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INTERNETPage USERS 2 •VICTORY FOR CREATORS, From the Editor’s Desk

prisons and jails hold no less than 1,725,000 men and women — an unprecedented increase of more than 96,100 inmates over the prior year. Consider that “solutions” to The potential peril the crime problem on most tables of govern- The ment are calls for more prisons, a proposi- tion beneficial only to the contractors who would build them. (Indeed, jail and prison of searching for the construction is a leading growth industry.) And consider that outside our borders, well in excess of a billion people live under other Pursuit forms of confinement, governed by regimes which deny fundamental human rights ultimate answers to life. mandated by the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. These are among the matters we examine in this edition of Freedom, broad of challenges which cry out for broad discus- sion and address. We encourage journalists and citizens at large to dig in to these and other social concerns and problems with an eye to ideas and solutions. As we at Freedom reflect on 30 years as the Church Truth of Scientology’s voice for public service jour- nalism, we feel the time is more right than hen French which affect the lives of millions. A politician ever to take a longer view of the world with political once remarked, “If you can’t convince them, the objective of making it a better place in philosopher confuse them,” and recent events show that, the coming millennium. Charles de at least for many in news media and those Much of the news media, crying out for W Montesquieu behind the scenes who craft their messages “reform” in others, itself could stand a good set out guidelines for and content, this advice has been taken to deal of introspection and reforming. In a modern state in the heart, and deeply so. missing crucial aspects of the larger picture, 18th century, he not Surveys show the public at large to be the media does both itself and its consumers only laid the founda- increasingly wise to this problem. A recent a monumental disservice. In stressing con- tion for the French survey by the Roper Center at the University troversy and conflict, they miss that few Revolution but ulti- of Connecticut found that 54 percent of beyond certain sports fans enjoy witnessing mately for the U.S. Americans feel that the news media “gets in fights. In undervaluing clarity and direct- Constitution. the way” of solving society’s problems. ness, they undermine democracy, given the Aron C. Mason The principle of Leading the list of reasons for that percep- media is the intelligence service of a democ- Editor in Chief dividing government tion: Sensationalism. ratic people. Biased or false accounts are power into three A recent case in point involves the deadly in an intelligence system. separate but equal parts — legislative, exec- nation’s highest elected office and the forces Franklin Roosevelt observed that “The utive and judicial — has, ever since, been mustered in a quest for the office-holder’s truth is found when men are free to pursue fundamental to democracy and preservation professional and personal demise. it.” We encourage all readers to exercise And they pack more punch than anything of individual liberty. There can be no doubt that immoral and their freedom to seek out the truth, and to Burnt feet. But over the years, a “fourth power” has dishonest conduct is intolerable and, if champion enhancing that freedom both for you ever studied on the subject of the mind, emerged with an ever-greater presence on found and proven in any sphere of govern- themselves and those not so free. And, as Walking on hot coals may be fun for a parlor ment, Americans should not disregard it. But spirit and life. the stage of national affairs. And by closer always, we welcome your views. , but it sure feels stupid when you wind up analysis, this fourth factor appears, in many in all the media grandstanding and the “CNN Real answers work. They lead somewhere. respects, to have elevated itself to its own effect” — efforts to keep news broadcasts back at the beginning with the same questions you “higher ground.” filled 24 hours a day — certain very critical You can use them. That’s Scientology. I am speaking of a power almost entirely factors are lost. One is the presumption of had when you started. If you value your future, if you’re a friend outside government control: the influence of innocence until guilt is proven. Another is Visit Freedom Who are you? Where do you come from? the press. that media sensationalization of unproven to you, if you want to help others, read Battles between