Fight against Scientology

The Octopus Falters

Hamburg, Germany
July 9, 2001
http://www.spiegel.de

Dwindling membership, financial problems and criticized in court - the German section of the Scientology Organization is not faring well. The Hamburg Task Force on Scientology, opposing the group for just ten years, has made a major contribution to this condition.

Hamburg - Roses, flyers and frozen smiles - this is how Scientology is again going hunting for members in several cities. That is what they have to do, because in spite of propaganda to the contrary, the organization seems to have lost the wind from its sails. "They're not getting a grip in Germany," Ursula Caberta, Hamburg's Scientology Commissioner, takes stock of her years-long fight against the organization. Since 1992, the former Burgerschaft representative has been assigned to the Task Force on Scientology, which reports to the Interior Agency. With considerable success. Numerous wealthy members have left the organization and brought important information with them according to Caberta. Even Scientology has remarked that there have been a few members who "have not been able to consistently hold up to" "the many pressures" from outside. On the other hand they say they have been able to gain "many members" - but how many the organization does not say. Nor does it say what the membership figures look like in recent years.

Recruitment for new members is getting more and more difficult for the psycho-concern, Caberta reports. "The people today are well informed about their machinations." However the Scientology opponent, who has been targeted for her incessant efforts against the organization, is not calling off the alert. She stressed that the mere presence of her agency should not make people believe they are invulnerable. She said the organization is still endeavoring to wrest away political and commercial power for itself.

A Case for Constitutional Security

Unlike the strong mother organization in America, which enjoys tax-exempt status and numerous associated advantages, the membership figures in Germany, according to findings from the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which has had the organization under surveillance for several years, have been declining slightly. Altogether about five or six thousand people are counted as Scientologists in Germany - the organization itself asserts that it has more than 30,000 members. The goal of the Scientologists, according to Constitutional Security agents, is to occupy important decision points and so to found a Scientology social system; as a counter-move, values anchored in Basic Law are to be removed.

One of the most important areas of operation for the totalitarian structured organization has been the real estate sector. But even there members are finding things more difficult. While a third of the buildings being renovated in the 1980s passed through the hands of Scientologists, that share has dropped considerably, according to estimates by the Hamburg Task Force.

Scientology and the Psycho-Boom

At the moment the organization is profiting from the "unbelievably booming psycho-market," according to Caberta. In times of "Chaka-chaka you'll-do-it" gurus of the Juergen Hoeller variety and the self-experience trips which include insects and worms for supper for the burnt-out manager souls, many companies have been placing more value in communication seminars from external trainers for their staff.

"Scientology is very active here," Caberta reported. The so-called "entrance drugs" are dispensed in continuing education seminars where the participants are introduced to Scientology's mindset and operation. The Hamburg Task Force has found that more members have been recruited in this manner in recent years than by the usual "flirters" on the street.

In the second part of this article you'll read about the Security Statement as a secret weapon and about Scientology's informant system.

The Secret Weapon against Scientology

by Marion Kraske

Hamburg - In actuality it is difficult, given the wide range of psycho-offerings, for a business to differentiate between harmless providers and Scientology members. For this reason the Hamburg Anti-Scientology Crew works closely together with the Chamber of Commerce. Their goal is to help businesses protect themselves from Scientology's attempts at infiltration. An important means of doing this is the so-called "Technology Statement" developed by Caberta and her team.

In the Statement, companies, staff and seminar directors must declare that they reject the technologies of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. "That's a genuine mortal sin for Scientologists," explained Caberta. Denying Hubbard, together with the technology he propagated, would be viewed as a "high crime," so that signing the statement would not be possible for members. "That works," Caberta reported, not without a touch of pride in her voice. In this way an important breach in the bulwark has been considerably narrowed for the Scientology organization. "By doing this we are far ahead in this part of the game."

People in the civil service have also since recognized the danger that lurks in continuing education courses. The civilian workers - and with them the entire civil service - are supposed to be protected from Scientology ideology with a Security Statement, which every director nationwide who gives training seminars for the civil service has had to sign since March of this year.

Scientology's Intelligence Agency
("Secret Service" for non-US Americans)

Ursula Caberta has first-hand experience in finding out that the fight against Scientology is not without adverse effects. For years she has been spied and informed upon by the organization's intelligence agency. Telephone calls to her friends and acquaintances or specific questions to her neighbors have been the daily routine for years, reported the Scientology opponent with near disinterest. "In my job you have to have steady nerves."

In the Administrative Court in Saarland, the one which was involved with Scientology's complaint against surveillance by the Saarland Constitutional Security, one of the Scientology organizations members denied responsibility for carrying out "operative measures" against the Task Force director. In its decision of March 29, 2001 in which it dismissed the charges, the court nevertheless did determine that Scientology had authorized the procedural methods being used against the Task Force director. The State Office for the Protection of the Constitution said somewhat more clearly how these methods were to be understood, namely the "employment of intelligence agency methods."

Ruthless dealings with critics

The "operative measures" against Caberta lets inferences be made about the general methods of operation used by the organization, which would rather be described as a church or as a religion. According to the Saarland judge's decision, against which Scientology has filed an appeal, Scientology's claim to absolutism is expressed primarily by eliminating attitudes which oppose or which are different from Scientology's own, and also by the demand for total discipline, primarily in its ruthless dealings with critics.

An expert opinion from Frankfurt political scientist Hans-Gerd Jaschke, commissioned by the Nordrhein-Westfalian state administration, also came to the conclusion that Scientology demonstrated "all the characteristics of a totalitarian organization and weltanschauung community."
[See http://cisar.org/books/trn1001.htm.]

Caberta knows what that means because of her numerous interviews with former members of Scientology. Threats, coercion and intimidation. It is exactly with these methods that the organization is currently trying to silence their highest-profile opponent in Germany. The accusations against Caberta go up to soliciting for favors and to bribery, for which the psycho-concern has filed charges. In the meantime the Hamburg state attorney's office has investigated the matter. Scientology asserts that the director of the Hamburg Task Force accepted money from American businessman and renowned Scientology opponent Bob Minton on a trip to the USA. Caberta, who would rather not say anything more about it until the case is closed, views the charges as part of Scientology's overall strategy to torpedo the critics it does not like. That strategy would also include a petition from Scientology to the Hamburg Burgerschaft, the goal of which is to have her removed from her position.

Caberta is not too impressed with that, either. In order to be able to counter the organization's measures she is promoting legislation for Germany - similar to the so-called anti-cult law passed in France in June. "We should recognize that psychic bodily harm is criminal, too," Caberta demands. And "The organizations responsible for their subordinate members' deeds should finally be held accountable."

Interior Agency Booklet on sect penitential camp

Caught in Scientology's concentration camp

Hamburg, Germany
October 24, 2000
Hamburg Morgen Post

Does Scientology maintain penitential camps in which apostates are forcibly held and are subjected to brainwashing? A new booklet from the Work Group on Scientology in the Interior Agency has come to that conclusion.

Its author is Professor Stephen Kent from Alberta, Canada. For the initial presentation of the booklet he brought Stacy Brooks with him from the USA. She reported that she was dragged off to such an training camp herself.

"Even residents of Hamburg who are members of Scientology run the risk of ending up in one of the organization's penitential camps in Denmark or the USA," said Ursula Caberta, Hamburg's Scientology Commissioner. A handful of sect adherents were demonstrating in front of the Interior Agency as she was saying that. They distributed their printed party line, in which Caberta was described as having accepted bribes and in which Interior Senator Wrocklage was threatened with charges.

According to Stephen Kent, the penitential camps are the "Rehabilitation Project Force" (RPF) of Scientology. He said the camps were set up to break down the will of members critical of the organization. "Witnesses have told me that they were held there an entire year," said Kent. He said such training camps existed not only in Los Angeles, but also in England and Denmark - and they have been for years. At this point, the government authorities have done nothing. Kent: "They always say there is not enough proof to get involved."

"I was pulled out of my bed early in the morning and dragged off," Stacy Brooks reported. She said the rehabilitation camp was in the middle of Los Angeles. Brooks: "I was constantly watched there and interrogated daily - with a lie detector." She said she received threats that she would never see her family again. "In the afternoons we had to do the running program for hours to get rid of negative thoughts." The only ones that leave are those who toe the line for the sect, said Stacy Brooks. Now she has joined the struggle against the sect.

Sandra Schaefer

Unobstructed brainwashing

Interior Agency accusation: Scientology runs re-education camps

Hamburg, Germany
October 24, 2000
taz

If the findings of Hamburg sect commissioner Ursula Caberta, the descriptions of ex-Scientologist Stacy Brooks and Canadian sociologist professor Stephen Kent are to be believed, then the Scientology Organization (SO) had come a good stretch closer in the USA in its fight for "world domination" (Brooks). For instance it is said that the SO is able to re-educate apostates in penitential camps unobstructed within their "Rehabilitation Project Force" (RPF).

It's no surprise that the organization reacted with vehement protests during the presentation of Kent's RPF study. For weeks Scientology has tried to discredit Caberta by accusing her of corruption for accepting a private loan from Scientology opponent Bob Minton. The Scientology chorus, "Soliciting favors here, accepting a loan there - state organs the biggest chump - politicking at the pump."

What Kent and Caberta presented yesterday was basically nothing new but was still enough set set off the alarm. For instance, it was said that the SO had an RPF re-education camp in Copenhagen, Denmark, besides the US pycho-camps. Kent said that "brainwashing" was systematically carried out through "sleep deprivation" and experiences of fear. "In doing that human rights and the right to freedom of thought and conscience are being violated"

Brooks reported that at the time [she was in] she was under constant watch. She said that in order to "break her as a person" she was subjected to hours-long interrogations, always under the threat of never seeing her family again. She said she had to run around a pole in a park for twelve hours to the point of exhaustion "in order to get rid of bad thoughts."

Hamburg's former Scientology president Wiebke Hansen was also put into the RPF program in 1995. "Voluntarily of course," as asserted by Scientology spokesman Frank Busch. Today the artistically inclined woman is working contentedly at "Golden Era Production," an SO film production company - if that can be believed ...

Peter Mueller

Sects

Study documents Scientology penitential camps

Hamburg, Germany
October 24, 2000
Frankfurter Rundschau

Hamburg, 23 October (dpa). According to a study by Canadian sociology professor Stephen Kent, Scientology maintains penitential camps for critical and apostate members in the USA, England and Denmark. The "re-education" into obedient Scientologists amounts to an equivalent of "brainwashing", Kent said in Hamburg on Monday. That is when the city-state [of Hamburg] presented a booklet with the results of Kent's study: the director of the Scientology Task Force, Ursula Caberta, has been accusing the organization of inhumane practices for years.

Caberta said that German citizens were also put in these camps. For that reason she decided to acquire the booklet for information purposes. The booklet is available from the Hamburg State Center for Political Education, Eiffestrasse 664 in 20537 Hamburg. [wrong information, correction follows]

During the press conference yesterday members of the Hamburg Scientology organization protested in front of the agency and accused Caberta of accepting bribes. They said she "secretly accepted money to settle private debts" from an "active opponent" of Scientology. Caberta had already denied the accusation. "I am not corrupt," she said.

---

Correction

Hamburg, Germany
October 27, 2000
Frankfurter Rundschau

The study of Canadian sociology professor Stephen Kent about Scientology's penitential camps is not available from the Hamburg Center for political education, as erroneously reported on Wednesday, but only from the Hamburg Interior Agency's Scientology Task Force, Eiffestrasse 664 in 20537 Hamburg (tel. 010-428 866 444 or fax 040-428 866 445). We apologize for this. (FR)

Scientology said to run penitential camps

Experts report about brainwashing

Hamburg, Germany
October 24, 2000
Berliner Zeitung

Hamburg, October 23. The Hamburg Interior Agency is accusing Scientology of human rights violations in penitential camps for apostate members. On Monday, the director of the Work Group on Scientology, Ursula Caberta, presented the study "Brainwashing in Scientology's Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF)" by Canadian sociologist Stephen A. Kent. The study proves that Scientology performs brainwashing in "penitential camps," said Caberta. She said one of these camps is found in Copenhagen.

The RPF, according to Kent's testimony, is a re-education program for apostate members of Scientology's elite branch of the Sea Organization. Kent accused Scientology of "serious violation of human rights" in the RPF camps in the USA, Great Britain and Denmark. Former RPF inmates had told him that terms of incarceration could last a year or more. Ex-Scientologist Stacey Brooks, a former RPF inmate, reported of measures such as sleep deprivation and interrogations lasting hours. At the time she had been brought against her will to an RPF establishment in Los Angeles, in which up to 350 people have been in custody at one time. She was not able to make a statement as to the size of the RPF establishments in Great Britain or Copenhagen.

The Hamburg division of the Scientologists rejected the accusations. It was said that there are no penitential camps for Scientologists and that the brainwashing theory was "deviant," according to a statement. (ddp)

New revelations about Scientology

Penitential camps and brainwashing

Hamburg, Germany
October 24, 2000
Bild

According to a study by Canada sociology professor Stephen Kent, the Scientology organization maintains penitential camps for its critical members in the USA, England and Denmark. His booklet was presented yesterday in the Interior Agency.

Apostates are put on the "right path" with brainwashing and other methods of torture. Kent said, "Even teenagers have to work in the camps."

Ursula Caberta, director of the Hamburg Scientology Task Force had invited Kent and had his booklet printed. Stacy Brooks, former Scientologist, reported on her experiences in the Los Angeles penitential camp. She said she underwent [psychological] torture there which included being interrogated for hours on end.

In front of the agency about 20 members of the organization protested against Caberta and accused her of taking bribes. It was said she had accepted money from Scientology opponent Robert Minton to settle a private debt.

Scientology filed a legal complaint against Caberta and accused the interior agency of "diversionary tactics." Caberta's response, "They hate Minton, neither do they like me."

Stacy Brooks reported how the Scientologists had received Caberta on her visit to the USA, "There was a crowd of people right at the airport shouting 'Nazis go home'." She had been constantly followed and every night somebody raised a ruckus in front of her hotel, Brooks reported.

Hamburg task chief presents booklet on the sect

Caberta: Scientology has penitential camps

Hamburg, Germany
October 24, 2000
Hamburger Abendblatt

The disagreements between the Scientologists and their most bothersome enemy, Ursula Caberta, have become more pungent. Caberta, the director of the Interior Agency's Work Group on Scientology yesterday presented a new booklet on the "brainwashing" of apostate members in the organization's "penitential camps." The Scientologists renewed their accusations of corruption against her and announced they would take legal steps for inaction on the part of Interior Senator Hartmuth Wrocklage.

In the booklet, Canadian sociology professor Stephen A. Kent describes programs with which Scientology's elite members who deviate are again brought to "toe the line." These establishments, which Scientology calls the "Rehabilitation Project Force" (RPF), are described by former inmates as penitential camps.

Former Scientologist and RPF inmate Stacy Brooks said that the largest camp, which contains about 350 person, was located in the middle of Los Angeles, and that others were in Clearwater, Florida, in England and in Copenhagen. It is possible there is another one in the desert east of Los Angeles and another on a ship in the Caribbean. According to Kent, human rights violations occur in the camps. He said that even children and expectant mothers were in custody. He said it was a "high point of diplomatic arrogance" for the USA to complain about the informational route taken by France and Germany against Scientology while human rights violations were permitted in the USA.

Brooks told about when she and 50 others - in the middle of Los Angeles - had to run for twelve hours around a pole. "People did things they never thought possible because they were faced with threats of never seeing spouse or family again," she said. The principal motive was fear, she said, on which account hardly anybody would speak with outsiders. Even today they are under guard 24 hours a day by Scientology.

The Hamburg Scientologists described Kent's study as "irrelevant" and "without any scientific value." They said Caberta had "recycled that years-old booklet at the cost of Hamburg taxpayers" in order to divert attention from herself for having "resolved private debts" with money she had received from Scientology opponent Bob Minton. Investigations are in process against Caberta for accepting a bribe. About 20 Scientologists also demonstrated yesterday in front of the Interior Agency. (scho)

Agency of the Interior

Ursula Caberta:

"Hamburg information offensive continues"

Hamburg, Germany
October 23, 2000
Behoerde fuer Inneres Press and Information Center
unofficial translation

Brainwashing in Scientology - booklet informs the public about the organizations practices against critics

"Brainwashing in Scientology's Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF)" is the title of a booklet which the Interior Agency's Work Group on Scientology released on Monday in conjunction with the State Center for Political Education. In the booklet, Canadian Professor of Sociology Stephen A. Kent describes programs and camps used for deprivation of liberty which allegedly serve to "rehabilitate" deviant elite members of the Scientology organization.

