Analysis of the Belgium case by my freind Karin Spaink
Hi all - long time no post. A few people have mailed me asking me for a summary of the Belgium case, and the Dutch press have been asking for my comments, but it's a bit early to say how this case is going to develop. First, hats of to Belgium for _attempting_ to start a case against CoS. Not many countries have had the guts to do so, and anybody who has investigated the cult knows that there's hardship about. Secondly, by now there is no actual lawsuit, but just a 'will you please start a case' advise. Then again, the advise is probably well-founded. The raid that underlies the current advise was executed - I think - some 8 years ago, so one might expect that quite some research has been conducted. Thirdly, what's terribly interesting is that the prosecutor seems to be co-operating with ex-members and is actually hoping to start not only a national case against CoS, but is also considering a case against international bodies of CoS. Fourthly, don't get your hopes up. We all know that CoS fights tooth & claw. In this case, that means they'll fight in court and in the media, by legal and less legal methods. They will stall the court proceedings, they will appeal all the way to the European court, and meanwhile, all those involved will be smeared, harassed and annoyed. In this case, the investigations leading up to the advise to prosecute took some 10 years. I know from practice that a lawsuit itself can take ten years too. Wish the Belgian courts and prosecutors strenght, perseverance, and good luck. - K - SP6 or so.