Scientology
Break-down causes upset
Stuttgart, Germany
February 3, 2001
Stuttgarter ZeitungThe Labor Office in Stuttgart is in the spotlight because it referred an applicant to Scientology. In a parliamentary initiative, Carla Bregenzer, sect-political spokeswoman of the SPD state assembly faction, demanded intervention by the state administration. "We are mobilizing all legal means to fight the totalitarian psycho-business and the Stuttgart Labor office is blithely and heedlessly going on its merry way - we have to put a stop to this unspeakable business," said a press release.
As it has turned out in the meantime, the woman from Stuttgart is not the only one who was offered a job in the sect's Dianetics Center. Quite an array of unemployed called in yesterday to report that the Stuttgart Labor Office had referred them to the Scientology organization, which is under surveillance by Constitutional Security. One woman reported that she had gone to the sect to ask about the position. There she was told that in order to get the job she would have to become a member.
Carla Bregenzer said she was aware of a similar incident last April at the Goeppingen Labor Office. Several government staff there gave the impression they lacked "the urgently needed sensitivity."
moh
Stuttgart labor office refers people to Scientology
Trainee blamed for the failure
Strong criticism from the Assembly Building
Sect going to great lengths with advertising campaignStuttgart, Germany
February 2, 2001
Stuttgarter Zeitungby Michael Ohnewald
The Stuttgart Labor Office has come into the crossfire of critics. The agency fully officially offered a business management assistant a job with the Scientology organization. It listed an opening "for advertisement and marketing."
Gerdi W. (name changed) opened the letter from the Labor Office expectantly. The business manager assistant was looking for a job and had subscribed to the AIS ("Arbeitsinformationservice"). But her face flushed with anger as she read the letter from the state employment agency. The agency had told her to get in contact with an employer whose name she was somewhat familiar with - "Dianetics Stuttgart" - a branch of the Scientology organization, which is under observation by Constitutional Security.
As she read in the informative letter, the sect was looking for "full-time staff in the fields of management, bookkeeping, reception, advertising and marketing." The requirements for applicants were well within limits. The only requirement was "the desire to help other people and to improve oneself." Outraged, the Stuttgart woman called up the Labor Office. The woman she talked to didn't understand what all the excitement was about. "I'm not interested in that," was her reply.
The case was more than sobering for SPD city assemblyman Andreas Reissig. The SPD assembly house faction sect expert said he was "at a loss for words." He spoke of sloppiness, demanded response from the agency and wants to get party colleagues at the state level involved. The embarrassing break-down is viewed by the leading assemblyman as reason for the observation of the sect being continued. No coincidence that the Hubbard disciples have been going to great lengths in their recent recruitment drive.
Uwe Zink from the Labor Office in Stuttgart does not want to make excuses for the incident. "It should not have happened," he said. The faux pas was committed by "a trainee with a foreign passport" who could not have known anything about Dianetics or Scientology. According to Zink's statement, the Labor Office, by law, may not exclude job announcements from the sect. In the past though, job applicants were made aware of the background of such offers. Those who did not apply did not have to worry about forfeiting support.
That practice seems not to have made its way into every nook of the agency. Some staff even downplayed the incident as a bagatelle. Peter Kreuzhof of the Labor Office in Stuttgart said [something like, "if you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen"]. According to what he says Scientology floods the agency with requests. He said it's not so simple to keep tabs on it all.
Besides that the sect is hard to shake off, as shown by the case in Kassel. The Federal Social Court there allowed a 44-year-old Scientologist woman to continue to act as agent for Au-pair girls [live-in domestics]. The masseuse's permit had been revoked by the Federal Labor Agency. Although the Scientologist conceded that she had a "mission to proselytize," the court dismissed the federal agency's concern that personal data of the Au-pair force could be misused for recruitment purposes.
Shake-up in state help for sect
The Stuttgart Labor Office served as lackey for the Scientology organization, which is under observation by Constitutional Security. At least in one case the state labor agency did all the sect's work for it. The religion community, looking for new members, is seeking full-time staff for advertising and marketing. Hard to believe but one of these positions was offered to a business management assistant from Stuttgart (report above).
The entire case is highly embarrassing for the person responsible. It was said that a trainee is the one who shot the cash cow. So it was the apprentice. He is the smallest cog in the large machine of the agency and cannot defend himself.
The fact is that employment agencies are forced to list the job offerings from Scientology. Usually, however, the unemployed are apprised of the special circumstances of such offers. Those who do not apply for those jobs are explicitly told that this will not be held against them. But the management assistant from Stuttgart did not receive that notice. The Labor Office botched it - and something has to be done about that.
It cannot simply be presumed that a government agency has made itself into a handyman of a sect categorized by the state government as extremist. It was no coincidence that the new sect report recommended that the Hubbard disciples be kept under continued observation. Yet the early warning system has failed once again. The Scientologists have managed to score more hits in their widespread image campaign as time goes on. Here sect commercials are being displayed on city walls, there a city office turns into a willing helper. These incidents are making one thing clear: information on the sect is more necessary now than ever.