"Especially the personal reports from former members who suffered through the RPF in the USA, Great Britain and in Denmark has made it possible for the author, Prof. Stephen A. Kent, to describe the demeaning practices of the RPF. Former inmates described the RPF as a prison camp. And if the term often used in connection with the Scientology organization, brainwashing, would be appropriate, then it is in the practices of the RPF," said the director of the Work Group on Scientology of Hamburg's Interior Agency, Ursula Caberta, when the 72-page booklet was released. Members critical of Scientology are said to be held against their will and put under physical and mental pressure to get them to "toe the official line."

In that regard, Stephen A. Kent, author of the study, spoke of "serious violations of human rights" which were being committed in the RPF. It was said that children and pregnant women were also in these establishments. "A height of arrogance" is what Kent called the American position critical of France's and Germany's determined course of information on Scientology, while at the same time permitting human rights violations to occur in their own country, such as in the RPF.

According to statements from former Scientologist Stacy Brooks, the RPFs in the Los Angeles and Clearwater, Florida areas alone have a total of 800 inmates. She was interned for nine months herself after she expressed herself in a manner critical of Scientology's leadership. Brooks said internment camps also existed for apostates in England and Denmark - "that would put them right next door to Germany."

The director of the Work Group on Scientology in Hamburg's Interior Agency, Ursula Caberta, said in closing, that the Hamburg information offensive against Scientology would be continued - "despite or even because of various attempts at intimidation from the organization." The just released booklet is meant to help prevent the establishment of the RPF in Germany. At the same time, the internment of deviants was said to show the true character of the alleged church.

The booklet contains extensive source material and a detailed bibliography. It can be obtained at the Interior Agency's Work Group on Scientology.

Study

Scientology Reform Camps in Denmark and England, too

Hamburg, Germany
October 23, 2000
Aktuelle dpa-Meldungen
Senatskanzlei Hamburg, Staatliche Pressestelle

Hamburg (dpa/mb) According to a study by Canadian sociology Professor Stephen Kent, Scientology maintains regular reform camps for apostate and critical members in the USA, England and Denmark. The "re-education" into obedient Scientologists in these camps is an equivalent to "brainwashing," Kent said on Monday as a booklet with the results of his study was released in the Hamburg Interior Agency. The director of the Work Group on Scientology, Ursula Caberta, has for years been accusing the organization of ignoring human dignity.

During the press conference, members of the Hamburg Scientology organization protested against Caberta in front of the agency and accused her of accepting bribes. It was alleged that she "secretly accepted money for the payment of private debts" from an "active opponent" of Scientology. Caberta dismissed the allegation back in September. "I am not corrupt," she stressed.

Former member of Scientology Stacy Brooks reported in Hamburg that she was taken by force in the middle of the night to a "re-education camp" in Los Angeles. She said there she was subjected to episodes of anguish and sleep deprivation, among other things. She said that other inmates had been hit. The police in the USA allegedly knew about the camp, but did not get involved.

The so-called RPF program (Rehabilitation Project Force) was not voluntary, as Scientology claimed, said Prof. Kent. He said that, without question, the actions of the RPF violated a series of human rights agreements like the rights of freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Kent said that these and other human rights problems "centered around Scientology programs which enjoy tax exemption in the United States." In view of this fact, the American criticism of Germany in regard to Scientology was "the peak of diplomatic arrogance," the professor emphasized.

Scientology was founded in 1954 by American science fiction author Lafayette Ronald Hubbard. Since then it has been said that the organization has more than 20 million members worldwide. The number in Germany is estimated at between 20,000 and 70,000.

Hamburg Interior Agency warns of Scientology camps

Hamburg, Germany
October 23, 2000
AP

Hamburg - The Hamburg Interior Agency has published a brochure about Scientology which warns about its re-education camps. "It is time that we address this issue," said Ursula Caberta on Monday. She directs the Work Group on Scientology for the agency. According to her statements, members ready to leave the organization are put into these camps in which they are again made loyal. The author of the brochure is Canadian sociologist Stephen Kent, who says he has conducted numerous interviews with former Scientologists.

According to what he says, the camps are in the USA, Great Britain and Denmark. The inmates are poorly fed, required to do heavy labor, and subjected to hours of interrogation. Kent's findings are verified by U.S. citizen Stacy Brooks who, in her own words, was herself dragged off to one of these camps when she was a Scientologist. "I saw how several inmates were hit," she said. According to Kent and Brooks, government authorities are not doing anything about the camps.

Caberta said that German Scientology members have also been put in the camps. That is why she has put out the new brochure for public awareness.

Scientology experts meet in Hamburg

"Predominance over happy slaves"

Hamburg, Germany
June 8, 2000
Hamburger Morgenpost

by H. Jeimke-Karge

From Interior Senator Hartmuth Wrocklage's (SPD) view, there is currently no danger to the Constitution from Scientology "Thank God it has not gotten that far, yet."

Nevertheless, Constitutional Security has to keep Scientology under surveillance. Even though state institutions had not yet been infiltrated by the psycho-sect, there could be a risk, in the long run, "from an organization which operated with totalitarian elements," said Wrocklage.

A two-day conference of the "Federal-State Discussion Group" on sects and psycho-groups ended yesterday in the Interior Agency. Representatives of the German states, the federal ministries for justice, for the interior, as well as for youth and family, spoke about their strategy in the battle against Scientology. "That means information, information and information," said Wrocklage.

At the conference, France's leading sect commissioner, Alain Vivien, informed his German colleagues about the fight against the organization in his homeland. It was reported that he believes that the Scientologists are concerned about "predominance over a world consisting of happy slaves." Vivien invited his European colleagues to a meeting in early 2001. A common line in the fight against Scientology is to discussed there. Concrete conclusions were not to be expected, he said.

According to statements from Ursula Caberta, Director of the Hamburg Work Group on Scientology, the sect has not been able to extend its influence despite great financial endeavors in the recent past. But that should not be misinterpreted as a prediction of a "surrender" in their struggle for power, said Caberta.

Scientology:

Senator Wrocklage encourages information

Hamburg, Germany
June 8, 2000
Hamburger Abendblatt

Now, as before, Scientology poses "a considerable risk to the welfare of our citizens." That was stated by Interior Senator Hartmuth Wrocklage (SPD) after a federal-state conference on the theme of "so-called sects and psychogroups" in the Hanseatic City [of Hamburg], which also included the leading sect commissioner of France, Alain Vivien. Scientology, however, does not yet present a danger for the Constitution, nor have German institutions been infiltrated by the organization. In the long run, "however, there is a threat from an organization which operates with totalitarian elements." The line which must be pursued is "information, information and information," said the Senator. Citizens must be in the position, for example, to recognize the Scientology jargon. The same words mean something completely different than in normal speech usage.

Wrocklage gave Ursula Caberta, Director of the Work Group on Scientology, which resides within the Interior Agency, "full support in the battle against the Scientology psycho-concern." In response to the numerous attacks and defamations by the organization against Caberta, he said, "She is an upright woman who does not whine when under heavy fire; she does her job." Scientology, according to Wrocklage, is a worldwide phenomenon which must be confronted internationally. Alain Vivien made the accusation that sects and psychogroups attempt to gain a foothold in political committees through "non-governmental organizations." He said that Scientology concerned itself with an "elite predomination to make happy slaves out of the rest of the world." He further stated that only an international effort would be effective against it. Caberta said she missed an institution on the federal level and, in doing so, was envious of France.
(scho)

France and Germany meet on Scientology

Hamburg, Germany
June 7, 2000
Reuters / Yahoo

RT 7.6.2000

Hamburg (Reuters) - Germany and France intend to cooperate on an international level in the surveillance of the Scientology Organization. "A resolution of the sect phenomenon must be found on a European level," said France's national sect commissioner, Alain Vivien on Wednesday in connection with the federal-state conference on "So-called Sects and Psychogroups" in Hamburg, in which Vivien also took part. France issued invitation for a European conference in the beginning of 2001 so that future operations can be discussed. Most countries reacted to Scientology like Germany and France, said Vivien, though with hesitation.

According to estimates from the Federal Interior Ministry, Scientology has up to 6,000 members in Germany. The organization, founded in the USA in 1954, has been active in Germany since 1970. It has been under surveillance by Constitutional Security since 1997 because, as they say, Scientology presents "evidence of endeavors against liberal democratic basic order."

Hamburg's Interior Senator Hartmut Wrocklage (SPD) said, "The battle against Scientology can only be won internationally." Vivien said that Scientology was an international matter, because, not least of all, its goal was worldwide domination. He warned that Scientology could "infiltrate" international organizations like the United Nations (UNO). For instance, he said, there was a non-governmental organization, "Friends of the United Nations," which was officially recognized by the UNO whose charter said it was involved with developing countries. But the fact of the matter was that it was issuing statements about the "alleged non-maintenance of religious freedom in France."

ahl/sob

Interior Senator:

Scientology still no danger to the Constitution

Hamburg, Germany
June 7, 2000
Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung

Hamburg (dpa) - From the view of Hamburg Interior Senator Hartmuth Wrocklage (SPD), the Scientology Organization still does not present a danger for the Constitution. "Thank God it is not that bad yet," said the Senator on Wednesday in Hamburg. He said German institutions have not yet been infiltrated by Scientology. Wrocklage stressed, however, that there was considerable threat "in an organization which operated using totalitarian elements" in the long run. For that reason, Scientology will continue to be kept under surveillance by Constitutional Security.

On Wednesday the Hamburg Interior Agency ended the "Federal-State discussion group on so-called sects and psychogroups," a two-day conference. Representatives from individual states and the federal ministries of justice and interior, as well as ministries of youth and family were there to discuss a common strategy in the battle against Scientology. "That means a first line of information, information and information," said Wrocklage.

Leading French sect commissioner Alain Vivien appeared as a guest speaker to inform the German agencies about the the fight against the organization in France. According to Vivien, Scientology deals with "predominance over a humanity consisting of happy slaves." The French sect commissioner pointed out that, at the initiative of Paris and Berlin, the European Council had decided upon surveillance of the organization. 41 member states of the council were said to have supported the decision.

According to statements by the Director of the Hamburg Interior Agency's Work Group on Scientology, Ursula Caberta, Scientology has not been able to extend its influence in past months despite great financial endeavors. That, she said, was no reason to call off the alert. "Surrender by Scientology in its attempt at world domination is not predicted," Caberta believes. She said the greatest need for counseling from her work group lies in business, where corporations intend to safeguard themselves from outside influence from Scientology.

Friction produces holes

In Hamburg there is currently no non-denominational sect counseling

Hamburg, Germany
May 13, 2000
taz Hamburg Nr. 6141

Questions about a sect which is not Scientology? Looking for help on the theme of Satanism, but no great desire to call up the church? You're out of luck. Because the only non-denominational counselling center in Hamburg, the "Arbeitsbereich Weltanschauungen und religioese Gruppierungen" at the Hamburg Work Community for the protection of Children and Youth, Inc. was dissolved at the end of March. The Work Group on Scientology of the Interior Agency is supposed to take over the task. That still has to go through the Senate, though, and until then there will not be any counselling.

"We asked the Agency to whom we should be directing the people, but have net yet received an answer," said Ilse Burfeind, business manager of the Work Community. Joern Moeller, commissioner and discussion partner at the Nordelb Church for issues of weltanschauung, believes, "That is a problem. Now we have more inquiries, but there are only two of us." Moeller was critical of the non-denominational work area being dismantled, "Not everybody calls up the church."

The former staff at the counselling center will not be transferred: obviously there are differences between them and Ursula Caberta, Director of the Work Group on Scientology. A Scientology counsellor is supposed to get further training and take over the job, said Susanne Fischer of the Interior Agency. "We have already been helping in the work, now I also want the position," Caberta justified the reorganization.

However, there is still another reason, "In warning people about certain youth religions, one gets into the legal operating area of interfering in freedom of religion," said Wolfgang Hammer of the Office for Youth. Therefore the state must be aware of this mission. A judgment to that effect by the Federal Constitutional Court has now transformed Hamburg, too. Hammer explained there currently being vacancies by saying, "that the carrier probably got cold feet and let the work drop earlier than planned." Ilse Burfeind disagrees, "The financing for the position ran out, what were we supposed to do?" The agency's facet by spokeswoman Fischer, "No reorganization without loss [of personnel] through friction."

Sandra Wilsdorf

Scientology more aggressive

Ursula Caberta:
"Millions in aid for the Hamburg Organization is a declaration of hostility"

Hamburg, Germany
April 25, 2000
Hamburger Morgenpost

According to the assessment by the Interior Agency's work group, the Scientology Organization has been making a more aggressive showing in Hamburg. "The millions in aid for the Hamburg Scientologists was a declaration of hostility from the USA," said the Director of the Work Group, Ursula Caberta.

"Scientology units are regarded as having been successful when they bring as much money and people into the center as possible," Caberta believes. Until the early '90s, she said, Hamburg had been the "most successful group worldwide." But after a large number of people, including those well-to-do, left Scientology in the Hanseatic City, it was "economically at the end of its rope." The headquarters in Los Angeles made about 20 million marks available for a new building for the organization in downtown Hamburg. "Up to that point, a bankrupt unit had never been re-financed from the USA," said Caberta, "the money flowed only in one direction". At the moment, she said, Scientology was not doing well in Germany, but that did not mean that the fight against this new form of political extremism was going to cease.

According to Caberta, the Interior Agency's Work Group on Scientology, in existence since 1992, is the only agency to provide this service nationwide. Scientology opponents in other localities have received advice from Hamburg and information collected over the years about the organization has been made available to the Interior Ministers Conference.

Results from the information collected in Hamburg include Scientology being under surveillance by Constitutional Security and its being regarded in Germany not as a religious congregation, but as a profit-oriented commercial business.

"Bankrupt, but dangerous"

Hamburg Interior Agency Sect Commissioner issues new warnings about Scientology. Hearings today in Administrative Court.

Hamburg, Germany
April 7, 2000
taz Hamburg Nr. 6113

TAZ report Peter Mueller

The Hamburg Interior Agency issued a warning of a new offensive by the Scientology Organization in the Hanseatic City [of Hamburg]. According to statements by the Director of the "Arbeitsgruppe Scientology" (AGS), Ursula Caberta, both her staff and Constitutional Security have described renewed operations just within these past few weeks.

For instance, today the organization opened a "What is Scientology" exhibit on Gaensemarkt. At the same time it is contesting the allowability of the so-called "technology declaration" with the AGS before the Administrative Court. The declaration is meant to give corporations the opportunity to guarantee that their business partners do not operate according to the "technology of L. Ron Hubbard" - the deceased ex-Scientology ideologue. Caberta said, "That does not sit well with some Scientologists."

Although the organization's influence is dwindling in Hamburg, it was said that this should not be underestimated. "Scientology's business operation is practically bankrupt," said the sect commissioner. It was only with massive financial assistance from the USA that Scientology was able to buy a new center downtown on Dom Street last year for 20 million marks, she said.

As a rebuttal to the transient opinion that Scientology is well thought of in the USA, the AGS Director invited Bob Minton and Stacy Brooks to the Elbe. Minton has devoted himself to the fight against Scientology since 1995: "It is not a religious movement, but a totalitarian, political movement," said Minton. He said that "puppets from Hollywood" have helped it out in the publicity department. He is currently giving ex-member Lisa McPherson's relatives support in proceedings which are to clear up the circumstances surrounding her mysterious death.

Until the early 1990s, Stacy Brooks was on management with Scientology's intelligence service, the "Office of Special Affairs" (OSA). Then she fell out of favor with its chief, David Miscavige. Before then she had been responsible for the steering campaign in "Freedom" magazine. The steering campaign is how the "Scientology Church" managed to get recognition as a religion and tax exemption in the USA. The closer I got to the top of the hierarchy, the more it became clear to me how crooked and corrupt it all was," Brooks recalled.

One night Brooks was dragged off for deviating from the rules and locked up in a prison camp in Los Angeles for nine months. She and fellow inmates were allowed to leave the complex under guard only for work or for punishment: "sometimes we had to run around a pole in a park for twelve hours," Brooks reported, "so that a state of exhaustion would change our minds."