the press and govern- allegations can cause not only unjustifiable Where are you going? ment are as old as history. And the same personal harm to the accused, but also, in on the Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought by history teaches, rightly, that a free press is this case, to the standing of the United States Did you ever wonder if the answers were sitting author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. often the best check against political in the world community. It is undeniable right under your nose? tyranny. that to dwell relentlessly on questions of World Wide Web Your search is over, but the adventure has But what happens if and when the media presidential misconduct based on unproven So here’s something different. No mumbo itself becomes party to efforts to violate the allegations has the corollary effect of hurting Freedom Magazine has its own web site just begun. at http://www.freedommag.org featuring rights and freedoms of others? not just the president but the presidency. jumbo. No initiation. No human sacrifices. ¨ It is not difficult to find examples where There is another side to the news media the most recent issues of our U.S. edition, vigorous press campaigns have influenced law- coin: those very important issues which as well as foreign issues including the Just the facts. makers to accept measures for which there touch countless lives and yet receive virtu- popular German edition. was no pressing need. Similarly, the press can ally no media notice, cast aside in favor of Back issues and additional international cause the government to minimize or exagger- more “sensational” issues. By way of highly editions are being added regularly. Join the Know yourself. Know life. ate its efforts to enforce existing laws. pertinent examples, consider that the U.S. many users who browse through the site. And then there is the matter of obscuring Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Pick up a copy wherever books are sold or call 1-800-334-LIFE or write to or distracting from issues and information Statistics just announced that the nation’s , 4751 Fountain Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90029 © 1997 CSI. All Rights Reserved. SCIENTOLOGY is a trademark and service mark owned by Religious Technology Center and is used with its permission. L. Ron Hubbard

top wants it that way. This is called “molding public opinion.” Cover Story Psychiatric front groups wanted Scientology defamed. So the “Scientology The Great Brain Injury Scam 6 Story” was invented out of whole cloth and written without a single reporter going near News the subjects’ founder for all the 14 years of Investigative reporting Published by the his active leadership of its organizations! in the public interest since 1968 Victory for Creators, Internet Users 2 False “Scientology bulletins” were run off U.S. Court of Appeals Hands Down and distributed. Quotes never spoken were printed. But nobody ever asked the head of Landmark Civil Rights Ruling 4 the movement anything and tore up and Cover: Operation didn’t print every press handout that was Restore Trust — the Human Rights issued. The tide has turned now. There was law enforcement Turning The Tide 12 nothing wrong in the first place. initiative to clean up Embracing Tolerance 16 The false reports issued about Scientology are a grim example of how a health care fraud — German Harassment special privilege group like psychiatry can Condemned by State Department 20 use mass news media and the Establishment has recovered billions to try to eradicate competitors. in funds swindled from Advisory Committee Cites Scientologists are neither violent nor “Harassment, Intimidation political. They are a technical church group, American citizens. and Violence” 22 working successfully in the field of mental But its success is as health. Human Rights for All The false reports were so false that at last much a cause for Leading by Example 22 the public refused to believe them. Even the An Alternative to better reporters began to turn against fur- alarm as it is for thering the attack anymore. It was just too praise. Freedom “Revolving Door Justice” 26 corny. Wiping Out Crime 28 Groups less sane and less stable than the examines a bizarre Scientologists, minorities who are not able to “industry” structured handle such situations calmly as the Scientologists have, begin to stockpile to profit from Human Rights Leadership Profile weapons and throw stones and have a go at the police. Nobody will listen. They are human suffering. Ernestine Peters 24 maligned in Establishment and press. And they can only think in terms of violence. Unable