Once again a ban on recruiting on the streets and squares in Stuttgart will be strictly enforced for the Scientology Organization. This was stated by Executive Mayor Wolfgang Schuster. Specifically, members and staff of "Dianetik Stuttgart Scientology Kirche e.V." are prohibited from verbally accosting pedestrians on public land and inviting them to meetings for more information. Also, the association may not distribute brochures. The codes office has been instructed to follow up on every instance of illicit conduct. Scientology has been under observation since 1997 by State Constitutional Security because studies have yielded points indicative of endeavors counter to the Constitution. The ban on recruiting has been upheld by the Stuttgart Administrative Court and by the Baden-Wuerttemberg Superior Administrative Court.
Dispute about Scientology's recruitment campaign in Stuttgart
Stuttgart, Germany
August 9, 2000
Stuttgarter ZeitungScientology is making a conspicuous effort to recruit new members in Stuttgart. This is comes out of the current Constitutional Security report. As far as SPD city council member Andreas Reissig is concerned, the city is doing too little about the controversial contact campaign.
by Michael Ohnewald
Things have calmed down recently with the Scientologists, who say they have 5,000 members in Baden-Wuerttemberg alone. Nevertheless, the Baden-Wuerttemberg Interior Ministry, which estimates the number of adherents in the state at only 1,200, believes that continued surveillance of Scientology is necessary. All the more so because the organization, founded by L. Ron Hubbard to create a "new civilization," has not let up in its efforts to establish influence in society and politics, according to Constitutional Security.
SPD council member Andreas Reissig has long asked whether Scientology was enjoying "beginner's luck" in the state capitol. Executive Mayor Wolfgang Schuster has now reacted to a specific inquiry - and listed a series of recruitment operations held ,but for some of which Scientology had no permits. In other case, like at a vigil on Schlossplatz in March of last year, the city could not intervene. That action, according to Schuster, had to be permitted because of the freedom of assembly determinations. He furthermore indicated that Scientology was prohibited from "addressing pedestrians or inviting them to an informational meeting on public rights-of-way in Stuttgart." Neither were leaflets permitted to be handed out, as per city ordinance. Those who violated the rules could receive a fine of up to 3,000 marks. Further measures, from the council chief's perspective, would be "currently out of proportion."
Reissig, however, does not see it that way. The council member has often been involved with the organization as the administrative assistant to Carla Bregenzer, the sect political spokeswoman for the state assembly. "I regret no action is being taken by the city," Reissig said. He believes it is "negligent" not to shut the door on Scientology's marketing action, and advised Schuster to take a determined stance against Scientology. He said that at least a portion of its recruitment could be prohibited through use of a municipal special use clause.
In Stuttgart, according to Constitutional Security, the Scientologists operate a so-called "Class V Org," that means a major establishment with a wide variety of services. In past years the Hubbard adherents have garnered attention with exhibits and vigils. One of those recruitment operations had a legal consequence in that a young woman fell victim to a violent dispute with a Scientologist in March.
The female student, according to state attorney's office press spokesperson Sabine Maylaender, had popped a balloon with a recruitment message on it, whereupon a 44-year-old Scientologist man slapped her. Since then the doer has received a fine of the equivalent of 600 marks. The money was paid and the sentence is in effect, according to Maylaender.
The Constitutional Security report also talks about "particularly aggressive recruitment measures." For instance a newspaper shop keeper was repeatedly urged to put Scientology material on display in his shop. Finally the aggressive woman was shown the door, which prompted the following comment from her, "You'll hear more from Scientology." The organization, in fact, is beating its recruitment drums more loudly in Stuttgart. "We are not dumb," said Maja Nuesch of the Stuttgart Scientologists. "We would like to inform and proselytize." She said that in doing that her personnel always kept city ordinances.
Of course the 16-year-old female student who had the unpleasant run-in with the pugnacious recruiter on Schlossplatz does not see things that way. "He was totally out of control and hit me on the head repeatedly," she said. The student was traumatized as a result of the incident and will sue the Scientologists.
Scientology can advertise again
Stuttgart, Germany
July 21, 2000
Stuttgarter NachrichtenExecutive Mayor Wolfgang Schuster currently thinks further legal proceedings against public recruitment campaigns by Scientology is "not called for."
That can be gathered from his position on an inquiry which had been directed to the executive mayor by city councilman Andreas Reissig. In his inquiry, Reissig had asked the city administration, after a female student was attacked by a Scientology member, whether a so-called special-use clause could not be applied to a part of the controversial organization's public advertising. Although the office has the option of using a special-use clause for the good of the public order, according to city manager Till Neumann, the executive mayor, as he now says, sees no necessity for it in this case. That is an absurdity as far as Andreas Reissig is concerned: "In the unanimous opinions of all parties, Scientology is an enterprise with totalitarian ideology and is primarily active in the area of white-collar crime," countered the city councilman, "and I call the executive mayor's position negligent, irresponsible and innocently wide-eyed."