A visit from Scientology's Enemy Number 1

Warns of claims to world power

Nine Months in the Sect Hell

Hamburg, Germany
April 7, 2000
2000 Hamburger MORGENPOST Online

"The purpose of today's event is only to prevent you from finding out what Scientology really is." - That was on a leaflet which an ardent Scientologist distributed in front of the Interior Agency yesterday. He would not have been pleased with what was going on inside: Scientology's "Enemy Number 1," the U.S. American Bob Minton was relating his experiences in the fight.

At his side sat Stacy Brooks, who worked in the "Sea Org" in the sect's headquarters and then left. The two came to Hamburg at the invitation of Sect Commissioner Ursula Caberta. What they had to relate explained why the organization, which wants to much to be a church, may not be a church.

Stacy Brooks: "I supported the the Scientologists' ideas, but I became skeptical. All at once I was promoted in the 'Sea Org' and was directly under sect chief David Miscavige. I found out that the boss did not want anything good. They are a market-oriented corporation that only wants one thing: to increase money." Because Brooks did not carry out orders, she was locked up for nine months without her being permitted to see her family. The graceful woman continued, "I was interrogated without stop and had to run for 12 hours at time in circles. It was torture to make me 'introverted'."

Bob Minton was never a Scientologist. He began to get interested in the machinations of the sect when he read about the Lisa McPherson case on the internet. The young woman, who died, had apparently been locked up and starved by U.S. Scientologists. Scientology regards Minton as "Enemy Number One" - its arch-enemy. For years he has been fighting in the "Lisa McPherson Trust" against the organization which is powerful in the USA, is registered as a church, and to which diverse Hollywood stars belong. Minton calls the Scientology intelligence agency, OSA, a "paramilitary organized Mafia" and prophesied, "If one were to back them into a corner one day, they would resort to violence. They possess rocket launchers, bazookas, countless other weapons." Like Stacy Brooks, he is also persecuted and threatened, and his family and business partner are harassed.

The Hamburg Scientologists, who recently moved from Steindamm to Dom Street, are "as good as broke," said Ursula Caberta. "Unfortunately the Americans have injected them with a good 20 million so that they can continue." The state attorney's office is already investigating for deceptive bankruptcy. Besides that, today verbal hearings begin today in a complaint by the Scientologists against Caberta's work group.

Bob Minton does not want to demonize the many Scientologists who are doing volunteer work on the street: "The are well-meaning people. But their management in the Sea Org is totalitarian. Their management wants world domination."

Jan-Eric Lindner

Scientologists bankrupt on the Elbe?

Ursula Caberta: the holes are being plugged by financial support from the USA.

Hamburg, Germany
April 7, 2000
Hamburger Anzeigen und Nachrichten

The trial in the sect suit against the Interior Agency's Work Group begins today in the Hanseatic City [of Hamburg].

Hamburg (lno) In the assessment of the Interior Agency's Work Group, the Scientology Organization in the Hanseatic City is "practically bankrupt." The director of the Work Group, Ursula Caberta, said yesterday, "Charges of fraudulent bankruptcy have already been filed against the organization." She said the Scientologists in Hamburg are keeping their heads above water "only with financial injections from the USA." Even the purchase of an approximately 20 million mark building as a new organization center in Hamburg is said to have been possible only with money from the U.S. center. Caberta pointed out that the Scientology Organization was not regarded as a religious organization, but as a "profit-oriented commercial operation."

That assessment is also shared by U.S. Scientology critic Bob Minton. Minton, who is regarded by the organization as "public enemy number one," said in the Hanseatic City that the primary interest of Scientology's management was to acquire as much money as possible: "That has nothing to do with religion."

Minton described how Scientology's "paramilitary intelligence agency, OSA, put pressure on opponents with Mafia methods." He said he had been threatened in calls to both his family and to his business associates. Just the prior month, he said, attorneys from the organization had offered his parents to take over court costs if they would sue their son.

That is not something that a church does. That is the dealing of a totalitarian group which puts itself in peoples' way and destroys their lives," Minton believed. He criticized the fact that the totalitarian aspects of Scientology are not recognized in the United States.

Today begins the first trial in the Hamburg Administrative Court of a Scientology complaint against the Interior Agency's Work Group.

---

Hamburg, Germany
April 8, 2000
Bild

Hamburg companies can continue to demand that business partners sign a statement as to whether they belong to the Scientology organization or not. The so-called "technology statement" was drawn up by the Interior Ministry's Work Group on Scientology (AGS). A complaint against the AGS was dismissed yesterday in the Administration Court.

Argument: With or without the statement, companies have the free choice of selecting with whom they do business. Scientology intends to contest the decision in Superior Administrative Court.

Ursula Caberta from the Interior Agency:

Scientology in Hamburg practically broke

Hamburg, Germany
April 7, 2000
Bild

The Scientologists are struggling for survival in Hamburg. A six-day exhibition starts today at "Valentinskamp" in which the organization would like to win new members.

They obviously need them desperately. "The organization in Hamburg is practically broke," reported Ursula Caberta, Director of the Work Group on Scientology in the Interior Agency. After the organization gave up the building on Stein Street with heavy back rent due, a charge of fraud is already in process.

The Work Group makes it clear how dangerous it can be to get involved with this organization. Two Americans told of their experiences with Scientology

Stacy Brooks used to be a member herself. When she expressed critical remarks about the organization, she was kidnapped out of her apartment at night. "I was brought to a prison camp," she reported. "It was located in the seventh floor [could also have meant 'eighth' - translator] of an office building in Los Angeles.

Brooks: "I was held there for nine months and watched non-stop. I had to work hard and was involved in endless sessions. Another punishment was that I had to jog around a pole for twelve hours. It was not until I pretended that I was redeemed that I was allowed back to my family."

Scientology's public enemy number one is multi-millionaire Bob Minton. He had heard about the strange case of the death of Lisa McPherson, who had wanted to leave the organization. The 36-year-old woman died in the "care" of Scientology. Minton: "Her dead body was ridden with insect stings and cockroach bites."

Minton is helping the McPherson family to conduct a legal proceeding against those responsible. The spectacular hearings began a few days ago.

Minton: "I oppose the Scientologists because they do not accept civil rights. The organization is concerned only about money and power, and, in any case, not about religion!"

Scientology:

Is the sect bankrupt?

Interior Agency: organization relying on USA's financial injections

Hamburg, Germany
April 6, 2000
Hamburger Abendblatt

Is the Hamburg Scientology Organization broke? Yesterday, the Director of the Work Group on Scientology in the Interior Agency, Ursula Caberta, stated the sect was "practically bankrupt" and was only keeping itself afloat "only with financial injections from the USA." The Work Group has therefore filed criminal charges of "fraudulent bankruptcy."

However, the organization has recently moved into a new domicile on Dom Street. That was allegedly financed with 20 million marks directly from the US American Scientology management, according to Caberta. It is said that Scientology left its former center on Steindamm still owing a large amount of back rent.

As far as Caberta can see, there exists a direct connection between the Americans' financial involvement and the recent activities by the Hamburg Scientologists in their increased turn-out, especially in advertisement. Today, for instance, on 40 to 42 Valentinskamp, a "What is Scientology?" exhibit begins. Caberta uses this exhibit for a "counter-presentation." What Scientology is showing in their glossy brochures, she said, is not the true face of the organization.

Her perspective was verified by a US American and businessman who is visiting Hamburg, Bob Minton, who is regarded in the States as "Enemy Nr. 1" of the Scientology Organization. He said the impression spread by the sect of "peace, joy and flapjacks" was false. Also that Scientology was not a church, but a totalitarian group which claimed world power, and which would destroy anybody who got in its way.

Minton, who is supporting the relatives of Lisa McPherson, the woman who was leaving Scientology who died in 1995 under mysterious circumstances, has himself experienced threats and reprisals from Scientology's intelligence agency, which it calls "OSA" and which he described as "paramilitary." Those have ranged from harassing his business partner to threats made upon family members.

Ex-Scientology member Stacy Brooks described yet more intensively the methods applied internally to the sect. Brooks was employed in a management position in the OSA Intelligence service in Los Angeles, and no longer wanted to carry out the instructions of the sect chief, David Miscavige.

She said one day she was gotten out of bed at four o'clock in the morning by two security people and then held against her will for nine months in a sort of penal custody. Her days consisted, among other things, of hours of interrogation and heavy construction labor under guard. In order to make her fully compliant, some days she had to run around a pole for twelve hours, and that in a public park in the middle of Los Angeles, said Brooks. She said that when Sabine Weber, Scientology's spokesperson in Germany, disputed everything, she was just doing her job.

There is a hearing in the Hamburg Administrative Court today on whether the city and others may require companies to sign a statement saying they have nothing to do with Scientology. Scientology has sued against that practice.

(scho)

Read also:
Scientology Spy in the Interior Agency?
000127a.htm

Crusade legally sound

The Hamburg Senate does not currently see any legally means to handle the Scientology Organization's public events.

Hamburg, Germany
January 6, 2000
taz Hamburg

TAZ report by Peter Ahrens

At the moment Hamburg sees no possibility of taking legal measures against the Scientology organization. That was the Senate's reply to an inquiry by SPD Representative Walter Zuckerer. Zuckerer was upset primarily because of the promotional banner and the video camera which Scientology had mounted at its residence on Dom Street. The promotional banner, which hung on the building's outside wall in November and December, was taken down without notice. In the matter of the video camera, the Senate is still waiting for Scientology's response to a request made of the organization by data security commissioner Hans-Hermann Schrader.

Zuckerer had also inquired as to whether the large rally which Scientology held in opening its new Hamburg center on November 27 was legally sanctioned. Here, again, the Senate could only shrug its shoulders: in accordance with ordinance, the rally had been announced beforehand, "no interruptions of public traffic were reported," and the parade which Scientology had organized from Steindamm to Alten Fischmarkt had been announced and approved. The rally which the organization held in October for its "peace marathon" on Gerhart-Hauptmann square was also legally sound.

So the most the video camera pointed at the street could mean is a violation of the data security law. That agency, however, was still in the process of assessing the legal aspects of the procedure.

Hamburg, Germany
October 27, 1999
Hamburger Morgenpost

Ursula Caberta interview

SCIENTOLOGY - "One can defend oneself"

It was a secret affair, carried out undercover. From November 27, the Scientologists are operating out of a new center - in the vicinity of city hall, of all places. MOPO [this newspaper] learned that the owner of the sect temple on Dom Street is the "Waterfront Grundstuecksverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH." The neighbors downtown are anxious.

Ursula Caberta, Scientology commissioner in the Hamburg Interior agency, warns of a new offensive by the U.S. organization, which has been accused of brainwashing and avarice. She reports on opposition to it in an interview.

MOPO:
A Scientology center near city hall - are you surprised, Mrs. Caberta?

Caberta:
We knew they were looking for something presentable in the city. Their success in doing that does not make me any happier.

MOPO:
Constitutional Security was supposed to have had the Scientologists under surveillance. Were they caught napping?

Caberta:
The idea had occurred to them. They really would have had to have noticed it.

MOPO:
Are the Scientologists liquid enough to finance such a large project over the long term?

Caberta:
I have considerable doubts about that. A lot of financially powerful people have left them, including leading financiers from the real estate market. If the new lessor has been looking at the press, he has to know that the main reason Scientology had to leave the building on Steindamm was unpaid rent.

MOPO:>
How much back rent did they owe there?

Caberta:
According to what we know, it ended up at somewhere between 1.2 and 1.3 millions marks.

MOPO:
Can a disappointed lessor take any action against the Scientologists?

Caberta:
That probably depends on the contract.

MOPO: Several years ago there was some commotion over the news that Scientology was operating out of a villa in Eppendorf which belonged to "Kai Wuensche" contractors. Did business learn anything from that?

Caberta:
The brokers' associations are very diligent. But we can never rule out that there will be people for whom it does not make any difference how they make their money.

MOPO:
Are the Scientologists carrying out a new offensive?

Caberta:
Yes. They are starting out in the USA again and have made an effort to get a resolution against Germany into the U.S. Congress. They are trying to defame Germany. But that also shows that they are not doing well here. Our impression was that there were more foreign Scientologists at their demonstration in Hamburg than there were German. MOPO:
Which artists are regarded as supporters for the organization?

Caberta:
Chick Corea and John Travolta are among those who constantly go on stage for Scientology in the USA and assert that they are discriminated against in Germany. Anne Archer was probably also here yesterday. It's always the same ones. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman are members of Scientology, but unlike the others, they have not let themselves be pulled into the defamation campaign against Germany like John Travolta, who even asserts that his films are boycotted here.

MOPO:
Any counter-reaction?

Caberta:
Our telephone is ringing continuously with citizens asking how Scientology could have gotten the building. But we do not have any influence on private monies. If Scientology wants to recruit on the street again, then, using the legal alternatives, we will take action against them. Nobody in Hamburg has to be harassed by them. One can defend oneself against that.

Interview: G. Beling

Scientology moves to Dom Street

Hamburg, Germany
October 26, 1999
taz Hamburg Nr. 5974

It has been known for eleven months that Scientology in Hamburg would no longer be permitted to remain in its quarters on Steindamm. The building's owner had sold it to an investor. Yesterday the organization released the location of its new center. Therefore, if you, dear readers, are accosted by strange people in front of the building on Dom Street at the corner of the Old Fishmarket, starting November 27, then pay attention to whom you are speaking.

Sects

Not a case for spies

Scientology is an organization which has been overestimated. That is the conclusion arrived at after two years of surveillance by the director of Constitutional Security in Nordrhein-Westphalia.

Hamburg, Germany
approx September 9, 1999
STERN 36/99

Stern:
Mr. Baumann, the Scientology organization has been under surveillance by Constitutional Security. Has the spying paid off?

Baumann:
Absolutely. However, with a different result than had been thought. Indeed we have found indications of endeavors taken by the Scientologists against our basic democratic principles. However according to our observation, these [endeavors] were not actually being transformed into reality." Scientology is - at least with us - primarily a commercial undertaking which entices people with a mix of offerings which contain elements of church, religion and therapy."

Stern:
Does that mean that Scientology does not have to be observed with intelligence methods?

Baumann:
It probably does not. Although the opinions on that vary somewhat along nation and state lines. But I am no longer for the brunt of the surveillance being conducted by Constitutional Security. They should protect the Constitution, like their name says. The needs of individual people are seen to by others.

Stern:
So sect counselors instead of spies?

Baumann:
The dangers associated with Scientology are mainly in the personal area. Isolation, lack of ability to succeed, intellectual deficit - all the little, human weaknesses are exaggerated by the Scientologists. For the victims, that turns into expensive pseudo-therapy. The fact is that the sect counselor is more in demand than the secret agent.

Stern:
But, with 30,000 members, Scientology should not be underestimated.

Baumann:
According to our findings, Scientology only has about 5,000 members nationwide. Of those, 2,000 could be card-carrying members.

Stern:
Nevertheless, former members have continued to spread scenarios of panic through the media in the last few years.

Baumann:
Many of them were probably actually very concerned. And I have understanding for those that dramatized their experiences out of this concern.

Stern:
Scientologists try to infiltrate companies. The Bavarian Interior Minister has warned us about that just recently.

Baumann:
Mr. Beckstein sees the devil every place he's looked, and he's looked in many places. However, the economic potential of the Scientologists has been strongly overestimated. We do not have any indication that the "World Institute of Scientology Enterprises" has undermined the economy to a great degree with its so-called WISE management methods.

Stern:
How extensive was the two-year surveillance of Scientology?

Baumann:
The surveillance of Scientology, after foreign extremism, was our biggest project. Neither was it entirely cheap. Even though, for the entire operation, we did not use either telephone surveillance or eavesdropping devices.

Stern:
What happens to the data bases which you have assembled on the Scientology organization during this time?

Baumann:
If the surveillance is suspended, the data would have to be destroyed as a consequence.

Stern editor Gerd Elendt spoke with Fritz-Achim Baumann.

Fritz-Achim Baumann, 64, Constitutional Security Chief in Nordrhein-Westphalia, recommended to the Interior Ministers in May 1997, as chairman of a Federal-States commission, that the Scientologists be put under surveillance.