to express their views publicly or Right: President Clinton’s Book Reviews he 130-page L. Ron Hubbard: A Profile call attention to real abuses and hardships African visit brings human The Courage to Stand Alone such minorities begin to put their messages chronicles the life and accomplishments of the rights issues into sharper focus Letters From Prison and in the solid form of bricks and bullets. Other Writings 30 founder of the Scientology religion and the The Establishment itself has to think of (see page 16). Far right: The impact of his life’s work on millions the world their own individual jobs, none too well paid. results obtained by a project to Whores of the Court 32 over. And like the underpaid reporters they have rehabilitate offenders in Los TT to snap to attention when the “very best This publication provides the most comprehensive Angeles spell a breakthrough people,” the specially privileged private L. Ron Hubbard and thoroughly documented view yet published of the groups give their orders to government. in the field of corrections man and his work, including professional The answer to all this is not hard to find. (see page 30). A Cause of Violence 34 accomplishments in many fields — writer, educator, Governments should cease to be pawns explorer, humanitarian, photographer, horticulturist, of private interests and work honestly at Freedom Offices Australia Germany Russia master mariner, and more. It profiles a man who was their jobs in the broad interest of the whole Austria Greece South Africa people, not the privileged few. Church of Scientology International Canada Italy Spain well beyond superficial classification. And mass news media should deal Denmark Japan Switzerland To purchase a copy of L. Ron Hubbard: A Profile, 6331 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 1200 France New Zealand United Kingdom honestly in what it actually observes, not in Los Angeles, CA 90028-6329 send a check or money order what the big boss says is so. Papers might © 1998 Church of Scientology International. All Rights Reserved. Grateful Phone: (213) 960-3500 acknowledgement is made to L. Ron Hubbard Library for permission to reproduce even begin to sell again. selections from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard. FREEDOM and Photo Credits: Page 1, 16: AP/WW—J. Scott for $16.00 to the Church of Fax: (213) 960-3508/9 SCIENTOLOGY are trademarks and service marks owned by Religious Technology Center and are used with its permission. SCIENTOLOGIST is a collective Applewhite; Page 12 top: Menouar/Gamma Liaison; Scientology International, 6331 E-mail: [email protected] membership mark designating members of the affiliated churches and missions of Page 12 bottom: AP/WW; Page 13 top: Reuters/George L. RON HUBBARD Scientology. Services related to Scientology religious philosophy are delivered Hollywood Boulevard, Suite exclusively by licensees of the Church of Scientology with the permission of Mulala/Archive Photos; Page 13 center: AP/WW— Jeff Religious Technology Center, holder of the SCIENTOLOGY and Widener; Page 13 bottom left: UPI/Corbis-Bettmann; 1200, Los Angeles, CA 90028 or WASHINGTON, D.C. trademarks. and are trademarks and service marks owned 1701 20th Street, NW by Association for Better Living and Education and are used with its permission. Page 13 bottom right: AP/WW; Page 14 Reuters/Juda call (800) 334-LIFE. CCHR is a trademark owned by the Citizens Commission on Human Rights and is Ngwenya/Archive Photos; Page 16 top left: AP/WW Washington, DC 20009 used with its permission. is a trademark and service mark owned by the L. Ron Hubbard Library. —Sasa Kralj; Page 16/17 top: Reuters/Corinne Phone: (202) 667-6404 Complimentary copies are Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly forbidden without written permission Dufka/Archive Photos; Page 17 top right: AP/WW from Freedom magazine. Requests for permission should be directed to the Editor at —Massimo Sambucetti; Page 18: AP/WW—J. Scott Fax: (202) 667-6314 the address below. Freedom assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, available to religious leaders, photographs and materials, including return of same. Editorial office: Freedom Applewhite, Pool; Page 21 left: AP/WW—Lynne Sladky; L. RON HUBBARD Magazine, 6331 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 1200, Los Angeles, CA 90028-6329. government officials and (213) 960-3500. This is Volume 30, Issue 2. July 1998. 10983 Page 21 right: Uniphoto—Mark Reinstein; members of the news media at Founder Page 23 AP/WW; Page 30, 31: Andrian Bradshaw; this address. • A PROFILE • Page 31 top: Reuters/Charles Platiau/Archive Photos.

