ruling party, the German Socialist Unified Party (SED).
The federal government of the German Parliament appointed her to the post in 2021.
Commissioners disagree with the speech delivered last week by senior left-wing politicians (successor of SED) at the first session of the new parliament after the parliamentary elections in February.
Gregor Gysi, who served as the SED leader during the reunification, said in his speech that although the former East Germans gained more freedom, they also lost a lot from the reunification.
Zupk said Ghissi’s position only reflects the lives of privileged people such as party officials in former East Germany.
“For every political prisoner released from prison, for everyone who can use freedom for the first time, work hard and challenge [of reunification] Very worth it. ” Zupk said.