Meanwhile, charges have been filed against the Scientologist who is said to have struck a girl during a recruitment campaign on the "Kleinen Schlossplatz."
Constitutional Security advises companies to be more cautious
Even western countries are committing commercial espionage -
rightwing extremist crime up againStuttgart, Germany
May 26, 2000
Sindelfinger Zeitung, GermanyStuttgart (lsw) - the planned "Green Card," from the view of State Interior Minister Thomas Schaeuble, could lead to increased commercial espionage in Germany.
"We must be careful that this card not be used as a trap door for commercial espionage," said Schaeuble on Thursday at the presentation of the 1999 Constitutional Security report. Corporations should have second thoughts about "whom they let in," above all in information technology.
According to Constitutional Security, foreign intelligence agencies are spying more in Baden-Wuerttemberg offices, halls and books. "As it has been, the greatest danger comes from Russia, Iran and China," said the more than 200 page volume by Constitutional Security. However, there was no proof of commercial espionage from western countries. But State Office chief Helmut Rannacher seemed to be convinced "that countries like the USA, Canada and even Great Britain gather and evaluate information with a worldwide surveillance echelon."
Schaeuble and Rannacher could not give exact statements about the companies affected or the extent of the commercial damage. "Companies do not talk about it," said the chief of Constitutional Security. "We are sure that we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg." A new problem in the area of commercial espionage, in Rannacher's view, is the internet: "Many companies have no security consciousness." One example of this was the transmission of important company information openly through the e-mail system.
From Rannacher's statement, rightwing extremists also are making increased use of the internet to spread their mentalities: "The internet is a form with which they are able to circumvent prohibitions and spread their goals and agitation." Constitutional Security is also concerned by the rising number of rightwing extremist and anti-foreign motivated crimes in Baden-Wuerttemberg: a total of 61 cases were reported for the period (1998: 50). Slightly down, in contrast to that, is the number of neo-nazis (from 320 to 300) and the number of Skinheads (from 700 to 670). In Schaeuble' view, the rightwing extremist parties in Baden-Wuerttemberg also have to contend with a "constantly dwindling membership." The CDU politician believes further surveillance of the Republics is warranted.
The Scientology Organization will also continue to be scrutinized. "Since the Scientologists pursue the goal, as they always have, of securing and expanding their totalitarian system, there is a continuing need to have them observed by Constitutional Security," said Schaeuble. The state assembly SPD demand more attention be directed toward the rightwing and leftwing extremists. The Greens sharply criticize the work of Constitutional Security. They say that in the best-case scenario, the report states truisms. The Republicans accuse Schaeuble of misusing Constitutional Security as a political weapon against the opposition because a press release of a representative of the rightwing extremist party is cited in its annual report. Constitutional Security's report can be accessed on the internet at www.baden-wuerttemberg.de/verfassungsschutz
Caution: Scientology Advertising Campaign
Stuttgart - State politicians of the major parties have issued warnings of a new advertising campaign by the Scientology Organization. The organization is putting on more exhibitions and anniversary celebrations, believes the trans-partisan "Aktion Bildungsinformation" (ABI) in Stuttgart. It was said that the group tries to position itself at these events as a religious community with social goals. "We are convinced that these propaganda measures are part of an overall strategy with the goal of altering the face of our society according to the policies of Hubbardism," said ABI Board Chairman Eberhard Kleinmann. As examples he named operations entitled "What is Scientology?" and "L. Ron Hubbard," as well as celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the publishing of the "Dianetics" book.
FDP State Representative Dieter Kleinmann said that the advertising also takes place in kindergartens, schools, parish offices and around psychically unstable people. From the ABI's viewpoint, "Dianetics Stuttgart, Inc." plays a key role in financing the operations.
"Scientology is not a church, but a commercial enterprise with criminal tendencies," said SPD State Assembly Representative Carla Bregenzer. With her political colleagues from the FDP and CDU, she plans on giving increased support to the "Odenwaelder Wohnhof" pilot project. Former members of the sect can receive help there. lsw
Norbert Bluem (CDU) intends to use all means to keep Scientology from being acknowledged as a religious denomination in Germany. "The Scientologists have as much to do with a religious denomination as bicycles have to do with space travel," said the former Labor Minister. Bluem accused the Scientologists of having ruined many people.
"Scientology has lost influence"
Yet head Constitutional Security agent
believes surveillance is necessaryStuttgart, Germany
January 7, 2000
Stuttgarter Nachrichten, GermanyStuttgart (dpa) - Scientology's influence in politics, business and society, in the words of Helmut Rannacher, President of Baden-Wuerttemberg Constitutional Security, is less than feared in years past. Nevertheless, Rannacher made a case in a meeting with the dpa news agency to continue the observation of the organization by Constitutional Security. "If we stop the surveillance, the dams will burst again."