FREEDOM | 1 NEWS UPDATE News Update

“When your Victory for copyrights are under assault from infringers, and efforts at communication are Creators, to no avail, you must either go to court or risk losing your rights.” Internet Users — Attorney Helena Kobrin Unanimous jury verdict upholds Whyte which found Henson had should desist from further infringement infringed RTC’s copyright interests and of RTC’s rights. When he rejected the constitutional rights, sends a awarded RTC a permanent injunction, warning and repeated his infringement, forever prohibiting further violations by RTC had no choice but to sue in order to Henson. Prior to filing the suit, RTC protect and enforce its rights. “When signal to copyright violators warned Henson that he was acting in your copyrights are under assault from violation of federal law, and that he infringers, and all other efforts to resolve the situation are to no avail, you must go o hear Palo Alto resident pended on the Internet,” said attorney to court to protect your rights,” said tell it, the real Helena Kobrin. “The federal courts and Kobrin. “problem” with the law isn’t the law-abiding citizens who serve on Kobrin also stressed the importance figuring out how to comply juries will not permit a lawless clique to of the decision for the Internet as a with it or even get around it, gut the creative rights of authors and whole. “Freedom of speech cannot mean but convincing others that artists through .” freedom to steal, to profit from theft or laws just don’t matter. “Hilar- RTC holds the exclusive rights to certain injure others,” she said. “That kind of Tious... obviously bogus,” he said of U.S. unpublished works of L. Ron Hubbard, conduct can only give the Internet a bad copyright laws and efforts to enforce founder of the Scientology religion. name and hurt those who want to use it them. The verdict followed a ruling last to improve their lives and help others. But when a federal court jury in San year by U.S. District Judge Ronald M. The greatest peril to the promise of the Jose patiently sat through both sides of Internet is people who seek to turn it the story, they unanimously disagreed into a lawless frontier. This judgment should help keep the Internet safer for with Henson and what he stands for — ■ and in very strong terms. On May 12, “We felt we all.” 1998, the jurors concluded after a four- day trial that he had willfully infringed a needed to send a copyright in an unpublished Scientology Keith Henson in police religious work and ordered he pay message to $75,000 in damages. custody after an arrest in That judgment may be the largest [Henson] and verdict ever handed down for an Los Angeles. During infringement of a single work. “We felt others like him, to another arrest, Henson we needed to send a message to savagely bit the person [Henson] and others like him, to prevent prevent this kind this kind of conduct from happening in attempting to enforce a the future,” said one of the jurors when questioned following the verdict. of conduct from restraining order. His Attorneys for Religious Technology Center, plaintiff in the Henson case, happening in the former wife charged him stressed the importance of that message with molesting his own both in cyberspace and the creative future.” community. “The decision sends daughter. another signal to those who think — Juror that laws and property rights are sus-

2 | FREEDOM FREEDOM | 3 News Update

kidnapping, imprisonment and attempted “Are psychotherapists seated next to “The American Psychiatric Association “” of a man from a conserva- witnesses supposed to be invisible to juries? knows perfectly well that whatever the U.S. Court of Appeals Hands Down tive Christian church from the Seattle area. Are jurors supposed to be unaware of their Hagen examines the whole private ideological beliefs of its members The old CAN is now required to pay its victim supposedly protective role? Are they subject of the psychiatric about the unconscious repression of the $875,000 in actual damages and $1 million in supposed to disregard as irrelevant to guilt memory of psychological trauma, there is no punitive damages, plus interest from 1995. or innocence the supportive behavior of role in the justice system scientific evidence supporting the factual But it is also something more: a victory parents and judge? Is there a standard existence of this hypothetical mental phe- for religious freedom and civil rights for bench instruction to that effect? ‘The jury carefully and logically. nomenon. It is grossly unethical for the APA people of faith in America. “This is the first will disregard all of the extraordinary The horror stories are not or any of its members to mislead the legal Landmark Civil federal appellate court decision which measures taken to protect this innocent community into thinking otherwise.” expressly holds that deprogramming violates child from that dangerous and guilty defen- just anomalies; statistics In keeping with its title, the book goes on U.S. civil rights laws,” said , dant’? Of course not.” to explore the economics of this expanding one of the attorneys on the appeal. And, This is but one small part of a large show they are the rule and psychological influence. As the courts have given that the deprogramming attempt was, quantity of legal and social illogic that Hagen opened their doors to psychological testi- at its core, an effort to force a young adult dissects and exposes