Constitutional Security Agent believes Scientology has been overestimated

Hamburg, Germany
August 31, 1999
Giessener Anzeiger

After two years surveillance, Nordrhein-Westphalian agency chief sees more of a demand for sect counselors than for secret agents

Hamburg (AP) The Nordrhein-Westphalian Constitutional Security Chief Fritz Achim Baumann believes the importance of the Scientology organization in commercial and political areas has been overestimated, and has placed the necessity of further surveillance by the intelligence agency in question. In a pre-published interview with the Hamburg magazine, "Stern" on Tuesday, Baumann said that Scientology was "primarily a commercial undertaking which entices people with a mix of offerings which contain elements of church, religion and therapy."

After a two year surveillance of the organization by Constitutional Security, he further stated in the interview, "Indeed we have found indications of endeavors taken by the Scientologists against our basic democratic principles. However according to our observation, these [endeavors] were not actually being transformed into reality." In saying this Baumann was speaking in favor of discontinuing the heavy measure of state surveillance by the Constitutional Security agency in the future. "They should protect the Constitution, like their name says. The needs of individual people are seen to by others."

He said the risks associated with Scientology lie primarily in personal areas. "Isolation, lack of ability to succeed, intellectual deficit - all the little, human weaknesses are immoderately magnified by the Scientologists. For the victims, that turns into expensive pseudo-therapy. The fact is that the sect counselor is more in demand than the secret agent," said the chief of the Nordrhein-Westphalian Constitutional Security office.

According to the findings obtained, Scientology has only about 5,000 members nationwide. "Of those, 2,000 could be card-carrying Scientologists." In contrast to Bavarian Interior Minister Guenther Beckstein, Baumann does not see any indication that the "World Institute of Scientology Enterprises" has infiltrated the economy to any great extent with the so-called "WISE" management methods: "Mr. Beckstein sees the devil every place he's looked, and he's looked in many places. However, the economic potency of the Scientologists has been strongly overestimated," said the Duesseldorf Constitutional security agent, word for word.

To the question of what would happen to the data bases on the Scientology organization which have been collected by his agency, Baumann answered, "If surveillance were to be suspended, one would also have to destroy the data as a consequence."

Psycho-Sect must vacate Hamburg headquarters

Hamburg, Germany
August 12, 1999
Focus 32/1999

The fast times for the Scientology psycho-sect have gone by; its members have been running away for years. How bad its finances have been getting is shown in the course of a rental procedure before the Hamburg State Court which has to do with the headquarters in the St. Georg district. The building's owner, an ex-Scientologist, had sued to vacate for back rent in the amount of 1.6 million marks, and now intended to settle after a months-long legal dispute: the Scientologists have signed an agreement stating that they will move out by the end of the year. Where to speaker Gisela Hackenjos is not yet ready to say.

At the wish of those concerned, how much of its debt the sect will have to pay back will remain confidential. The only thing certain is that the symbolic building will be torn down; in its place modern office buildings will be built.

Back Rent Due: At year's end the lights will go out in the Hamburg Scientology base in St. Georg.

"Taken out and pushed off"

Scientology discovers the psychically ill as clientel -
A psychologist speaks on the practices of the sect

Hamburg, Germany
August 9, 1999
FOCUS 32/1999

FOCUS:
Mr. Bock, the public who are critical of Scientology have so far overlooked the fact that the sect business also attracts the psychically ill, people who suffer yet more from their experiences there in areas besides health. Several later come to you in the psychiatric ambulance. Why are the ill interested in Scientology?

Bock:
The organization pursues a double-tongued strategy: on the one side it wants to compete with psychiatry and sell its own offerings at a high price, but when it notices that somebody really needs help, that person is taken out and pushed off.

FOCUS:
Where does danger exist for the psychically ill in Scientology?

Bock:
They will experience a tremendous disappointment. Scientology makes unserious promises of healing and claims to have the only helpful technology. The emphasis is on "technology." In "auditing," however, any sort of sympathy is lacing. People in need run up against a brick wall. One woman patiet, although she had invested 100,000 marks in the sect, was quite quickly expelled. There was no respect for the real life situation of this woman, no sympathy, just impertinence.

FOCUS:
Why does Scientology appear attractive to the psychically ill?

Bock:
Because they are looking for help or refuge in some form or another. But in regards to psychosis they will not find it there. Instead of that, the business has several strategies which can strengthen latent instability. For instance this system forwards on personal data and controls personal expression. Outside of that: anybody with a certain amount of insecurity in his personality who goes there looking for help but is disappointed becomes yet more insecure and takes a loss.

FOCUS:
Nevertheless the sect claims to be able to better help [people].

Bock:
However it is reacting doubly hypocritically: it wants nothing to do with psychiatry's clientel. There is no room for mental illness in the world picture of the Scientologists. If "Dianetics" does not help it is said to be your mistake, your fault. You are even a person who is deficient. If psychotic patients recall troubling memories in their session without a sign of sympathy, the damage is deepened. This cold technology is among the worst experiences in Scientology.

FOCUS:
How do you help sect victims?

Bock:
By showing them sympathy and building up a relationship of trust on which they can depend. We take the experiences in psychosis seriously and mutually seek for a biographical meaning.

Interview: Axel Kintzinger

Thomas Bock, 45
The psychologist works in the Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the University of Hamburg. He was organizer of the World Congress for social psychiatry in 1994 and deals with Scientology victims in his ward.

Warning given on Scientology Organization

Hamburg, Germany
August 7, 1999
Hamburger Abendblatt

The Work Group on Scientology of the Hamburg Interior agency gave warning on the Scientology Organizations's "Commission for Violations of Psychiatry against Human Rights" (KVPM).

The group, with its main office in Munich, addresses grievances and human rights violations in psychiatry. On Saturday the Commission has called for a demonstration (11 a.m.) from Hachmannplatz to the CCH [Hamburg Convention Center]. The occasion is the 11th World Psychiatric Congress.

"The KVPM wants to make its way into the CCH and demand that the congress participants sign a resolution," said Ursula Caberta of the WG Scientology. She presumed that anybody who does not sign will be photographed and presented by Scientology in a negative light. "Guests of our city will be publicly ridiculed," said Ursula Caberta.

Therefore Hamburg's Scientology opponents will be on station during the demonstration with information booths on the Moorweide and will talk about the activities of the organization.

Among them will be two high-ranking former members from the USA. Husband and wife Hana and Jerry Whitfield have travelled from Florida for the occasion. The 58 year old woman was in Scientology for 20 years. She even worked closely together with L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the movement. "Many are not able to understand what pulls people into this kind of organization," she said. Her explanation: it is like falling in love and then from love comes blindness to reality. That is how she accounts for years of headache, deep depression and suicidal tendencies.

Her husband Jerry Whitfield, who says he was "number 2 man" in the USA in the "Narconon" drug program, worked for less than five dollars a week for Scientology and hoped "for answers" which he never was to receive.

Today both say, "We believed in L. Ron Hubbard, but when we left Scientology, we got our understanding back."

(syp)

Psycho-sect looking for a home

Hamburg, Germany
June 25, 1999
Hamburger Morgenpost

Steindamm:
Scientology demands demolition

The Scientologists have given up and will leave their company headquarters at 63 Steindamm: the psycho-sect explained that they had filled in the rental contract which was supposed to have run to the year 2013 in St. Georg "because of a gigantic shortage of space."

Scientology spokesman Frank Busch said that the owner's application for demolition was "the best thing that anyone could have done with this condemned ruin of a building." The owner of the real estate, a former Scientologist, had put in for demolition of the structure and had filed a notice to vacate because of back rent due - Busch said that Scientology had decreased the rent because of cracks in the wall, roof damage, water spots and defective heating. For months attorneys from both sides have been working on an out-of-court settlement. The move is planned for the end of the year.

Ursula Caberta, Interior agency commissioner, warns: "They'll make an effort to find a suitable substitute quarters. If wealthy Scientology members should want to put a new building at their disposal, we'll have to start a new round." How could lessors or sellers protect themselves? "They should include a written statement that the technology of L. Ron Hubbard will not be used in the building. We will gladly give advice." [telephone number given]

The expert says that the building on Steindamm has a high symbolic value to the Scientologists, both externally and internally, "The Hamburg organization was once the most successful in the world - today it's probably more like a [fading] tail light." The central city district has plans for the construction of a 16 story office building on Steindamm (MoPo reported).

bel

Sect Bunker's days are numbered

Hamburg, Germany
June 23, 1999
Hamburger Morgenpost

Demolition application in process: City Planning Committee discusses office building in St. Georg

Alikazam, the sect balcony is gone: the owner of the Scientology Center on Steindamm has filed a demolition application. Yesterday evening the downtown City Planning Committee was already conducting a hearing on the new construction of an office building in St. Georg.

Downtown planning speaker Peter Gero verified the plans. They say that a 50 meter high office building is to be erected on the parcel with one-third of its space zoned residential - this is the same height as the Philips building. The demolition application for what is now a sect building could be approved by the planning committee as early as June or July - the wrecking balls could be swinging by Fall.

A building permit for the new construction, however, will have to wait until February 2000. The city planner absolutely wants to avoid uninvited guests making their way into St. Georg. Gero stated, "We absolutely want to rule out the possibility that the Scientologists will build a new palace there."

The psycho-firm has already been served with a notice to vacate because of rent past due, allegedly in the amount of millions of marks. The owner of the real estate at 63 Steindamm, formerly a Scientologist himself, had left the U.S. organization. Other former members are using seizure orders to demand a refund for the expensive Scientology courses.

"The financial power behind the Scientologists is dwindling," said Ursula Caberta, Scientology Commissioner of the Interior agency. In northern Germany, there is said to be about a thousand members.

Whereas 220 full or part-time staff were formerly being paid by the Hamburg "Org," in 1998 the psycho-sect reported only about a hundred full-time staff, according to a Constitutional Security report: "The Hamburg Scientology Organization no longer has the importance it once had in previous years." It said that there is evidence "of suspected political extremist activity."

Of special interest, in the beginning of the 1990s, the activities of individual Scientologists brought Scientologist real estate owners into the Hamburg FDP and the businesses of prominent Free Democrats.

G. Beling

3 Questions to the
Hamburg Scientology Commissioner,
Ursula Caberta

Hamburg, Germany
June 23, 1999
Hamburger Morgenpost Vermischtes

Hamburger Morgenpost (MOPO):
What do you think about the Scientology Center being torn down?

Caberta:
That's great! Internally and externally the building has a high symbolic value for the Scientologists. Their Hamburg organization was once the most successful in the world - today it's probably more like a tail light.

MOPO:
Is your biggest wish being granted?

Caberta:
Slowly. They're still not out of the city. They are making an effort to find substitute quarters which are just as good. If financially wealthy members of Scientology should make a new building available to them, then we'll have to start the next round. MOPO:
How can sellers or renters protect themselves against Scientologists?

Caberta:
They should ask for a written statement that the building is not being operated in accordance with Hubbard technology. We like to give advice.

bel

Does Scientology have to go?

Owner wants to demolish Scientology Center

Hamburg, Germany
June 23, 1999
Hamburger Abendblatt Lokales

Apparently the days of the Scientology Organization in their center in St. Georg are numbered. According to information received by the "Abendblatt," the proprietor of the building at 63 Steindamm wants to tear it down, and possibly sell the parcel. An application for demolition has already been filed at the downtown district office.

The Scientologists have already ruled out moving into the new building as renters. Spokeswoman Gisela Hackenjos said, "Our goal is to find something better in a different part of Hamburg, the roof is leaking here worse and worse." Outside of that, the relationship with the current lessor, a real estate salesman from Itzehoe who used to be a Scientologist himself, is very shaky.

Hackenjos replied that her organization had already given notice at the start of the year due to outstanding rent and has been presented with a notice to vacate from the approximately 3,000 square meters of space: "When we go, then we'll go because we wanted to."

On the theme of Scientology, NDR 3 broadcasts the 45 minute film "Missing in Happy Valley - The prison camps of Scientology" this evening at 11:05 p.m. The piece by Ina Brockman and Peter Reichelt deals with the "rehabilitation" institutions of the organization, which it officially calls "Rehabilitation Projects."

The methods, as instructed by sect founder L. Ron Hubbard before his death in 1986, are portrayed with which poorly functioning or confused members are once again put on the path: hard labor, primitive housing and deprivation of sleep. Famous former members put in their piece.

The authors sought, but did not find, Wiebke Hansen, who used to be President of the Hamburg Scientology Organization until her sudden disappearance in 1995. Only her brother, who has had contact with her, gets a say.

[An English transcript of the "Happy Valley" program:990225j.htm ]

scho

A "Glass Building" on Steindamm

A 16 story building to replace the current Scientology center

Hamburg, Germany
April 23, 1999
"Die Welt"

The owner of the property at 63 Steindamm, which is currently being used as a Scientology center, says its redevelopment should lead to an improvement in the appearance of the city's structural layout. In accordance with the local zoning office and political committees, the selected architectural proposal will be reviewed to see how a formal permit can be issued.

The proposal by the office of Amorelli, Sembritzki & Tran Viet lays out the construction of a 16-story office building in juxtaposition to two five story structures. The buildings are to contain apartments and offices and will be covered with glass roofing. A multi-storied glassed-in hall is to offer access from the buildings to a cafe, restaurant and other shops.

The office building is to run parallel to Danziger Street and will have a luxurious roof garden. Another five story building, which is to contain offices, is envisioned as a connecting structure to the present building on the neighboring property on 71 Steindamm. Furthermore, the architectural proposal lays out a glass-roofed construction over Linden Street and in areas along Steindamm. The proposal selected encompasses a total of approximately 9,200 square meters of floor space.

The plans drawn up by Amorelli, Sembritzki and Tran Viet came out on top of a total of three submitted in competition. All three concepts will be publicly presented in the St. Georg district. Time and place are to be announced. dk.

Constitutional Security report lists 264 rightwing extremist crimes and 72 by leftwing extremists

Hamburg, Germany
April 23, 1999
"Hamburger Morgenpost"

Less violence - but the alarm is still not called off

From the Constitutional Security report 1998: "A tragic end marked the fate of a homeless man who, on December 4, 1998, was kicked in the face and the rest of his body in the most brutal fashion by three rightwing extremist Skinheads. On March 23, the 59 year old victim committed suicide by throwing himself in front of a subway train - exactly one day before he was supposed to have testified against the perpetrators in state court."

Rightwing

Nationwide the number of violence prone neo-Nazis has risen; in Hamburg there are said to be about 150 "Skins" among the 1,130 rightwing extremists, according to Inner Senator Hartmuth Wrocklage (SPD). The areas of concentration are: Bramfeld, Rahlstedt, Eidelstedt, Schnelsen, Steilshoop, Barmbek, Lohbruegge, Marmstorf, Tostedt and Halstenbek. Weapons have been found in outlying areas. The number of rightwing crimes (264) have decreased by 11.7 percent in Hamburg. The rightwing is in a desolate condition, according to Constitutional Security chief Reinhard Wagner (CDU). Violent acts often consist of "drunken acts" by first-time perpetrators.

Leftwing

Only leftwing violence was prefaced by "A threat to the public security." Wagner's office counted 72 crimes ('97: 100); of the 1,350, about 600 are alleged to be violence prone, their center is the blue-collar area ("Schanzenviertel"). The gathering point for "autonomists" is said to be the "Rote Flora." The center of culture, however, is said to be "clearly removed" from the "caliber" of harbor street.

PKK

The Kurdish organization has over 700 adherents - who sympathize with the Ocalan case. About 1,730 of the 70,000 Turkish residents of Hamburg are counted as extremist, of them, 500 as extreme nationalists and 1,000 as adherents of the "Islamic Association of Milli Gorus." Criminal acts by foreign extremists decreased by more than a third to 102. Wrocklage stated, "We are watchful."

UCK

The Kosovo Albanian organization received no mention in the Constitutional Security report. Upon inquiry, Wagner said that his office was observing their activities diligently. Two dozen UCK combatants are said to have driven from Hamburg to Albania; money had been collected, without the use of force, for purchase of weapons.

Scientology

The money sect has financial worries - only 1,000 people are still with it. However, there are an abundance of points for suspicion of politically extremist endeavors.