The number of the organization's adherents are considerably less than was first assumed, said Rannacher. That, however, changes nothing about the goal of the organization: "they want a different political system in the mid- and long-term." According to what Rannacher said, Scientology numbers about 5,000 to 6,000 members nationwide, about 1,200 of which are in Baden-Wuerttemberg.
Besides Hamburg and Berlin, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria are regarded as Scientologist strongholds. According to what Rannacher said, the organization seeks out areas in which "a fast buck" can be made - like business consultation and real estate deals. According to estimates, a third of Stuttgart's real estate market has the marks of Scientology. Rannacher pointed out statements by former Scientology members who say that the organization "uses this part of the economy as a money machine."
In the meantime, businesses and the general public have been reacting much more sensibly to Scientology and its cover organizations. Many know very much more quickly than they did a few years ago with whom they are dealing and "keep their hands off."
In 1997, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria were the first two German states to have Scientology put under surveillance by Constitutional Security. The only German state which continues not to do that is Schleswig-Holstein, whose legal situation rules out such a surveillance.
Constitutional Security agents continue surveillance
Rannacher: Extremist Objective
Stuttgart, Germany
December 29, 1999
Suedwest PresseThe influence of the Scientology Organization in politics, commerce and society is, in the assessment of Constitutional Security agents, less than feared in years past.
Stuttgart The number of Scientology adherents is, according to a statement by Helmut Rannacher, considerably lower than at first presumed. The influence of the organization was also said to be less than was formerly feared, the chief of Baden-Wuerttemberg Constitutional Security said yesterday. In spite of that, Rannacher supports the continued surveillance of Scientologists by his office. The goal of the organization, he said, was "a different political system in the middle and long range."
According to Rannacher's statement, Scientology has 5,000 to 6,000 members nationwide, about 1,200 of whom are in Baden-Wuerttemberg. As late as the early 1990's it was assumed that there were about 30,000 adherents in Germany. Besides Hamburg and Berlin, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria are regarded as strongholds of the Scientologists. A majority of the members, in Rannacher's estimation, are not politically motivated as a matter of course, "but merely acquire money and carry out the orders from Scientology Central." The "expansion of the group has leveled off" and is decreasing in some areas. Nevertheless, Rannacher believes it is still necessary to keep Scientology under surveillance because of its extremist objectives. "If we stop, the dams would break again," said Rannacher, "a halt to the surveillance by Constitutional Security would bring Scientology to take the offensive once more." Then the organization could continue to work in peace, according to Rannacher. In addition there are still a lot of areas in which it is unclear how strong the influence of Scientology is. As an example, Rannacher gave the political parties.
Rannacher said that Scientology did not have the goal of completely infiltrating commerce, but wanted to quickly accumulate large quantities of money. The organization seeks out segments in which "a fast buck" can be made: business consulting and the real estate trade. According to estimates, a third of the Stuttgart real estate transaction are been marked by Scientology in one form or another. Baden-Wuerttemberg Constitutional Security began surveillance of Scientology in early 1997. The only German state not participating in the surveillance is Schleswig-Holstein.
lsw
INFO
Scientology was founded in 1954 in the USA by author Lafayette Ron Hubbard. The hierarchically structured organization, which perceives itself as a community of faithful, works toward a "new world." It recruits by distributing free "personality tests." An attempt is subsequently made to sell a program of courses. "Auditing" promises concepts for "happier people." Critics see Scientology as a profit-oriented enterprises which operates using dubitable methods.
State Security warns of Scientology
Stuttgart, Germany
September 14, 1999
Stuttgarter NachrichtenStuttgart (stn) - From the way the Baden-Wuerttemberg Constitutional Security agency sees things, the Scientology Organization should continue to be observed. About two years after the start of the surveillance by state security, no reason exists to call off the alert, said Helmut Rannacher, the president of the agency, in a statement. Scientology invariably strives to gain power over people and influence in politics, business and society, using methods which are sometimes questionable. In contrast, the departing Constitutional Security chief from Nordrhein-Westphalia, Fritz Achim Baumann, had expressed strong doubts two weeks ago about the purpose of such surveillance.
Baden-Wuerttemberg's Constitutional Security has published a new brochure on Scientology. It can be ordered from the state office for Constitutional Security in Stuttgart.
Warning of new Scientology activities
Stuttgart, Germany
September 14, 1999
Mannheimer MorgenConstitutional Security: focus of activity in Baden-Wuerttemberg
by our correspondent Thomas Schwara
Stuttgart. The state office for Constitutional Security in Baden-Wuerttemberg warned against giving up surveillance of the Scientology Organization (SO). "Constitutional Security continues to be tasked with revealing the machinations of the SO," stated the President of the state office, Helmut Rannacher, at the announcement of the publication of a new brochure on the goals and background of the organization, which has been classified as hostile to democracy.