before the eyes of the not the exception. mony, the ranks of psycho-experts have man to “change” his interpretation of the reader. If you are one of the many who have swelled enormously. Where a psychological Rights Ruling Bible, Moxon noted that the decision “means had the nagging feeling that something is defense is used in a criminal trial, the prose- that efforts to force someone into changing wrong with what psychologists are doing in anti-discrimination coverage. Marry this cution then must hire their own psychologist their religious views — whatever they are our courts, this book will show exactly what with the American Psychiatric Association’s to try to refute the testimony of the defense and for whatever reason — are clearly it is that’s wrong, and what is so wrong about Diagnostic and Statistical Manual which psychologist. Similarly, in civil trials, if one labeled as violations of federal law. This is a it. And still Hagen doesn’t stop there. She lists hundreds of “mental disorders” and we side hires a psychologist, the other will need very important legal precedent.” goes on to look at the precedents and the now have a situation where an employer one as well; often each side will use several. The old CAN was infamous for involve- legislation that have opened the way to the who fires an employee for screaming Also, the desired, and often achieved, end ment in illegal acts against religious groups ever increasing influence of psychiatrists obscenities at clients or colleagues can be result of the psychological testimony is that and their members. And its reputation was and psychologists in our courts. sued for failing to accommodate that the criminal is sentenced to therapy or the well-deserved: its founder a five-time convict The insanity defense has been with us employee’s mental disability. civil defendant is required to pay for therapy. charged with an array of offenses including for a long time. English courts in the 16th More recently the topic of “repressed Hagen sums it up with the biting frankness rape and cocaine smuggling; its favorite century maintained that criminal responsi- memory” has been brought before the characteristic of the volume: “deprogrammer” a convicted jewel thief and bility rested on a defendant’s ability or courts as a reason to set aside the statute of “Thanks to the willingness of judges and diagnosed psychopath; its security chief a inability to tell right from wrong. But how limitations. “Judges and legislators all over juries to believe psychobabble with scien- longtime inmate of some of the nation’s have we come from there to the point where the country,” Hagen writes, “are not going tific foundations equal to horoscope charts, toughest jails. Officer Quintiliano can walk away from to rewrite the law on the statute of limita- babble puffed about by psychological pro- The views of the old CAN’s last executive murder charges by pleading diet pill tions for either criminal or civil actions fessionals with impressive credentials, what director, Cynthia Kisser, shed much light on overdose? Recent laws and precedents have based on the ‘scientific discovery’ that we’ve got now are thousands of self-styled what comprised that organization’s agenda thrown open the doors of the courtroom people sometimes avoid thinking about soul doctors run amok in our courts, drunk and help explain its perverse fascination with wider and wider to the manipulations of awful events in the past and sometimes they with power, bedazzled by spectacular fees Christians: “If [Jesus Christ] were alive now,” psychological and psychiatric practitioners. forget about them. They are rewriting the for the no-heavy-lifting job of shooting off she told the Cleveland Plain Dealer, “we’d Legislation that many of us considered law because the APA has told them that their mouths about any psychological topic take an interest in him because of the great benign or beneficial has opened the way to what is responsible for the absence of con- that sneaks a toe into a courtroom.” controversy surrounding his fringe activi- a huge morass of illogic and injustice being scious memory of terrible events is nothing The book doesn’t paint an appealing ties.... We’d try to see if there was abuse, perpetrated on our justice system. ordinary but rather the mysterious mental picture of the current state of our legal unethical behavior or deceptive practices. The Americans With Disabilities Act of process of repression, whose existence has system, but the ray of hope offered is that we And I’d send whatever we could find to 1990, for example, prohibits discrimination been so clearly demonstrated by the clinical do still have a democratic process in this reporters.” against the disabled. The law includes both techniques of Sigmund Freud and his country. We can make our voices heard. Now Faced with court losses and mounting physical and mental disability under the modern descendants. Shame on them. that we know we can begin to say “No.” ■ problems with the law entangling the old CAN’s officials and deprogrammers, the September, 1995 trial in Seattle came at a crucial time — and the subsequent verdict The Church of Scientology was effectively the last straw for the embat- International has compiled and released tled CAN. an informative publication entitled A Vast implications A Description of the Scientology Religion. The Court of Appeals determined that This 90-page publication contains an CAN’s agent