The state office of Constitutional Security has over 132 projected positions; budget: 18 million marks. Records are kept on almost 9,000 people. Since the Greens have entered into the Senate, the employment of undercover agents has not changed, said the Inner Senator.

bel

Fewer crimes committed
by rightwing and leftwing extremists
in Hamburg

Hamburg, Germany
April 22, 1999
"Lycos"

Rightwing parties in desolate condition

Hamburg (AP)

The number of crimes and acts of violence committed by leftwing or rightwing extremists in Hamburg decreased in 1998, and is thereby essentially following the national trend. The number of rightwing extremists went against the national trend, down to about 1,130; that of the leftwing extremists from 700 to 600, as related by Inner Senator Hartmuth Wrocklage on Thursday. The number of foreign extremists decreased slightly from 2,800 to 2,700. In the observation of the Scientology Church, the Hamburg Constitutional Security agency has seen no indication of successful infiltration of state or society.

The number of rightwing extremist crimes sank in Hamburg by a good third down to 264; crimes committed by the leftwing are down 28 percent to 72. Wrocklage indicated that the rightwing organizations and parties are at odds with each other and are in a desolate condition internally. The strongest force in Hamburg is the DVU, followed by the Republicans. In contrast, about 110 unorganized neo-Nazis who work with similar minded people in the neighboring states are active. They have not founded a regular organization due to being worried about the state, instead they meet casually. There are no rightwing terroristic organizations in all of Germany, said Wrocklage.

On the side of the leftwing the DKP, with 400 members, is the strongest individual organization in Hamburg. They are said, however, to be diminishing in importance. Crystallization point of the autonomous leftwing environment is the so-called "Rote Flora," a dilapidated former theater in which concerts and other events take place. There is a danger for the public security from those of the leftwing who are violence prone, stated Wrocklage, and made reference to attacks on police.

In extremism amongst foreigners, the prohibited Kurdish PKK takes first place in the Hanseatic City with 700 members. Besides them are numerous Turkish extremists from the left as well as the right wings. Sources of foreign extremism are continued conflicts in the home countries.

In connection with the war in Kosovo, the Albanians who reside in Hamburg are not being inducted into military service by force, it is stated. Monetary donations are being gathered voluntarily. Nothing has been heard of clashes between Serbs and Albanians.

Building owners want to raze the building
on the Steindamm
and replace it with a new one

Will Scientology have to look for a new center?

Hamburg, Germany
April 15, 1999
From: "Hamburger Abendblatt"

What will happen to the Scientology Center on the Steindamm? The controversial organization does, indeed, have a rental agreement which runs until the year 2013. Nevertheless, the building owners want to raze the building and replace it with a new one. Architectural competition for the new building took place last week, with first prize finally going to the Hamburg office of Amorelli, Sambritzki and Tran Viet Tuyen.

The issue of whether the Scientologists must leave the building remains open. "We will have the current contract gone over by our attorney," said sect spokeswoman Gisela Hackenjos. Central district office believes it is not likely that the city could require that the owner-builder not rent to Scientologists. That would probably be a matter between lessor and lessee, stated an unnamed source. The building's owner, a real estate agent from Itzehoe, is said to be a former Scientology member himself.

Just three years ago the sect center was supposed to have been renovated from the ground up, with mini-towers and glass facades and about double the utility area. This proposal, which was tailored completely for the organization, met heavy political resistance in the district. It was said at the time that the sect would want to contribute financially to the construction. Nothing came of that.

Because Scientology's outlook and liquidity has been obviously worsening over a number of years, the organization has started a Germany-wide image campaign. This is being directed from the USA and is said to cost about $40 million.

For days now, conspicuously tall men with white Scientology advertising placards have been running through the city. A "What is Scientology?" informational exhibition opens today in the "Alte Wache" Hotel at 21 Adenauer Blvd. About 4,000 Hamburg residents who are considered to be "multipliers" (e.g., politicians, journalists, doctors) received personal invitations. Many of the letters bore advertising stamps for Maltese Hospice Work. That was sheer coincidence, but was irritating nonetheless.

Burkhardt Mueller-Soenksen, spokesman for the Hamburg FDP, appealed to Ursula Caberta, director of the Hamburg state Scientology Work Group, to "counteract" [Scientology's recruitment measures]. Caberta's response: "Anyone who wants to be informed about Scientology should request one of our brochures." (scho)

[One brochure "Scientology's Intelligence Service - Principles, Missions, Structures, Methods and Goals" is available in an unofficial English translation from books/trn1050.htm .]

Caberta: Danger from Scientology not diverted by demolition

Sect may already be seeking a new center

Hamburg, Germany
April 15, 1999
From: "Die Welt"

Hamburg's Scientology commissioner, Ursula Caberta, sees no reason to celebrate the fact that the organization's center at 63 Steindamm is due to be demolished. "It's not the center which is dangerous," said Ursula Caberta, "what is dangerous are the sect adherents who occupy central positions in commerce and industry." She assumes that the sect is already looking around for a new building even though the exact demolition date has not yet been set.

Just last week architectural competition for the future construction of the property took place, but, according to a statement by Claudia Eggert, spokeswoman for the central district office, it had been open before then. While the authorities are still waiting on applications for proposed building plans, they are already active on other levels. Claudia Eggert stated that "all the legal possibilities are being tested" at this time to see if Scientology can be kept from renting on the streets near the main train station. A suitable solution has not yet been found, said the spokeswoman, since the property is under private ownership.

It has been known since last year that the approximately 1,550 square meter property on Steindamm was to be sold. The piquant thing about it was that the owner himself was a former Scientologist who had been hosting the sect on his property for nine years prior. After his departure from the sect there was a dispute over outstanding rental payments. A bid was put up after the owner had applied to the district office for several structural alterations, said Claudia Eggert. At that point a closed bid was offered to three Hamburg architects. The contract for new construction on the property was awarded to the office of Amorelli, Sembritzki and Tran Viet Tuyen (AST). A multi-storied building is planned, which is to contain office space and about 40 apartments.

Sect corporations advance in the computer industry and gain reputable clients

From: "Focus 14/1999"
approx. April 5, 1999
Germany

Sibylle Kramer's career developed in promising way. Until just recently she handled computer peripherals throughout Europe for the Eurozerty company from the Netherlands. When her company changed ownership and she had to transfer to Hamburg in the same working capacity, she was happy to move to her new location.

Her enthusiasm disappeared on the first work day. The new management's customs seemed too peculiar to her. Every day at nine o'clock, the employees had to gather together for roll call to hear the slogan of the day shouted out as a battle cry, and the salespeople who had been recently successful were brought to the attention of the group and applauded.

Sibylle Kramer had ended up with Stephan Koenig, a known Scientologist. His business is called Laserplus, it deals in computer accessories, the same as Eurozerty, and is officially managed by Koenig's wife, Wiebke.

Laserplus, now incorporated under the same registered trade number as Eurozerty, is a member of the WISE (World Institute of Scientology Enterprises) business association, the most important money-making machine of the psycho-sect. The corporation (30 employees, 20 million marks in annual sales) also avails itself of an internet access which brings the visitor, after two mouseclicks, to Fort Harrison Avenue, Clearwater, Florida - the most important Scientology center in the USA next to Los Angeles.

Since then, the former manager of Eurozerty, Ms. Kramer, related what she knew about Koenig's company to the Hamburg Constitutional Security Agency. The Hamburg state Work Group on Scientology also had found that "something is going on the the computer area." The department director, Ursula Caberta, is concerned that Scientology companies could get into sensitive areas in other companies with their products.

Scientologist Koenig has landed a big one with his acquisition of Eurozerty. "Only a few providers," he said to other trade representatives, "share this market in Europe." And Eurozerty had some good business.

Yet another Scientology company is presently attempting to obtain a market share in the expanding computer field. Picco Computer Services [Picco Computerdienstleistungen] (Reinhard Jankowsky, proprietor) maintains a post office box in Hamburg-Altona and resides in an inconspicuous single family dwelling in the Pinneberg suburb. The "young team," according to their advertisement, "has set out to ease and support your *EDP department." Picco says that its customers include pharmaceutical companies, broadcasting companies, banks and - particularly piquant - the Foreign Affairs Office.

*EDP: Electronic Data Processing

---

[This occurred in 1992.]

In early February on the Hamburg electronic bulletin board, FRONT, I came across an advertisement under the name "Steven King" which looked like this:

    "Re: Help wanted
    placed on 9 Jan 1992 at 2:52:11
    by: Steven King #1503
    To: All
    Message was read by: 106
    Hello !
we are always looking for people who would like to work with us !
        Cosmos Computer GmbH & Co KG
Part time and special schedules accommodated.
Please e-mail me."

That was the start of my little odyssey which got me involved in the Scientology sect. I will describe it here in order to give people a feel for what's happening. I am now 21 and was stupid enough to fall for these folks, and there are enough people in FRONT who are younger than I am. It started out with me answering this electronic bulletin and this guy wrote back that he wanted to explain to me more clearly what the job was about. Part of what he wrote:

        "Re: Employment
This letter was written: 11:36:34 on 14 Jan 92
        by: Steven King #1503
        To: AKIRA #185
        Hello,
        We are a computer company which has been in existence
since 1979, Cosmos Computer GmbH & Co KG.  I am the business
manager here.  We're involved in the DOS / Unix areas.  We are
going through several changes and have a need for people of all
types, including those who take care of PC hardware, networks,
programming, customers, telephone sales, especially those who are
aggressive in sales.  We are a team of young people and are
"entirely different" from the other computer corporations.  In case
that interests you, then give me (or Mrs. Arwiler, my secretary)
a call for an appointment.  Here are several numbers, since I'm
difficult to reach:
        040 / 24 14 33   Cosmos
        040 / 24 14 81   HAUS
        040 / 490 30 55  P&B Management
        0161 / 24 20 500 Auto
Our address is: Steindamm 87, 2000 Hamburg 1 Until then,
        Stephan Koenig"

"Entirely different" had a funny sound to it, and I took the "agressive in sales" as a figure of speech, but the whole thing sounds quite interesting, doesn't it? Anyway I called up and set up an appointment for an interview with this secretary. A little later I was standing in the reception area of the Cosmos company on Steindamm. Everything appeared completely normal; the young people who worked there gave the impression that it was a pleasant place to work. A giant, homemade, telephone switchboard dominated the reception room. It made me more sympathetic for all the people who worked there. What was unusual was that I had to wait over half an hour, along with the two others who had been invited, until Mr. Koenig finally had time. But since I was sympathetic to the whole situation, that didn't make any difference to me.

Finally Mr. K. had time for me. First he wanted to know something about me and asked me all kinds of questions about computers. I have to say that this person wearing the sweater before me at the time had a powerful glow which emanated somehow from the way he spoke and listened. Anyway, he told me that the Cosmos company had been neglected for a long time and that he was trying to build it back up again. They were implementing an integration program for industry applications called INDO in a company by the same name in Ulm. He offered me a job which was to mostly consist of the servicing of customers (over the telephone) as part of this program. He offered me 20 marks [about $12.50] an hour to start, and I accepted. Then he gave me a demo version of the program with its documentation and told me that I should start the next week.

There was absolute nothing that was otherwise extraordinary about the company. When I took a look at the program at home the user interface, considering it had a price of 30,000 DM or more, looked like it was home-made, but since the program was supposed to run under many different operating systems, I didn't think anything of it.

When I began working with the company, my first job was to correct, by hand, a company flyer which had been printed out to addresses in the DDR [former East Germany]. 5,000 twos had to be changed to 5,000 threes in the date. I worked from nine in the morning until 8 or 9 at night. I didn't see anything more of Stephan Koenig. The current business manager was Robert Voss, a man who wore granny glasses and an ill-fitting suit.

My next job was debt collection. I was supposed to call up old debtors of the company and get them to pay. Brilliantly colored pictures hung in frames on the office walls. Most showed space scenes or scenes from the future out of science fiction books or films. At the time I stepped closer to one of the pictures. I had gotten my own "office" and it also included this art. It was signed with the name L. Ron Hubbard. Now I had already heard about this person before, and on the way down to Steindamm, you have to walk by the Scientology sect center. Therefore I thought that at least one of these people in Cosmos was in this sect which I had only heard about from Christiane F.

Now I thought that I wasn't especially susceptible to sects or anything like that. I also had the idea that I could afford to have a great deal of tolerance for unusual thinking. Besides that, none of the people there had tried to talk me into anything or had even mentioned a word to me. So I sat in my funny office and said to myself, "You might just as well work for these people and get your own personal impression of them and judge for yourself what you think of them as run away and work as a truck driver again, just because these people have a bad image or whatever." I thought that for 20 marks I'd rather take a closer look at these poor people than drag boxes around. On top of that, I urgently needed the money at the moment and could not afford to spend the rest of my summer vacation trying to look for a new job. Besides, there was a really pleasant working atmosphere in the office. The people who worked there were not in any way fanatical nor religious; they were humorous and nice. I already had my own area of responsibility after three days of being part of the operation, and nobody was supervising me; I just had to deliver results. Therefore I kept an open mind for the future with this company.

There were these ultra-modern organizational structures; on the wall hung an "org board on which every worker had his designated place in a funny hierarchy between "Treasury" and "Sales Officer." The goals of the company hung on the wall in "Policies" as "End product: highly rated services & products." Internal communications didn't go from basket to basket, but through a "Comm Center," which consisted of baskets.

I learned that it was important to maintain a good "comm line" with people. That interested me and I read in the newspaper about the good comm line the "ORG" had with the current political parties. I learned how you speak to people on the telephone by using the "ARC triangle," because communication between people needed three things: affinity, reality and (I forgot the third). I learned why a big company was called ARC-Music and to whom they belonged. Generally there were some in Hamburg which belonged to Scientology, especially in St. Georg. There was a long list of brokers who "belonged" to Scientology. Right in Hamburg. I saw the sales figures and statistics of the Heilig Werbeideen Co. in Schwaan, DDR. They were not a market leader only in their own state.

The empire was coordinated by the P&B Management company. One time we, a person from Cosmos and I, were supposed to get some equipment from Cosmos to P&B. Stephan set up an office there. P&B made "management contracts" with the companies it controlled. These quite clearly stated how the work was divided up. An excerpt from the contract with Heilig:

"P&B gives the management instructions [...]. Exceptions to these instructions are to be proposed in writing [...]. The parties to the contract agree that [..] the legal course of law is excluded [...] The completed contract must be submitted to P&B by no later than Monday. [...] On contract termination, a settlement agreement must be made with P&B.;This settlement agreement will be based, in advance, on the [...] rate of growth under P&B Management for 5 years. [...]" P&B Management resides at the highest floor of the office building at 22 Doormannsweg.

The view is not bad; on three sides you can see the city of Hamburg which bustles about below you in the dark. The traffic arteries pump a commercial gross social product through the night, and you ask yourself, which one of the gentlemen down there is talking to the man sitting here at the conference table on his mobile phone.

They have created a suitable atmosphere up here, with a red carpet and monumental oak furniture which boasts gold-bound editions of books by L. Ron Hubbard. The anteroom contains a computer the size of a VAX. My partner told me that he wanted to work here someday because they had a swimming pool and sauna for the use of all employees. He told me that he had gotten the books we carried into Stephan's "office" from Stephan's private residence. That was up in one of the Mundsburg skyscrapers. A sheik from Saudi Arabia lives near there. The contacts go worldwide. And for every city in Germany there are addresses in the Cosmos customer files. But it's not just brokers and attorneys who are retained by Scientology. In Cosmos' neighboring spaces, near the LENOMA installation company and not far from the Theta_Print publishers is the T.H.O.M.E. company. For a pile of money they bought advertisement time on this country's television stations, in which they broadcast ads for the "Ma Evans Cure" hair tonic. The connection, which I assume is next to Cosmos, runs hot and heavy with calls, mainly from older people, who wring their hands as they demand the miracle tonic which is supposed to make their hair grow.

The gift set with Lotion & Shampoo cost 160 marks [$100]. Ruediger Tuschen, in his forties and still in full possession of a natural head of hair, tells the fascinated customers: "Association tests for hairlessness which we have conducted in the USA have shown that, through the use of our tonic, not only is the circulation of the skin of the head stimulated, but completely bald spots of the head form new hair roots and new hair grows."