Scientology was said to be continuing its efforts to convert the social order into a totalitarian system, said Rannacher. In doing that, it is maintaining its long-term strategy of infiltrating important social areas. Baden-Wuerttemberg is the site of heavy Scientology activity. Of the approximately five to six thousand members nationwide, 1,200 are believed to live in the southwest [area of Germany]. As published by the study, they are questioned about "the most intimate things" in their lives in so-called "auditing sessions," which resemble interrogations. By doing that, members become capable of being blackmailed. At the end is said to be "a prison of thought and deed."
According to the findings of Constitutional Security, a total of more than 60 businesses in the state are led by Scientologists or managed according to their principles. Among them are business consulting firms, real estate companies, construction companies and advertising agencies. As Rannacher mentioned, he is working with a considerable area of obscurity which needs explanation. According to the study, the cover organizations of Scientology include the "Commission for Violations of Psychiatry against Human Rights" (KVPM), the alleged drug rehab "Narconon" and the tutorial provider "Applied Scholastics."
The state office wants to give an insight into the Scientology system with the brochure. "Infinite over-assessment of self and contemptuousness of all others are characteristic of the totalitarian world picture of Scientology," reads the report. As evidence, the Constitutional Security agents include quotations from written Scientology material in which a "goal worth striving for" in a future society is described as granting civil rights only to Scientologists.
According to the study, Scientology systematically tries to incriminate and discredit critics and former members. In Germany, the "arsenal of weapons" of the OSA secret service ranges from the broadcast of scandalous letters containing material gathered by spying to intimidation by threatening lawsuits.
The brochure can be order from the state office for Constitutional Security in Stuttgart.
"Anybody can be manipulated"
Stuttgart, Germany
June 19, 1999
Sindelfinger ZeitungTheme of the psycho-scene: critical questions to the churches
Ursula Caberta, Hamburg's Scientology Commissioner, spoke in plain English: "This sect disregards human beings, it is anti-constitutional and fascistic." Applause from the packed Cannstatt City Church. Neither did uncomfortable questions did not fail to appear: doesn't Christianity also promote an "Ubermensch" (superhuman)?
by Rainer Nuebel
The City Church as "Weltanschauung Center": many, many visitors to the church events get informed on sects, spirits and miracle healers. On Friday the event was on the psycho-scene. Once again all seats were taken.
The business manager of a mid-ranking company reported on his experiences with a communications course: "Resistance was broken down, every criticism was isolated." What he said that was new was that ominous course providers lure their participants into a kind of pyramid scheme - apparently they approach family members and business colleagues in order to learn personal information about new clients.
Since many, many companies send their staff, and often management, to communications courses, Caberta gave a rule of thumb for today's work world, "One must be fit and level-headed." Often it is noticed too late that the course is based on some kind of Scientology. Her advice was that company employees should require the instructor's documents and certificates from the course provider. "Black sheep avoid that." One participant from the audience interjected, "That is illusory. You're just sent there by the boss." Caberta warned of overestimation of self: "Anyone can be manipulated." Gabriele Lademann-Priemer, Weltschauung Commissioner of the Nordelb Church stated that behind the activities of the psycho-groups stood "the picture of a human being as a computer which can be erased and re-programmed." But she also included the statement that some Christian religious groups also preach being superhuman. "That is then used to create pressure which can turn into a trap." She mentioned, "We are the salt of the earth - even in our pitifulness."
When one man stated that he was both a Christian and a Scientologist, the speakers were unanimous, "Those are fundamentally exclusive of each other"; in Scientology one is his own creation. One visitor gently upset the issue, "We should look in our own backyard and ask ourselves why are so few young people in our churches, and why are the psycho-seminars so full?"
Foreign Extremism on the Advance
Constitutional Security strikes a dismal balance
Stuttgart, Germany
April 27, 1999
"Mannheimer Morgen"by our correspondent
Peter Reinhardt
Stuttgart. Baden-Wuerttemberg's Interior Minister Thomas Schaeuble currently sees the greatest danger to inner security emanating from extremist foreign organizations. The prohibited Kurdish Workers Party PKK presents "a considerable potential for danger," as has been shown by the nationwide outcry after the arrest of its leader, Abdullah Ocalan. Around 9,000 foreign extremists live in the southwest, stated the President of the State Office for Constitutional Security, Helmut Rannacher, yesterday at the presentation of the 1998 annual report. These groups are said to be larger than all the domestic rightwing and leftwing groups put together.