in Washington state, Shirley explanation of the factual background Multimillion-Dollar Landa, acted for and on behalf of CAN in from which Scientology emerged, and making referrals for what CAN euphemisti- provides the reader with a detailed yet cally called “involuntary deprogramming” — DESCRIPTION easily comprehensible explanation of the Judgment Upheld a practice where the target is held against his will while attempts are made to forcibly alter Scientology religion and its application his religious beliefs. Since the verdict against to life. It includes more than 40 full- Against CAN, the practice of deprogramming in color photos and illustrations to aid the America, which had been a lucrative criminal OF THE reader. enterprise, has apparently ceased. The court For a free copy of this booklet, please of Kidnappers found CAN responsible and that “CAN write to the Church of Scientology members routinely referred people to depro- grammers.” International, 6331 Hollywood he U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th In a separate case in Chicago, a federal Boulevard, Suite 1200, Los Angeles, CA Circuit in San Francisco affirmed in jury found that the old CAN was a In its 23-page opinion, the court SCIENTOLOGY April a multimillion-dollar verdict acknowledged the role played in the case by 90028 or call (800) 334-LIFE. criminal clique and that its president, violent deprogrammer and convicted felon If you’re on the Net, you can get the against the old Cult Awareness Cynthia Kisser (above), deprogrammed Network, a clearinghouse for anti- Rick Ross, and Ross’ ties to the old CAN, booklet by asking for it at religious outlaws. The original her own sister and then went on to noting that “The evidence indicates that it http://www.scientology.org TOctober 1995 judgment resulted from the conduct other assaults. was CAN’s practice to refer people to depro- RELIGION

4 | FREEDOM Book Review

grammers, including Rick Ross, and that groups which violate civil rights as a matter Ross was known to engage in involuntary of policy and practice cannot escape respon- deprogramming.” sibility for crimes by stating ‘well, that was The court also turned to CAN’s violations done by an individual employee on his own of civil rights laws, and the issue of whether a initiative.’ If someone acting for the KKK private organization can be held liable for the violates your rights, the KKK can be held acts of its members, under a legal doctrine liable, because such actions are consistent WHORES known as vicarious liability or respondeat with their goals, policy and practice. The superior (literally, “let the master answer”). implications for a hate group like the old CAN “We conclude that vicarious liability may be are vast.” imposed on CAN in this action,” said the In a separate case which went to trial in court. “Under either traditional principles of U.S. District Court last year, a federal jury in of the Court respondeat superior or ‘policy and practice’ Chicago found that CAN was a criminal principles, CAN would be liable. Landa acted clique and that its president, Cynthia Kisser, as CAN’s agent, and Landa acted in accor- deprogrammed her own sister and then went dance with CAN’s practice of referring people on to conduct other assaults. to involuntary deprogrammers.” Following the 1995 verdict, the old CAN Further, confirming that CAN engaged in declared bankruptcy and its name and assets “a conspiracy to deprive the plaintiff of the were purchased by a consortium of religious equal protection of the laws,” the appellate groups, the Foundation for Religious panel concluded that “The record shows that Freedom, intent upon reversing CAN’s by Margaret Hagen hurt an accuracy rate that hovers at Landa was involved in the agreement to previous campaign of prejudice and intoler- less than one out of three times deprogram Scott and thereby violate his civil Attorney Kendrick Moxon: With the Court of ance. The new group promotes religious Reviewed by Mari Werner correct.” rights. Landa referred [Scott’s mother] Appeals’ recent decision affirming a multimillion- liberty and family communication and The book goes further than the Tonkin to Ross, and Landa was aware of Ross’ dollar verdict against the old Cult Awareness understanding to resolve disputes regarding argaret Hagen is a stories and statistics, looking at not just methods. ... The fact Ross contacted Landa Network, “efforts to force someone into changing religious beliefs. More than 5,000 individuals psychologist. Her the blatant injustices, but at the subtle for ‘legal advice’ after his arrest is further have telephoned its hotline to date and evidence of her complicity.” their religious views — whatever they are and for obtained help or information. book Whores of the unexamined assumptions that have whatever reason — are clearly labeled as Court is subtitled, crept into our thinking, assumptions CAN argued before the court of appeal The new CAN’s chairman, Rev. Dr. “The Fraud of that many of us do not even connect that it was its “official policy” to not involve violations of federal law.” George Robertson, vice president of Psychiatric Testi- with psychology or psychiatry. itself in deprogramming, and thus it should Bible College and a Baptist mony and the Rape The treatment of children in court be let off the hook. The Court rejected this minister, said, “We applaud this decision as Mof American Justice.” How did a is one example. This is