With time I noticed that the Cosmos company had a worker who lived in a room in the corner, and whose door was always shut. It was a foreigner who was twice as old as the average company employee. He was a university graduate and had been with the company a long time, but he was not a Scientology disciple. He told how he had gotten along well with the people in the beginning, but then somehow the decision had been made that Cosmos was going to work its way out of the burden of debt completely by Scientology means. All payments were frozen; notices were handed over to the faithful of the sect's private legal office. He himself had not received any pay for five months. In the meantime he was living off of biscuits and couldn't afford cigarettes any more. He had just now made a decision that he was going to look for a new position and give up all the work which he had invested in the company. At his age, that was not an easy decision.

Now I knew why it had been so hard for Stephan to sign my work contract and why he now, when I tried to put the pressure on him, could suddenly no longer be reached. Robert Voss promised me that I would get my money in two days and gave me a certificate for 500 marks. He said that they were in a "financially weak time" and that we would all get our money, later. But now I was seeing everything in a different light. This INDO program - I just noticed that it's simply not competitive and that its sale was just a small lie. Now it was clear to me that in the six weeks I had been working for Cosmos I had done nothing else but call up Heilig customers in the DDR and try to sell them cheap computer parts at inflated prices. Now I noticed that Mr. Voss was trying to sell a 70,000 mark program to a big business although he didn't even know how to administer a PC network. Now I saw that charges of fraud had been made against Mr. Koenig from several sides.

My last "official act" consisted of getting the company's fax machine back from the repair shop, a nice, normal office machine company by the university, and talking them in to putting the repair on credit, according to my instructions. The owner hesitated, but you could see what he was thinking: a computer company, nice letterhead, maybe there would be a long-term business relationship here? - His money is already gone.

Now I ask myself how I could have fallen for this and spent half my summer vacation working for these people. Yet it would be hard for me to tell the business manager that to his face. Where do people get these rhetorical abilities?

Today I sit here and wait for April 8, which is when my case against Cosmos comes before the labor court. The company owes me 2,500 marks. I have before me their attorney's response. Mr Gebhardt from Ploen wrote me:

"This complaint is the matter of a young man who has a great self-interest in computers and in working with them. As a result, he stopped by the business offices of the accused on multiple occasions. It was in this capacity that he got the impression that he was holding a job. He also presented a work contract. The business manager of the accused, Mr. Stefan Koenig, had, nevertheless, not signed this work contract." ....

---

"Morgenpost"

'STEVEN KING' deceiving students

The Hamburg Scientologist, Stephan Koenig alias Steven King, is advertising for staff for his "Cosmos Computer GmbH & Co.KG" on the Steindamm over the "FRONT" electronic bulletin board. He just doesn't want to pay them. He tried to buy off Jan Schreiber (21), computer whiz and second semester law student for 500 marks - after they had agreed upon 15 marks an hour for a summer job. Instead of getting paid, according to Schreiber, Cosmos business manager Robert Voss had offered him free religious instruction. Schreiber, however, had no desire to be brainwashed, and he brought the case to the labor court. For Judge Peter Stein, it was an open-and-shut case. "I must instruct you that you could have an attorney provided for you," he told the student, "but you're not going to need him."

Judgment was passed that Cosmos had to pay the 2327.55 marks which was outstanding. It was a judgment by default: neither Koenig nor Voss appeared at the hearing. The police photographer was not at all happy about that. The state attorney's office would have liked to supplement its file with an actual photograph of "Steven King." The office is investigating charges by SPD people's representative Ursula Caberta against the Scientology sect on suspicion of being a criminal association, and had been looking into the Cosmos corporation. It is checking into whether the sect is bilking its member corporations so mercilessly that they are not able to pay people like Jan Schreiber, even if they would want to.

---

"Tageszeitung"

Scientology Jobber Cheated?

The Hamburg Cosmos computer corporation wanted to pay a student with Scientology courses instead of with money / Presumably some shady dealings with contact to others / LABOR COURT HEARING today

Jan Schreiber, law student, thinks he has experienced unbridled exploitation mania by a commercial sect with the name of "Scientology Church" during the past few weeks as an employee of the Hamburg Cosmos computer corporation. Today Cosmos' current business manager, Robert Voss, and the jobber are to meet before the labor court. The reason: Cosmos is alleged to have cheated Jan Schreiber out of his wages.

At the end of January '92, while he was looking for a job, the 21 year old computer freak found a help wanted ad in the Front electronic bulletin board - one of the largest of the approximately 300 private bulletin boards in Hamburg. Cosmos had described itself as "entirely different" from other computer companies, and was offering young people work in the sales and care of PC hardware, networks and programs. The goal: "to hit the jackpot." ["absahnen".]

"Sounds interesting," thought Jan Schreiber, and introduced himself to Stefan Koenig, who was Cosmos business manager on February 1, at the company on the Steindamm, not far from the German Scientology center. "I liked the company atmosphere. It seemed that mostly young people were working there," the student described his first impression. First Schreiber would have liked to get his new chief to agree on 20 marks student wages.

Schreiber had been engaged with Cosmos with his unrewarding activity since February 10: he had to alter the date on a flyer which had already been printed off. His next assignment was the collection of debts over the telephone. Finally he had to introduce himself to his new colleagues in a letter. "Super, that you're there!" a colleague wrote him back.

Upon a closer look at the company's situation, though, Schreiber had suspicions as to the effectiveness of the outdated computer and programs being offered by Cosmos. Still, it appeared to him that they had an ultra-modern organizational structure. "End product: highly-rated services and products" read a company slogan on the so-called "org board" on the wall. The "org board," a term broadcast by the management program of the commercial sect, was meant to show each worker the place he belonged to in the company's hierarchy. Schreiber finally caught on that he had landed in a sect operation after he found out about the Cosmos connections to the "Heilig" enterprise, which is firmly in the grasp of Scientology in the DDR [former East Germany] and to the P&B management consulting firm, which is known to be Scientologist.

For instance, the P&B company takes over business consulting for companies and charges them a percentage of their income before taxes, commissions and costs: that means of gross profit. In the meantime the P&B company is said to have taken over Cosmos; the former Cosmos business manager, Stefan Koenig, is now sitting in the boss's seat of P&B. When it was suggested to Schreiber that he could receive his wage in the form of so-called "co-courses" as Scientology training, which a colleague had described to him as staring into people's eyes for hours, he requested a written work contract. When he didn't receive it, he left the shady company.

Julia Kossann

---

"Tageszeitung"

Cosmos must pay

The Cosmos computer corporation, which is managed by Scientologists, will have to pay Jan Schreiber 2,228 marks in wages. As the taz reported yesterday, the enterprize had offered the student Scientology courses as payment for a job instead of money. Since no representative of the company appeared before the labor court yesterday, the judge passed default judgment which has one week to be appealed.

taz

---

"Die Welt"

"Auditing course" as the dubious wages of work?

Student Jan Sch. went to the Hamburg labor court yesterday for wages he never received for six weeks work and won: labor court judge Peter Stein passed judgment that the Cosmos computer company had to pay him 2,300 marks. According to a statement by the law student, this was the sum the company owed him for six weeks of work, as agreed over the telephone. Instead of the money, the student was offered an "auditing course" for Scientology training.

The 21 year old had found the job for the company at the end of January, 1992 in a help wanted ad in an electronic bulletin board. Since the computer freak agreed to the 20 marks an hour and the "relaxed atmosphere," he accepted the position. With increasing insight into the company, the student started getting doubts about the competitiveness of the outdated and apparently over-priced computer programs which Cosmos was dealing in. When he finally found out that Cosmos was doing business with the "Heilig" enterprise in Schwann in the former DDR [East Germany] and with the P&B management consulting company, both allegedly Scientology operations, he immediately left the corporation which he had categorized as a sect branch.

gh

---

Confessions of a Scientologist

[In the following narrative, last names are replaced by XXXXXX. (Note: Stephan and Stefan are two different people.) These collected narratives of a practicing Scientologist give a very good idea of the speech in use by the Scientology Church.]

---------------------------------------------------------

Aug 10, 1991
7:44pm

Stephan XXXXXX              3rd Dynamic Liability

1. My friends are all ethical Scientologists.

2. I produced no more products for several months, yet compulsively kept up my false PR nonetheless. Since I had committed out-2D with a SO member, I have tried to evade ethics. I caused myself to receive a fax from Flag which I then altered to create the impression that I am unimpeachable. I have tried to appear extremely important and to gain friends by doing so. I have seen all activities (donations, etc.) on the third dynamic from this perspective. I have tried to hide my mistakes by distortions and lies. I have brought about much entheta (e.g., in money) in order to make less of others, to make myself seem important, and to gain the agreement of whomever I was dealing with. I have had evil intentions towards other members of the group. I have blamed my mistakes on others and not taken responsibility. I have invented stories and embellished events in order to use them for my PR. I have tried to trip up anybody who was powerful so that he could not be dangerous to me. I have written a letter of out-points to the ED Int. and was glad to be able to put one over on the Hamburg org. I have made the org look bad to others. I have dramatized out-points. I have spread out-points from companies which work closely with the org and have dramatized in order to be able to divert attention from the out-points of my production. I have given the impression that these companies are in difficulty because they have supported the org to an irrational degree and have let themselves be run by the org. I have tried to bring Thomas XXXX down. The Cosmos company has not been making a real GI for a while and I have not confronted it. I have a disagreement that Thomas is receiving money without having to work for it. I was glad when he had problems with his post in the org or on his bank lines, since "now he could see how bad he really is." I have not given him the support which he has to have as my friend. I have thought of myself as terribly important and dramatized this private importance to all others. I undertook everything to show others how i-m-p-o-r-t-a-n-t I am. I have defended this position by intentional use of false PR, lies and entheta about others. I have done an O/W write-up, although I had the idea that I will lose my head for these overts. I have done the conditions on the cycle with Thomas and sorted out the sit with Thomas and Gerdi and taken responsibility so that the company will again be healthy. I have started a project where I have to show genuine production independent of any kind of status. Through this activity I am again active on the Third Dynamic. I have done my conditions on the sit with the org. I have written a letter to the ED Int in which I expressed that I had wanted to put one over on the org, and that the real overts had been on my account.

3. I have - although I am in a tight financial situation - gotten DM 25,000.00 in cash for the HES of the Hamburg Org, which I am supposed to get back later as a check.

4. I apply for re-admittance back into the group.

---

Stephan XXXXXX          Liability             March 25, 91

1. Detlef Foulious and all "Schwaaners" are my friends.

2. I have harmed Detlef and the Third Dynamic in that I contributed heavily to the enturbulation of the Execs of the Heilig company, Rosi Mundl and Luise XXXXXXX. I have dramatized his out-points. I have assumed the false datum of 3.9 mil DM debt and spread it. I have taken not responsibility for the handling of others, but supported them in their actions. I supported the intention that Detlef not confront the situation and that he blow although in reality he was in the situation to handle. I thought that Detlef was being supported and wanted to be there. Although he had given me much Power, I had not supported him in this situation, since I had the feeling that he was dangerous to me. I have taken data from others as my own and spread it. I have constantly exaggerated things so that they became half-truths. I have done conditions on this cycle. I have done an RPEC, in which I had very many cognitions. It explained an awful lot. I have changed the foundation of all my communication.

3. Many people are especially needed in Schwaan at this time. Recruitment teams are in all Orgs. Although I would really like to drive to Schwaan right away, I am remaining here until tonight and I will help the recruitment teams. I will use my comm lines and my office. A broadcast concerning new people from Fa. HAUS (about 350 letters), which really would have been done tomorrow by Gerdi, will instead be done by me today, personally.

4. I apply for readmission to the group.

---

Aug 26, 1991
12:18 am

Stephan XXXXXX        Liability         3-25-91

1. Stefan YYYYYYYYYYY is my friend.

2. I am a liability to Stefan since I have committed an out-2D with his wife. It was not clear to me that Gail is married to him and that I was deceiving him. In addition I have brought case into this cycle, since I had charge on him as Qual-Sec, since he devaluated me. I have written up the out-2D as an overt and have gone to Ethics in order to get it handled, even though I expected that they would "rip my head off." I have pushed Gail to take responsibility for the cycle, and have communicated what she had done to Stefan and AOSH. I have done conditions on the 3rd dynamic.

3. I am - in case there is something on line - back in comm with Stefan again. I have sent Stefan a personal letter of apology.

4. I apply for re-entrance to the group.

---

Aug 26, 1991
12:22 am
Stefan YYYYYYYYYYY

Dear Stefan,

I am hereby making an entirely personal apology for having committed an out-2D with your wife.

The whole thing was just a game for me. Then I did not take any responsibility when I realized that there was something on the lines between you and Gail.

I would like for us to have the same good lines again that we had in the past.

much love

Stephan XXXXXXÿ

---

Nov 5, 1991 6:41
CO Hamburg Org <-----11-5-91--------------
5:00
Stephan XXXXXX

Dear Wiebke,

Please take a few minutes of your time to read these lines. In the past several months I have tried to get in comm with you, but have probably not done it with the needed intention. I know that I am presently an "ethics particle" in the Hamburg Org once again, anyway this is the treatment which I have to go through for the time being. I have certainly made many mistakes, nevertheless I am in the position to see and remedy them. However, since 1991 started there is a situation between me and the Hamburg Org (and only this org) which has not resolved itself. I wrote you about it at the time since I still wanted to do more for the org and didn't trust myself and did Q and A. At his point in time I had very good statistics as a Scientologist; for instance I had bridged over 1,000,000.00 DM for the org in the past 12 months. Even if I have indulged in a few flubs since then, my Stats as a Scientologist have not essentially changed, which, in my opinion, has been completely overlooked in Hamburg. At Detlef's suggestion I have put all my "good deeds" side by side with the bad. Here are the "good deeds" of the last two weeks:

1. organized 5,000.00 DM for the AOSH carpet
2. finished a Special Project for Gold (Commendation from EC)
3. organized telephone and fax connections for OSA HH
4. reg'ed 13,700.00 DM for Gabi XXXXXXX (Stuttgart)
5. handled 10,000.00 DM Marion XXXXXXs bank for GI Hamburg Org
6. organized 14,300.0 DM for Sabine XXXXXXXXXX GI Hamburg Org
7. organized 2,200.00 DM for Marc XXXXXXXX Purif Start Hamburg Org
8. started Michael XXXXX on DIV 6 Hamburg Org
9. reg'ed Martin XXX after 1 1/2 years recoverd and Lifetime IAS
10. got together 5,000.00 DM and made payment to Flag, myself
11. made 1,500.00 DM payment to HH and bought Red Volumes
12. put about 15,000.00 DM at others disposal for the Bridge

I continue to do many small cycles which I have not listed individually. I have done all this in addition to my production for Detlef, who has verified that he is receiving products from me. I have been assigned a lower condition from the Org with which I cannot assume because it is not my condition. I am presently doing everything possible in order to support this org. In spite of that, there has been something on the lines between me and the org since the beginning of the year. I have received Class XII HGC Sec Checks at Flag and am sure that there are no overts against the org. Please help me get this line cleared.

SPD expert Voigt on mutual misperceptions

From: "Hamburger Abendblatt"
February 4, 1999

by Sabine Tesche

Member of the class of '68 advertises in America

Hamburg - As of today, the long-term SPD representative and spokesman on foreign politics for his party, Karsten Voigt, is the new Coordinator for German-American Cooperation in the Foreign Office. The politician of the 1968 generation will also be responsible for relations with Canada. The "Abendblatt" asked him a few questions:

Hamburger Abendblatt:
What will be your assignment as new Coordinator?

Karsten Voigt:
My function is to render a type of assistance in which I present the thoughts of the German government, Parliament and people to the USA. Conversely, I am also supposed to address potential problems and risks in Germany in US-German relations. I also have a strong interest in improving German relations with the American Jews. In Germany, the Jewish associations are often seen only as a bother. That is wrong. These Americans have a strong interest in political proceedings with us. And there are misperceptions on both sides. We view the Americans as a free people who sometimes practice a brutal competition. A judgment which does not rule in the German favor is that our social state is commercially inefficient.

Hamburger Abendblatt:
How do you judge present relations? What will be changing under the new administration?

Karsten Voigt:
Relations are good, but things will happen differently than they did in the past, when there were still very strong, classical, security-political issues of the East-West conflict. Now relations will be more stamped with commercial pragmatism and the common approach to conflicts such as the one in Yugoslavia or the worldwide spread of weapons of mass destruction. We are experiencing a change of generation in a "red-green" administration which has different opinions about socio-economic-political issues, and we're up against an overwhelmingly [US] Republican Congress. There will have to be a new Atlanticism with people who used to demonstrate against US politics in the 1970's and 1980's. Here I see a chance to reach a new consensus on formerly controversial issues in trans-Atlantic relations.