Crimes committed by active foreign extremists have increased from 266 to 341 within a year's time. The increase, stated Rannacher, was still under the nationwide rise of 47 percent. 187 offenses alone were violations of the association law, primarily in the recruitment for extremist associations such as the PKK. The number of bodily injuries dropped sharply, in contrast, from 30 to 18. However Schaeuble reckons on a renewed rise in violent actions when the Ocalan case is heard, which the police will confront as the situation dictates. After the "party of the nationalistic movement" became the second strongest political power in the elections in Turkey in mid April, the Constitutional guardsmen have also anticipated increasing activity by the Gray Wolves in Germany. Their true character was demonstrated, as far as Rannacher was concerned, in the violent disputes with the Kurds and in their form of salute, which resembles a fascistic gesture.
Schaeuble appeared calm in the face of the complaint by the Republicans about the surveillance of their party by Constitutional Security. In contrast to the proceedings in Rheinland-Pfalz and Berlin, in which the Republicans came out the winner, the Stuttgart state administration has made a comprehensive presentation of the activities of the rightwing extremist party, he said. "I am confident," said Schaeuble in regards to the open proceedings in the Stuttgart Constitutional Court. In response, Republican chief Rolf Schlierer accused Constitutional Security of "counter-state manipulation." In the Constitutional Security report, it was determined that approaches have been made by the Republicans to the rightwing extremist DVU in election agreements.
Trends in violent acts by right extremists or left extremists went their separate ways. On the right wing, the Constitutional agents verified a decrease from 63 to 48 offenses. Every other offense involved Skinheads. In contrast, criminal activity by leftwing extremists have risen sharply in 1998.
There is no change in the surveillance of Scientologists by Constitutional Security. Rannacher figures on increased activity after the restraint shown by the organization in the past months. With the help of the American headquarters Scientology has started a $40 million advertising campaign in Germany. One fifth of the 6,000 Scientologists nationwide live in Baden-Wuerttemberg.
Scientologists underestimated?
From: "Stuttgarter Zeitung"
March 11, 1999Opponents warns of secret dealing of the organization
Scientologists are not making the headlines anymore. The Aktion Bildungsinformation (ABI), which has been fighting the Dianetics disciples for years, regrets that. The danger potential of the organization is said to have been "strongly underestimated." Scientology allegedly "destroys families, infiltrates the economy and intends "to establish a worldwide dictatorship."
The ABI, a tax-exempt consumer protection organization, allegedly has data on 52,000 Scientologists in Europe and the USA. In Germany, the organization has 10,000 members as well as another 20,000 sponsors and followers. 650 companies are said to be "in the hands of Scientologists," about 100 in Baden-Wuerttemberg alone. In the southwest [of Germany] the controversial organization allegedly has 5,000 members, 30 to 40 percent of those are children.
"A generation is growing up here which has hardly been influenced from the outside," said Helga Lerchenmueller from the ABI legal department yesterday. The lawyer says that Scientology "does not tolerate childhood,' they have more of tendency to raise "extremist power-people who are not afraid of anything."
At the time, Scientology tends to behave less conspicuously in public. That, however, is supposed to be sheer tactics. "They cannot grow in Germany today as they were ten years ago," said Helga Lerchenmueller. The number of members have stagnated, the following is even shrinking. However, ABI Chairman Eberhard Kleinmann sees an "increasing tendency, when it comes down to it, of taking people in." Lerchnmueller stated, "Nothing much has changed with their methods in which they treat people like objects" [menschenverachtenden Methoden: literally "people-despising methods"]
Yesterday, the ABI published 25 case studies which they said show how families, consumers, investors, real estate buyers and businesses can be caught in the "vice grip" of Scientology. Among other things, the [Scientology] opponent refers to an investigation by the state attorney's office which dealt with 70 fraudulent real estate cases in the Stuttgart region which involved Scientologists. Boeblingen county suffered a loss of several million marks in those deals. The Wuerttemberg Handelsbank suffered damages in the tens of millions.
The situation is difficult for people who have a relationship with Scientologists as renters or employees. The ABI has allegedly registered 10,000 cases. In individual cases, Scientology adherents have lost their entire savings to the organization. One former Scientologist is said to have paid 600,000 marks to the organization.
"Danger not over"
From: "Mannheimer Morgen, Südwest"
March 11, 1999ABI consumer organization warns about Scientology
[ABI: Aktion Bildungsinformation]
Stuttgart. The ABI consumer protection organization is of the mind that Scientology continues to pose a danger. ABI Chairman Eberhard Kleinmann mentioned yesterday in Stuttgart that the membership count of Scientologists is about 10,000 for Germany, Denmark, Switzerland and Austria. While this number has stagnated, the number of financial supporters and course participants is presently on the rise at about 20,000.
620 companies in the countries named are "provably" owned by Scientology, Kleinmann continued. Many divert a portion of their profits to the "war chest" in the USA. Another goal is said to be internal infiltration; almost all large German companies have already had contact with Scientology through cover companies in management areas. At present the main concern about Scientology is that it is allegedly "making money by criminal methods."