an area that has argument as contrary to the evidence at trial, practices....” and thus held CAN fully liable the death blow to a former reign of religious woman with a Ph.D. in psychology been radically influenced by psychol- saying that “CAN’s ‘official’ policy prohibiting for the original judgment, plus interest. terrorism, fueled by lies, fear and bigotry. We come to write such a harsh condem- ogy over the last few decades. The involuntary deprogramming [does not] Explaining the importance of these feel religious liberty is America’s most ■ nation of her own colleagues? practice of giving children special undermine the evidence concerning CAN’s findings, Moxon said that “This means that important freedom.” In 1993, Hagen’s brother was accommodation in court is now widely sued for $3.4 million based on accepted. Children may be allowed to alleged psychological damage. She testify via video and never enter the writes in her introduction, “There courtroom, or they may have a parent was no evidence as such in this or therapist seated next to them when “My SON was turned into an ADDICT, locked in a hospital case. The trial consisted of a parade they testify. Most people have come to of half a dozen psychological experts consider this right and fair, since they of various types, all declaiming that are only children, after all, and need to room until the INSURANCE was gone...” the plaintiff suffered from one be protected. mental disorder or another and that Hagen takes a very different view of the disorder — with all the atten- this practice. “How do psychological dant negative effects in her life — experts know that testifying in court Why are school problems increasingly diagnosed as “mental had been caused twenty years traumatizes children? They don’t; they disorders” which call for costly, unending “treatment” — to no earlier by the accused, my brother — a service revolver, Quintiliano was innocent just think it does. Their clinical intuition result? of her murder because his reason for killing person whom none of them had ever met.” tells them so. Is there good, solid research How are children turned into drug addicts in the name of Her brother eventually won the case at her was that he had been driven crazy by to support the belief that testifying in court a defense cost of $90,000, and Hagen began taking too many diet pills. damages children psychologically? No. Is “therapy”? the research project which culminated in After spending three months in a state there good, solid research to support the Where are billions in tax dollars being spent annually for control the publication of this book. psychiatric unit, Quintiliano was released, a belief that testifying in court is worse for a — and personal profit — now the subject of sweeping federal and As an experimental psychologist, Hagen free man. Not long after that he remarried. ten-year-old than for a twenty-year-old? Is state investigations? has specialized in researching perception. In 1983 his second wife filed for divorce, it worse for a child than for an elder? That Find out the documented truth in Psychiatry: The Apparently she has made objective, keen and one week later Quintiliano shot and a ten-year-old child recounting molestation perception a personal habit. The book is killed her. will be more ‘damaged’ than a twenty-year- Ultimate Betrayal. scrupulously well-researched, and written But Hagen doesn’t stop at telling horror old woman recounting rape, more damaged To order your copy now, send check or money with a clarity and wit that make it an stories. She examines the whole subject of than the frightened eighty-year-old terror- order for $25 per single copy, $110 per 5 copies or engrossing, enjoyable read in spite of its the psychiatric role in the justice system ized and beaten in a home invasion? No, no, $200 for 10 copies to: subject matter. carefully and logically. The horror stories and no.” Citizens Commission on Human Rights That subject matter can be disturbing are not just anomalies; statistics show they She goes on to examine the effect of 6362 Hollywood Blvd., Suite B all by itself. Consider, for example, the story are the rule and not the exception. Several this practice on the administration of of former Stratford, Connecticut, police studies, including one published in the justice: “Protecting a child from the Los Angeles, CA 90028 officer Matthew Quintiliano. In 1975, American Journal of Psychiatry, have supposed trauma of confronting and Or call (800) 869-2247 Officer Quintiliano shot and killed his first shown that clinical predictions of violent accusing an alleged perpetrator in court Include $3 for shipping and handling. ( residents wife a few days after she filed for divorce. behavior are wrong twice as often as they presupposes the guilt of the accused; pro- add 8.25 percent sales tax.) Psychiatry: The Ultimate Betrayal He was found not guilty by reason of tem- are correct. “Why not just flip pennies or tecting the child from the defendant can also be ordered through the web site of the Citizens porary insanity based on “amphetamine draw cards?” writes Hagen. “Why not put presumes that the defendant is guilty of the psychosis.” In other words, though his wife on a blindfold and choose without being crimes before the trial is heard. The whole Commission on Human Rights at http://www.cchr.org. was dead from the bullets he fired from his able to identify the patients? It could hardly trial is a sham.