Hamburger Abendblatt:
Where do you see possible problems in the relationship?

Karsten Voigt:
The USA has a tendency to make decisions and then expect that we will support them, whether or not they consulted us in advance. That is not well tolerated by all Germans. There also continue to be varying opinions as to concepts of freedom, such as with Scientology. For the Americans, the rights of this organization are an expression of religious freedom. We find it necessary to proceed against groups which we perceive as undemocratic.

Hamburger Abendblatt:
Is the Schroeder administration now approaching the US administration more self-consciously?

Karsten Voigt:
The generation which I represent has become self-conscious enough to make it clear that we are representatives of a stable democracy. Of course it came about with the help of the USA, but our own standpoints and interests which contrast with America's are just as legitimate as their own, even if their country is more powerful. The impression of the post-war era played a big role with the older generation in dealing with the USA. A view of the past is important, but it is not the only thing which determines the future.

http://www.hamburger-abendblatt.de/bin/ha/set_frame/set_frame.cgi?seiten_url=/contents/ha/news/politik/html/040299/FOHKT0.HTM

Expert says Scientology losing Members

From: WN Online, Germany
January 30, 1991

Hamburg (dpa) - According to expert Ursula Caberta, the Scientology organization is continuing to lose members in Germany.

"The sect has lost significant influence, primarily in northern Germany; the number of people leaving is increasing," said Caberta in a meeting with the dpa. For years Caberta, the Scientology commissioner in the Hamburg government, has been one of the most ardent critics of the controversial organization.

New members are obviously hard to come by. Hardly anyone can be recruited off the street anymore. "Our information campaign has born fruit," said Caberta. The Scientology center on the Hamburg Steindamm which was long considered to be particularly successful is said to have big financial problems. Part of that is due to financially well-to-do members having left the organization. "There continue to be demands from people who have left to get their money back," said Caberta. That includes the owner of the Hamburg Scientology building, a businessman from Itzehoe, who is now demanding the rent.

At the same time, the Scientology expert warns against "calling off the alert" even though the number of members is sinking in Germany. The wave of esoterica which Scientology swam in on continues to boom. The "psycho-market" is growing on the whole. How much of a decline in membership Scientology has suffered in Germany cannot be calculated, said Caberta. In the past year she estimated the number of active Scientologists nationwide to be more than 10,000.

http://www.wnonline.de/ext1/brennpunkte/onl21_1_3001_0130121754.html

Investor plans new construction on Steindamm

Will Scientology pay the Rent?

From: "Hamburger Abendblatt"
November 24, 1998

The Hamburg Scientology Center, former beacon for the sect, is not only a shadow of its former self. "Until 1992, the Hamburg organization was the most successful Scientology unit in the world. That's over now," said Ursula Caberta, Director of the Hamburg State Work Group on Scientology. "Today the Scientologists have difficulties paying the rent for their center on Steindamm." If things continue as they have been, then the "show will be over." According to plans filed by investors, the Scientology building is to be torn down for new construction.

The number of people involved with the Hamburg branch has also plummeted. Caberta estimates that there are still currently between 1,000 and 1,500 members in and around Hamburg. In her opinion, the organization had about 5,000 adherents several years ago. Nationwide, the number has more than halved from 30,000 down to 10-15,000.

Caberta sees the reason for the waning attraction of Scientology as being the significant reduction of the real estate business and rental income. The percentage of companies with Scientologists in real estate has dropped. "On top of that, our information campaign has fared well and the recruitment of new members for the organization has been made difficult," said Caberta.

The herald in matters of Scientology emphatically warned, however, of underestimating the organization. "The dangers associated with Scientology are not dependent upon the number of members." "Introducing totalitarian concepts into government" would take 100 people in key positions. In order to make known the background and partially criminal machinations of Scientology, the work group has just published the booklet, "Scientology - Maze of Illusion" in hardcopy form. The history, the ideology and the totalitarian system of the organization is presented in detail on 151 pages. The free booklet can also be obtained from the State Center for Political Education.

Caberta sees as necessary the surveillance of Scientology by the Constitutional Security agency, as voted upon by the Interior Ministers Conference at the end of last week. The Scientology opponent criticizes the position of the Green federal party, which sees the proceedings as overstated.

pum

http://www.hamburger-abendblatt.de/contents/ha/news/lokales/html/241198/1324SCIE2.HTM

---

Scientology Power Waning

State office: the influence of the organization is sinking. Fewer members, building on Steindamm to be inventoried.

by Judith Weber

Less rental income, fewer members and the process server at the door: influence and power of Scientology has drastically dropped, rejoiced Ursula Caberta, Director of the Work Group on Scientology for the state offices, yesterday. "The organization is no longer doing as well as it was at the beginning of the 1990's."

At that time the north Germany unit, which also belonged to the Hanseatic City, had been one of the most effective. "That is over now." In Caberta's opinion, it was mainly the declining income of the rental and real estate businesses that weakened the organization.

"It has gotten quiet for Scientology on the homeowners and renters market," confirmed Christine Keine from the "Renters helping renters" group yesterday. That is due primarily to the wave of conversions from rental units to condominiums now being a thing of the past. Several years ago, said Caberta, renters associations were estimating that the organization still had a third of the market share.

Since then "the information campaign has fared well," she praised her staff. The recruitment of new members is said to have gotten more difficult; "the image of Scientology is clearly worse than even several years ago." In Germany "Scientology has become a completely normal political theme." Caberta estimates that there are still up to 15,000 people in the organization nationwide; in Hamburg there is said to be about 1,500 active members.

Apparently the Scientologists in the Hanseatic City will soon be threatened with an entry order. They would not let a bill collector into the building, so the city court had to make a decision, said Caberta.

She hopes, anyway, that the building on Steindamm will soon no longer be available to Scientology. The current owner wants to sell the property; an interested investor has already announced that he intends to have the building torn down.

In spite of all these good reports, the state staff member does not want to give the impression that there is no longer any danger. "It does not depend upon the absolute number of members. A couple hundred active members in the right positions would be enough to promulgate the humanly despicable concepts of the organization."

Apparently the Interior Ministers of the German states think similarly. They decided at their conference last Friday to continue to have Scientology observed by the Constitutional Security Agency.

In conjunction with the State Center for Political Education, the Hanseatic State Authority has published the third edition of an informational booklet: "Scientology - Maze of Illusions."

TAZ-HAMBURG Nr. 5694 vom 24.11.1998 Seite 21 Hamburg
© Contrapress media GmbH

Financial Problems and Dwindling Membership in the North

From: "Yahoo! Schlagzeilen Politik"
Monday, November 23, 1998, 12:54 hours

Hamburg (AP) According to a presentation made by sect commissioner Ursula Caberta, the Hamburg Scientology Center is suffering under financial problems and dwindling membership. An increasing number of ex-members are demanding their money back, and a decision to seize property for payment is in process, said the expert, who had been specially assigned by the Hamburg Senate for the observation of Scientology, to journalists on Monday. While the organization has numbered its members in the north German coastal states at 5,000, the actual membership has shrunk to 1,000-1,500 adherents.

"Things are no longer going well with Scientology," said Caberta. Rich members have left the organization, and even the Scientology attorneys are showing up less frequently for court dates. Until 1992, the Hamburg Center was regarded as the most successful in the world. Now the organization is in arrears with its rent at the Hamburg Center.

The Interior Ministers Conference had decided, in the past week, upon further surveillance of Scientology by the Constitutional Security agency, because of points in common with anti-constitutional goals. Scientology, which gives its membership in Germany at 30,000, actually has only 10-15,000 members.

AP-Nachrichten - The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 1998 The Associated Press, alle Rechte vorbehalten

Scientology Center gives way to new construction

Owner wants to sell property on Steindamm,
plans for apartment and office building

From: "DIE WELT"
November 2, 1998

ari - After the city's plan to drive the Scientology sect out of its center on Steindamm failed, a resolution to the matter has now appeared on a different level: the owner of the property at Steindamm 63 wants to sell.

As reported by the news magazine "Focus", the sect center will give way to a new twelve to 14 story building with 10,000 square meters floor space. That is said to be the seller Dirk Ohrendorf's plan, himself a former member of the sect organization.

At the moment sales are being negotiated, replied Ohrendorf to a WELT inquiry. He also said the construction plans have already been presented to the appropriate offices: "It's now in the works." He envisions a combination office and apartment building for his property, which could contain up to 1,000 work places. The fact that Steindamm lies in the problem-infested St. Georg district of the city is no problem to investment seekers, says Ohrendorf, who wants to have the appropriate contracts wrapped up within the next six months. As soon as the sale has been clinched, the Scientology Organization will be given notice. About nine years ago, Ohrendorf himself got the sect in the building, which he had acquired the year previous.

The news magazine "Focus" sees the evident impending sale of the German sect center as an indication of the brewing decline of the organization into meaninglessness. For some time now the involvement of Scientology in the real estate market - which they at one point had heavily influenced by using a network of sect-related companies - has been ebbing strongly. "The market here has collapsed for them," the magazine cited Wilfried Lehmpfuhl, attorney at the Hamburg Renters Association. At the moment only one single real estate deal in Hansestadt involving Scientologists is known to the Renters Association.

No Witch Hunt

From "taz"
April 11, 1998

Constitutional Protection Office and Interior Senate warn of Scientology Secret Service

Not a church, but a "multi-national, tightly-structured hierarchical and totalitarian-aligned psycho-business": after an intensive one-year surveillance, this is what the Hamburg Office of Constitutional Protection warns us about the Scientology organization. Secret Service Chief Reinhard Wagner and Interior Senator Hartmuth Wrocklage (SPD) presented a brochure on Maundy Thursday, in which, for the first time, the "crack secret service and propaganda apparatus" of Scientology were spotlighted, through which the "totalitarian and extremist goals" are to be accomplished. Their summary: "We must relentlessly gather information." Wrocklage does not want to ban Scientology.

He would also not wish to bring about a "witch hunt." He does not wish to discredit the simple members, just the opposite: "We'll be there for them with advice and help." Things are not that way as far as the functionaries are concerned, in particular the secret service, the "Office for Special Affairs (OSA)".

The report reads as if passages of it were taken out of a secret agent film of the 1950's. "The repulsion of opponents from within and without" is to be carried out by means of psychological warfare and secret service methods such as espionage and counter-espionage. Operational areas include "gray areas of illegality" and do not stop at "criminal actions." According to a "Fair Game Law" any Scientology critic can be deprived of property and have damages incurred at will.

When asked for individual examples, Wagner and Wrocklage were somewhat more terse. No, punishable actions by Scientology were not known. Also, "no real danger for the fundamentals of liberal democracy" is imminent.

In his search for an answer to the question as to whether the surveillance of Scientology would not help bring about the cessation of political extremist organizations, and would it help preserve the Office of Constitutional Protection itself, Wrocklage went so far as to make a comparison: "When Hitler wrote 'Mein Kampf' in the 1920's, one should also have been forewarned."

Elke Spanner

Relentless Severity

From the "Hamburger Abendblatt"
April 11, 1998

"Information and more Information" - that is the best way, from the viewpoint of Hamburg's City Senator Hartmuth Wrocklage (SPD), to deal with the controversial Scientology organization. Wrocklage presented a report, which had to do with the structure, mission and goals of the "Scientology Secret Service," to the State Office for Constitutional Protection.

This is not about a "witch hunt against individuals, who have come upon Scientology in good faith," said the senator. On the contrary, whoever would wish to leave the organization would be helped [by this report.] However, "we will proceed with relentless severity" against the functionaries of the OSA secret service (Office of Special Affairs).

The tangible mission of the OSA includes, according to this investigation:

- The repelling of attacks against Scientology,

- directly influencing governments and important social groups,

- the pursuit and disparagement of critics and former members by overwhelming lawsuits, methodical spying, defamation and psycho-terror.

Scientology, according to Wrocklage, is not a church, but a "multi-national, tightly constructed hierarchy and totalitarian psych-business." It pursues "endeavors which are against our liberal-democratic fundamentals", and tries "to bring about its politically extremist goals by any means available to its crack secret service and propaganda apparatus." The end goal is the "freeing" of Germany, Europe, and the planet (clear planet). Wrocklage stated, "That would then be a different society." Strategies and processes are expressly based upon directives and instructions of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. The organizations are, to a high degree, accountable. "We take the writings of Hubbard seriously", said Wrocklage. Hitler had already written "Mein Kampf" in 1923, which he expanded upon later.

Hamburg's Scientology speak, Frank Busch, called the investigation "malicious and far removed from reality." A copy of the investigation is available at the senate building.

(scho)

Graham Berry at Night

April 2, 1998

The announced meeting took place on March 31, 1998 with the American attorney, Graham Berry, in the Union Building on Besenbinderhof in Hamburg.

The fact that a small, insignificant group of the SC had put in an appearance at the entrance - adherents with a placard and leaflets warning of the "notorious" attorney - was mentioned only briefly.

The principle point of the meeting was that Scientology, while invoking its constitutional right to freedom of speech, denies that right to its own members. This assessment of Scientology as a totalitarian organization is also shared by many Americans. The discussion was captured live by the "Phoenix" broadcasting company.

Scientology's methods can be compared to those of the communist or National Socialists, according to Graham Berry. It was particularly interesting to learn how members, who either depart or wish to depart, are handled.

These methods were explained using those of intelligence services. Investigations using private detectives, and the provocational interrogation of neighbors and colleagues are two of the methods used to destroy the professional and private existence of people who break with or wish to break contact with SC. This is why it is so difficult to bring people who have left Scientology to testify as eye witnesses or to make public appearances.

At this time, only a "hand full" of lawyers are processing cases against Scientology, because such actions also, of course, take place against lawyers. The secret service apparatus of SC, according to Graham Berry, has been extensively evaluated by a small city of experts. The apparatus has to do with threatening opponents of SC and overseeing their own members.

Fm Germany: Graham Berry!

March 31, 1998
TAZ-HAMBURG
page 21 TAZ report

Citizen's Rights Obstructed

US Attorney Graham Berry lectures in Hamburg about the Scientology Sect

Hollywood stars such as John Travolta and Tom Cruise are accustomed to being stars. But for Graham Berry they are dependent puppets being exploited by the Scientology sect. The US defense attorney has represented those who have been harmed by the internationally active sect for years. As a guest of Ursula Caberta, member of the Enquete Commission on "so-called sects and psycho-groups", he spent some time in Hamburg to explain about "the dark side of Scientology."

His analysis of the ideology of the Scientology sect falls into three categories: power, purification and punishment. Over a long period of time Scientology has been developing political and commercial power. In that sense, according to the US attorney, Scientology is a political organization. Critical information which contradicts the sect's goals is removed -- "purified." Scientology wants to remove passages from legal decisions; in the library it wants to remove whole pages from books.

The point which is also interesting for Hamburg, grinned the attorney, is the punishment of members of Scientology as well as critics. Members, to some extent, lose their civil rights. Because of "religious rehabilitation", which is the public designation for punishment, many are brought into a camp where they have to, for instance, run for twelve hours a day around a flagpole. High fences, armed guards - "for me that is the peaceful Church of Scientology."

nb

Graham Berry by Day

Scientology Expert from USA Speaks in Hamburg

"Hamburger Abendblatt" (Hamburg Evening News)
March 31, 1998

"Criminal Conduct"

Scientology is, according to civil rights attorney Graham Berry from Los Angeles, an organization that "uses religion as a cloak to cover its commercial characteristics and criminal conduct." The goal of Scientology, he said, is nothing else but world domination.

The attorney, who represents those injured by the sect in the USA, is an expert on the controversial organization. Ursula Caberta, leader of the Hamburg Task Group on Scientology, had invited him to Hamburg while she was on a trip to the USA.

Berry will speak this evening at 7 o'clock in the hall of the union building on Besenbinderhof on the subject of "The dark side of Scientology." There he will compare and contrast the "bright and public side" of the organization with their Hollywood stars such as John Travolta and Tom Cruise, and the "dark side with their secret and long-term goals of taking over political and commercial power.

According to Berry's view, the German officials, in contrast to the American, are pursuing "not only the right, but the only course." What the members believe in is their own concern, but their practices should be subject to certain rules. When somebody molests their critics and withholds human rights from their own members, "I have my difficulties with that," said Berry.