Helga Lerchenmueller, ABI legal department director, cautions against getting the impression that the situation has "quieted down." Even though recruitment of members has widely died down, this could be a tactic of ostentatiously pulling back when difficulty has first been encountered. Lerchenmueller believes she has observed an increasing number of children being targeted by the organization. For one, an effort is made to influence the children by giving them a positive impression of Scientology or its cover organizations as they make their way into adult life. For another, the children are used as a means of making contact with their parents: "Nothing has changed in their methods as far as treating people as if they were objects." dpa.
Scientology moving less conspicuously now
Bad-Wuertt/Scientology/Tactics
March 10, 1999Stuttgart, (KNA) The ABI consumer protection group [Aktion Bildungsinformation] has warned of a new, not less dangerous, tactic by the Scientologists in Stuttgart. Openly and less obtrusively, but just as effectively, the scissors action of the organization is continuing against business and families, stated ABI Chairman Eberhard Kleinmann on Wednesday, and then he presented a series of names and 30 cases in which companies had been infiltrated. The main areas to be watched included certain real estate companies, course providers and attempts to approach children. The citizens of Germany, now as before, continue to unintentionally provide the money to the finance mafia for the Scientology money laundering in the USA and for the campaign there against the German federal administration for alleged suppression of religious freedom. ABI itself has had the self-named church under observation for three decades now.
According to Kleinmann, ABI has over 52,000 documents on Scientology in Europe and in the USA. In the past year there has been a growing tendency to overlook the fact that 650 companies in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Denmark are already in the hands of the Scientologists. A portion of their earnings is diverted to the Scientology "war chest" in the USA. In addition to the 10,000 members are about 20,000 financial supporters and people who take courses. There continue to be cases of broken families and lost inheritances which are used to contribute to the the Scientology six-figure sums. Almost all large Germany companies have unknowingly been in contact with Scientology or one of its cover corporations already. Kleinmann is in favor of having domestic intelligence and the state criminal investigation office continue their investigations of Scientology. Along with the commercial criminality, the ideology of Hubbard, the founder, must also be looked at. It states that Scientology should make a lot of money in order to obtain power worldwide.
Power people who stop at noting
Scientology follows the tactics of getting as money as possible in Germany, controlling children's future by engaging them in activity, and placing subtle pressure on the German state and economy in international committees, Scientology expert Helga Lerchenmueller described the methods of the organization. Means which appear harmless, such as the sale of puppets to children are said to be especially dangerous. Of the estimated 5,000 Scientology adherents in Stuttgart it has to be calculated that eventually there will be a total of 2,000 children entering commercial positions who are trained in Scientology methods. These young people who have grown up in a ghetto behave according to Hubbard's instructions. These are power people who stop at nothing.
ale
101319 Mar 99 nnnn
Sects
March 10, 1999
ABI* says Scientology still dangerous
[*Aktion Bildungsinformation: German Consumer Information group]
Stuttgart (dpa) - In the judgment of the ABI consumer organization, the Scientology organization continues to pose a danger. The ABI Chairman, Eberhard Kleinmann, mentioned on Wednesday in Stuttgart that the Scientology membership in Germany, Denmark, Switzerland and Austria was about 10,000. While this number is said to have stagnated, the number of financial supporters and course participants is said to be on the rise, at 20,000. The tax-exempt ABI itself has been under fire for its open criticism of institutions.
It has been shown that Scientology is in possession of 620 companies in the countries named, said Kleinmann. Many of them divert a portion of their earnings to the "war chest" in the USA. Another goal is said to be the inside infiltration of companies; almost all large German companies already have contact to Scientology in the area of management through its cover companies. At present the concern is that Scientology is "making money with criminal methods."
Helga Lerchenmueller, Director of the legal department at ABI, cautioned against the deceptive impression that the situation with Scientology has "calmed down." Recruitment of members has been extensively put on hold for tactical reasons. The primary push is to now use pressure from overseas on the federal administration and individual companies under the pretext of religious freedom and human rights violations.
Lerchenmueller believes that children are increasingly targeted by the organization. For one thing the children themselves are being influenced; for another the children are being used as a means to make contact with the parents.
dpa la yy gr
101411 Mar 99
Stuttgart (rai) - Baden-Wuerttemberg plans to prevent the state from doing business with disguised Scientology companies by means of a security clause. This is a result of the latest, yet unpublished, sect report from the state administration, and which is available to our newspaper. Public contracts for counselling and training of staff, according to the report, will only be awarded to companies which make it clear that they are separate from Scientology. It is predicted that the State Commerce Minister will make a decision upon this issue this spring. Several companies in the private sector are already operating with such security clauses. According to the estimates by the Constitutional Security agency there are at least 60 companies under control of Scientology in Baden-Wuerttemberg. In any case, the states intend to enact legal regulations on sect-like groups which dabble in "life assistance." However, the Federal Assembly still has to agree.
State sect report says that state and consumers should be better protected.
The battle against Scientology continues
From: "Stuttgarter Nachrichten"
March 3, 1999Stuttgart - The state will continue the battle against dubious sects and psycho-groups with security clauses for the administration and legal measures in the area of "life assistance."
by Rainer Wehaus
This was a conclusion made in the latest, as yet unpublished, sect report of the state administration which is available to out newspaper. According to the report, which is produced once every two years by an internal administration work group, the greatest danger still arises from the Scientology organization. The evidence that Scientology's efforts are directed against democratic basic order have been, since the beginning of 1997 when the Constitutional Security agencies started surveillance of the organization, "confirmed and even strengthened," it says in the document.
Scientology is seeking to bring about a social system which is not compatible with the basic values of the German Constitution. Even if the Scientology organization, with its 5,000 to 6,000 members nationwide (of which about 1,000 are in Baden-Wuerttemberg), has substantially fewer members than previously assumed, that does not mean "that it is not dangerous and should not continue to be observed," said the state experts.
Needless to say the battle against Scientology has been shaping up with difficulty. Surveillance by the Constitutional Security agency has revealed that the organization has been steering its activities inside the country from overseas. In addition, larger sects are reinforced by so-called cover companies which cannot be immediately recognized. Furthermore, Scientology defends itself against criticism with all means, primarily with legal. Therefore it has not yet been possible to revoke common usage of the organization which is set up as a "church." This is reflected in a legal dispute in Stuttgart which is still going on and which is supposed to clear up the legal situation.
According to the report the Constitutional Security agency concludes that about 150 companies nationwide are under Scientology control, 60 of those alone in Baden-Wuerttemberg. In order to prevent the state from doing business with such (disguised) companies, a security clause is planned: public contracts for education and counselling of staff (a field which Scientologists like to dabble in) are now only supposed to go to companies which have signed a statement. These are supposed to verify that they have nothing to do with Scientology. It looks like the State Commerce Minister may decide upon such a clause this spring.
Dubious groups also like to dabble in the areas of "life assistance" in which they primarily manipulate and exploit people. In order to protect the consumer better from these "black sheep," the nation may pass a law as agreed upon by the states. However, the report leaves open whether the preventive measure of the states will find a majority in the Federal Assembly. They will be prepared either way.
Child in the hold of Scientologists
A story about child custody, kidnapping and debt
Stuttgart, Germany
February 24, 1997
Stuttgarter NachrichtenOn November 26 of the past year, the district council and the church organized an evening of information about Scientology at Degerloch schools. The reason for this was a twelve year old boy who had suddenly disappeared from Whilhelms secondary school.
by Robert Doenges
The frightening story of twelve year old Tobias (name changed) could have sprung from the pen of a script writer - but it is true. At its center point is the controversial Scientology organization, to which Tobias' mother belongs. Because of this and other reasons, the woman is up to her neck with a 600,000 mark debt, and her divorced husband, Tobias' father, fought in court to get custody of his son. Tobias himself is handicapped with a behavioral disorder.
"This case," said Scientology critic Eberhard Kleinmann of the "Aktion Bildungsinformation" (ABI), which concerns itself with cult questions, "is the most dramatic and worst we have ever seen." The desperate father wrote up a record of events from memory.
The situation came to a head starting August 4, 1996. Tobias' father wanted to meet with his son, as they had arranged. But once again he found himself before a locked door at his ex-wife's apartment on Stafflenberg Street. He had been aware that his ex-wife was going to Scientology since 1991; he had always refused her additional demands for money during his visits to Tobias. In order to write a note, he looked in the trash can for a piece of paper. What he found were some of his wife's personal papers from which he saw that she was trying to get a promotion into Scientology management, and that she had a debt of over 600,000 marks from various creditors. In addition, he found an invoice from which he could tell he son was also taking a cult course.
From one of Tobias' friends, the father learned that his ex-wife had taken off with the boy for Scientology's headquarters in Europe, Copenhagen. The father reacted by getting a temporary custody order for Tobias from a judge and going with his female friend to Denmark. He actually succeeded in tracking down Tobias. The boy was spending time in a Scientology "rehabilitation" center. On August 18th, the father was permitted to see his son - but only in the presence of his ex-wife and Stuttgart (!) Scientology spokesman Reinhard Egy. The two demanded the father that he withdraw his temporary custody order, otherwise he would never see Tobias again. The father went along for appearances sake. But at a favorable moment, he succeeded in getting Tobias to his friend in the waiting car. They raced back to Germany.
In Pforzheim, the father's home town, Tobias went back to school again. He had been taking Scientology instruction regularly since 1990. The school principal told the father about theft and fist fights provoked by his son. Tobias, so it turned out, had changed: he hated anything required of him, he did not wash himself and everything was tiresome for him. After a fight in September, Tobias took off and today is living back with his mother in Schorndorf.
On January 7th, the children's court in Pforzheim decided that the mother would receive custody of Tobias.