While Scientology alleges eight million members world-wide, Berry estimates the number of active members at only 50,000.

(scho)

Scientology: a young sect ex-member reports for the first time

From: "Sueddeutsche Zeitung"
April 21, 1997

Tanya's Training as the perfect machine

She wanted to become a better, happier person - what a 16 year old went through instead with the elite corps of Hubbard youths in England

by Michaela Haas

Hamburg, in April. Tanya spoke cooly and detached, like a radio announcer, as she told how she lost her childhood. She neither raised, nor lowered, her voice. Her hands rested motionless on her legs. No picture hangs on the white walls of her small dwelling to liven up the emptiness. Tanya had been on the highest road there was, as described by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard in his vision of a god-like person, "a perfect machine, well oiled, shimmering with power, and in a position to direct all her own functions without need of any further expectation."

Tanya does not look like she has just come of age. Her chubby-cheeked face with no make-up under her shoulder-length, red hair makes her look child-like, but what she says and how she says it has nothing to do with youthfulness, nothing innocent. She is so horribly grown up, as only a person, who has never been permitted to have a proper childhood, can be. Perhaps it will become clear to this teenager, what hopes and dreams Scientology appeals to, how cleverly the organization seizes hold of a person's identity. Whenever Tanya talks about Scientology, she says "we" or "church" - just as she has been trained to do from a toddler onwards.

It has been nine months since Tanya fled Saint Hill with the help of the British police. The Sea Org in Saint Hill, officially an elite organization of Scientology in Sussex, England, is what Scientology parents dream of for their children. This is where the future leaders of the so-called church are trained, a salvation group which is supposed to lead humanity over "the bridge to total freedom." From what Tanya tells us, though, it does not sound like a religious place.

Tanya was 16 years old when she stopped going to school in Stuttgart and went to Saint Hill - voluntarily. "I thought that the people there would be like saints," she said. "You heard people saying that everyone there abided by the rules, no one scolded you, no one lied, nobody fooled you. You were told that everything there was so perfect." Her father had just moved in with his new girlfriend, and Tanya felt she was in the way. In Saint Hill, she thought, she would be received with open arms by a loving community. Tanya joined Scientology and signed a "contract for a billion years." That means for this life and for all others in which you come back. She sighed. That would not have been stupidity, she said, half apologizing, "that was naivete." She had been promised 30 (British) pounds per week, and a day off every other Saturday. However, when she got to Saint Hill, nothing was perfect and nothing happened as promised.

Bullies in Charge

What awaited Tanya was eight to ten hours work per day, followed by five hours study of the Hubbardist writings. She seldom got to bed before midnight. About 300 Scientologists live in Saint Hill, including, according to Scientology's own statement, 77 children and teenagers. "There were more and more children," said Tanya. She pulls a pile of photographs from a paper bag in order to show a picture of herself. Her red hair shone unmistakably from a crowd of young girls in school uniforms. At the time she was still slim. She put on many pounds later, as if she needed this thick, soft, protective layer.

The photographs also show a castle-like manor, a luxuriously furnished library, and splendid, wood-panelled halls, "really very idyllic, a vision of beauty," said Tanya. She pointed to a building in the background of the 22 hectare (55 acre) park. That was the sauna for the "purification rundown," a cure in which Scientologists sit for hours in the sauna in order to sweat out poisons. She and other youths had helped to build the sauna. "That was hellish work. Also, we had to dig the path through the park. We had to dig it up three times, each time approximately one meter (yard) deep and one meter wide. That was the time that we had to work throughout the night.

Apparently no work was too rigorous for children, some of whom were 14 years old. She received the promised amount of money for her work once or twice, other times she received nothing, "or only three to six pounds and as good as never got a day off. Because, in order to have a day off, you had to have somebody to replace you. And there simply wasn't anybody." Tanya raises serious accusations. She was not permitted to leave her post, not even when she had a fever. One time she was beat up by another Scientologist. "They didn't want to let me go to the doctor, until I told them I would not lift another finger at work." The doctor diagnosed a brain concussion and prescribed at least three days rest, "but I was not permitted to lie down. I was on post." Sometimes she was not relieved to go eat or to use the bathroom. "If I went anyway, there was trouble. They took it out on you. You were yelled at and humiliated. There is a rigid hierarchy at Saint Hill."

Every offense was recorded in the ethics file, detailed accounts which are used if someone breaks the Scientology rules. "Then they write the report which goes into the folder." That way the sect has information on everybody, "and if you want to leave, they can use it to put pressure on you." Tanya reported exactly, and, upon being questioned, recalled precise details. The Scientology Commissioner of the Hamburg Senate, Ursula Caberta, who takes care of Tanya, regards her as absolutely credible.

Scientology reacts nervously to all this. Unsummoned, Scientology speaker Georg Stoffel showed up at the "Sueddeutsche Zeitung" editorial desk. He asked whether the "SZ" had researched Tanya's history, and he wanted to present proof that Tanya was a notorious liar, had stolen, a relative had even threatened to take legal measures because of this. Weeks before, in a different matter, he had sent a five page letter from Tanya's father, an ardent Scientologist, in which he regretted that his daughter had broken off her "process of self- and truth discovery" at Saint Hill. As far as any unpleasantness she may have related about his "church", he said she was an "underage girl ... still unstable", and had problems with honesty. However, the father was not ready to talk with the "SZ". His attorney said that he would sue if his family name were to be made public.

Anyway, the Scientology speaker wanted to present proof against Tanya. Stoffel and his colleague, Sabine Weber, waited for us in one of the conference rooms of the Dianetic center in Munich, under a giant picture of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. They had a pile of documents - but these did not have to do with Tanya, but about alleged discrimination against Scientologists. The accusation against Tanya turned out to be an angry letter by an aunt who complained that Tanya had drunk nine liters of cola, taken 20 marks, and ran up a 400 mark ($300) phone bill, not entirely unusual offenses for a teenager. An opinion from Saint Hill dismissed Tanya's accusations as "dream-like fantasies of a manipulated teenager." However, the Scientologists confirmed Tanya's credibility in their letter. She was involved in the construction of the sauna. The letter read, "her work hours were from 8:30 a.m. to 10 at night" - as if that were a normal assignment.

The strident orders, the arduous physical labor to the point of total exhaustion, even the existence of a punishment camp in Saint Hill - called a "rehabilitation project" in Scientology jargon - all that has been testified to in detail by both English and and other German ex-members. This is the first time a youthful ex-Scientologist has spoken about what happens to children in the most feared and most secret cadre of the sect, the Sea Org. How an entire generation of the sect is put to work there, how they have perhaps no chance of ever finding their way out of the Scientology maze. Previously only Scientology's failed attempt to put children into their own school in Hamburg, the successful establishment of a school in Denmark, to which Scientology children from Hamburg are also sent, was known.

In Hubbard's teachings, there are no children, only thetans, god-like beings, in larger or smaller bodies. "Every law which pertains to the behavior of men and women", wrote Hubbard, "also pertains to children." An adult German ex-Scientologist said that she had seen with her own eyes, at Saint Hill, an eight year old who had been certified as a so-called auditor, a Scientology confessor, who manipulates others with hypnotic processes. "Age is not as important in Scientology," said Tanya, "as how much you produce. Because of this, children can occupy positions of great importance. You must call them "sir" and hold the door open for them." Her direct supervisor at Saint Hill had been 13 years old.

Tanya, born in Zimbabwe, grew up in South Africa, and took her first Scientology course when she was about eight years old. It was a children's communication course in Johnannesburg. "It was supposed to improve my relationship with my stepmother," said Tanya, "but it didn't do that." Her mother died when Tanya was four years old. Her father and his new wife were Scientologists. They took many courses and paid a high price. "My family had paid much money for that," said Tanya, "in Scientology, nothing is for free." At seven years old, the oldest son of her father's girlfriend had already had to get auditing, hours long interrogation on a lie detector. "He hated it, every time. A child does not want to go into the org on weekends, sit in a room for hours, and be interrogated."

The questionnaire for a typical "Security Check" for six to twelve year olds shows how systematically children have feelings of shame of guilt thrust upon them: "What has someone forbidden you to tell?" - "Have you ever disappointed your parents?" - "Have you ever done something to your body that you should not have done?" and so forth, up to 99 questions.

When she was hit as a child, said Tanya, she was not consoled, but asked instead, "What have you done wrong?" That is supposed to mean, "What mistake have I made that I have pulled in this kind of unhappiness?" At home she was very unhappy and lonely. "One time I asked my father what he would do if I killed myself. His answer: 'You are responsible for yourself.'" This is a typical answer for a Scientologist, says Tanya, who settled the matter by going away to Saint Hill.

After Tanya proved herself by helping to build the sauna, "after numerous intelligence tests and checks", she was assigned to one of the seven "divisions." Tanya went to the HCO, the Hubbard Communications Office. "We were responsible for everything that had to do with communications, the front line for mail and advertising," she said. All mail was opened. Advertisements, which came in bundles of up to 4,000 pieces, had to be folded, and put in envelopes by the children, and stamped. HCO was also responsible for recruiting new people, preventing escapes, and bringing back escapees. More people left, said Tanya, than supposed, but very few of them are willing to talk about their experiences - out of fear. The organization knows everything about the defectors. Everything has been recorded in the "ethics folders", anything said by a Scientologist during his auditing sessions. Tanya said, "You were really treated like a piece of garbage." Six months later she knew enough about the structure to plan her own escape from Saint Hill.

At first, Tanya announced officially that she wished to leave. As a result of that, she says, she was locked in a room by the security officials. "I had to write everything down that I have ever done wrong in my life. I cheated on a test once. I stole five marks, everything possible." She was put on the lie detector and put under constant watch. "Someone was constantly with me so that I would not take off, so that I would not do anything wrong." Tanya altered her tactics. She claimed that her father was on his death bed after a heart attack, and that she had to see him - and she received leave.

In August of 1996, she traveled back to Saint Hill to pick up her personal belongings. She thought that her lies had not yet been detected. Nevertheless, Scientology had suspicions, and Tanya became afraid. With the help of Ursula Caberta, the Scientology Commissioner of the Hamburg Senate and the British police, she finally fled Saint Hill two days later.

Tanya's narrative sounds like a nightmare, and it is continuing. She reported that, directly after her escape, she was approached by two unknown men in an automobile while she was on her way to Caberta's office, "Tanya, what are you doing here?" Tanya thought one of them wished to shake her hand, because he held his hand out. "But then, when I did not reach out to shake his hand, he grabbed me and pulled me into the car." The men drove her around for hours, apparently without going anywhere. Tanya lost her sense of direction. "They said I knew what was going to happen, and I had earned it." Tanya supposed that she would be brought back to England. "I committed a crime, just taking off like that." As they drove through a city, she was able to break loose at a stop light. She called for the police. The search for the kidnappers turned up nothing. The investigation had to be called off without being closed. However, the speaker for the Hamburg District Attorney's Office, Ruediger Bagger, confirmed that the case was being taken seriously, but he did not wish to go into details. "I don't want to claim that it was Scientologists," said Tanya, "but they used Scientology words. Nobody else speaks like that."

To Finally Be Important

After that, Tanya hardly went out of the house alone. During that time, she said, she could hardly sleep at night. She was constantly running over to the window whenever she heard a car outside. She assumed a false identity, a false background. Despite protective measures, for three weeks she has been terrorized over the telephone. Some evenings the telephone rings incessantly, sometimes at three o'clock in the morning, and nobody is ever on the other end. She thought it over very carefully before telling her story to this newspaper. It is a kind of reparation: she had recruited other children into Scientology and possibly ruined their lives. It is also the conclusion of her past years, closing down of her past with Scientology, as well as her childhood in a broken home. Going to the press, as far as the Scientologists are concerned, is one of the worst sins. Ursula Caberta says that the police are informed and will now "have to check more often into Tanya's rights." Tanya says, "Scientology is a dictatorship, and I want everybody to know that."

She also still blames herself. "Somehow I was stupid enough to believe all that," she said, and recalled some of the absurd ideas that had been made a part of her childhood: "That one could recall things in this life which happened millions of years ago, that you were maybe a rock, I think ..." she says and taps her forehead. She had to also recall what she liked about it, "the feeling of being important, being good, doing anything, and being able to get anything. That's what most people are looking for, and that's how you end up in there."

Starting in August, Tanya will be going back to school again, two years behind her class. She is on her own, aided by a welfare grant. She only has contact with her grandmother, from whom she has learned that her father does not want anything more to do with her. Tanya wrote him a letter, really only one line, "Since I love him, it's all the same to me what happens." She just does not want to be one of those people who do not say when they love others. She says, "I do not think that he will ever speak with me again."

Scientologists embroiled in controversy all across Europe

From:
http://www.svz.de/archiv/newsdw/1997/Januar/30./Vermischtes/scientol.html

Neither recognized as a religious community nor tax-exempt in most countries

From: "Schweriner Volkszeitung" January 30, 1997

Baden-Baden/Hamburg (AP) Sect experts from CDU and CSU have summarily dismissed the criticism of the American state department with regard to Germany's handling of Scientology members. Scientology is not a religious community, but a psycho-business which seeks to "exploit people" by using a cloak of religion, said the Bavarian Minister of the Interior, Gunther Beckstein, yesterday.

The Scientologists are embroiled in controversy in European countries other than Germany, where they have been the center of dispute for years. There are even critics of the "Church of Scientology" in their homeland of the USA, where they have their headquarters in Los Angeles (California). Founded in 1954 by Ron Hubbard, the science fiction writer, the organization was finally acknowledged in the United States in 1993 as a religious community - with corresponding tax privileges.

Greece has taken drastic measures against the operations of the Scientologists by prohibiting the organization after a legal proceeding at the end of last year. Scientology has appealed the decision. Confiscated documents have proven that the organization spies on and slanders politicians, journalists and clergymen.

A Scientology hearing in France has also hit the headlines, in which a parliamentary committee on sects denounced the "exorbitant financial demands" made by Scientology on its members. Shortly before his suicide in 1988, during his "handling" by Scientology, a Hubbard adherent had borrowed 30,000 franks (about $6,000) to pay a bill to Scientology. During the inquest of the man's death, the presiding judge in Lyon determined in 1996 that Scientology had intended to separate people from their money "with fraudulent methods," by which their freedom of choice was taken from them. The former Scientology chief of Lyon, Jean-Jacques Mazier, was sentenced to three years imprisonment for negligence, fraud, and attempted fraud. The court stated at that time, "Religious freedom has its limits in the interests of public order."

Susanne Ellerby, the Danish former Scientologist, has confirmed that there is a prison camp near Copenhagen for members who wish to leave or who do not conform. They are held partially against their will, or held back from fleeing "with force." According to her own statement, the 31 year old belonged to the management level of the organization.

According to an article in the Danish newspaper, "Politiken," Copenhagen, where Scientology manages two hotels and other establishments, is the headquarters for a network, called WISE, of 2,700 Scientology companies in Europe, Asia and Africa.

Just as the Spanish administration has done in Madrid, the administration in London has determined, "Scientology is not a religion." According to an article in the "Sunday Times," Scientology in Great Britain had an income of 5.6 million pounds. Lord McNair, a prominent member [of the sect], is a Liberal Democrat and a member of the upper house [of Parliament]. The 49 year old, according to press reports, publicly acknowledged that he was a Scientologist during a question and answer period in parliamentary chambers.

A Scientology application for recognition as a church in Austria has been undecided for years. After unconfirmed reports of Scientology operations in kindergartens, schools and teachers' training, the ministry of culture has been promoting an information campaign in this area for a long time. Nevertheless, Scientology has established "home education" which cannot be controlled, the ministry has determined.

In Sweden, the Scientologists are leading a stubborn battle against the publication of internal documents. When an ex-member made these documents generally available on the internet, the organization immediately went to the courts. In the end, the documents disappeared without a trace.

In Switzerland, councils in Basel and Zurich are seeing about passing measures which would restrict the undesired activities of Scientology by prohibiting its recruitment methods.

On the other hand, Scientology has been acknowledged as an establishment for the public good in Belgium.

In Italy, a Mailand appeals court sentenced 29 Scientologists in December to imprisonment for between nine months and two years for forming a criminal association. The Ministry of the Interior, however, has decided that the Scientology organization will not be banned.