32 | FREEDOM Cover Story THE GREAT BRAIN INJURY SCAM How a billion-dollar cross-border psychiatric scheme is feeding off victims of tragedy

by Andy Prough & Catherine Malone

Special to Freedom

n March 1995, the Clinton adminis- atric hospitals at an estimated cost of $400 tration launched “Operation Restore million to the taxpayer-funded Ontario Trust,” a law enforcement initiative to Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). It was also clean up health-care fraud. In its first revealed that U.S. psychiatric hospitals year, it recovered $42 million; in its hired “patient brokers” or “bounty second, the figure had grown to $1.2 hunters” to secure patients through mis- billion. Now in an unprecedented leading marketing practices and fraudu- fourth year, the program’s success has lent means, resulting in patients being earned it expanded federal funding incarcerated in costly psychiatric hospi- and resources as it moves into its next tals. Some patients were sent for “smoking Iphase. addiction,” and others for “weight loss.” But the stunning quantum of funds In this issue, Freedom presents the recovered by Operation Restore Trust is results of a 12-month investigation by the more a cause for alarm than it is for satis- Citizens Commission on Human Rights faction, for it offers a sense of just how wide- (CCHR) and Freedom, in conjunction spread and unchecked health-care fraud with Brabant Newspapers of Canada. It is has been. the story of the insured and incurable — Indeed, to paraphrase one Justice brain injury survivors, who’ve become department analyst, there is a universe of human cogs in a multi-million dollar fraud only now being uncovered. The April cross-border psychiatric scheme. 6 announcement of the filing of an extraor- To fully understand the nature of this dinary $175 million federal lawsuit in tale, one must know that the Attorney Madison, Wisconsin, against Tenet Health- General of Ontario, Canada took the care by Canadian officials is, as one unprecedented action of filing a $130 attorney put it, “only a start.” million lawsuit against 36 U.S. psychi- The facts underlying that suit bring the atric hospitals in April 1997, after CCHR connection between events in Canada and exposed fraud and abuse involving in the United States into sharper focus. In Ontario residents. Five years earlier, in late 1997, Freedom’s Canadian correspon- 1992, the FBI had raided hospitals owned dents brought to light the story of the by National Medical Enterprises (NME) largest case of health-care fraud in — the same company named in the Canadian history. Thousands of Ontario Canadian suit. The investigation of NME citizens had been funneled into U.S. psychi- resulted in a $380 million settlement.

6 | FREEDOM FREEDOM | 7 Cover Story

In the summer of 1990, an intensive con- gressional investigation was launched into the “brain injury rehabilitation” industry. At the same time of that investigation, Lynn, Massachusetts-based New Medico, a chain of rehabilitation facilities which was once the WHAT IS SCIENTOLOGY? largest U.S. network of brain injury rehab WHAT IS SCIENTOLOGY? clinics, was also the target of an FBI probe. One of the driving forces behind the inves- tigation was brain injury survivor Lucy Gwin of Rochester, N.Y., today one of the leading It’s the fastest-growing religion in voices for the rights of the disabled in the United the world. States. Her harrowing experience at a brain injury rehabilitation facility owned by New It restores happiness and self- Medico left her so outraged she was moved to respect. document the cases of hundreds of brain injury survivors. Her findings, corroborated by gov- It has helped millions create lasting ernment investigations and evidence obtained relationships by really understanding by Freedom, reveal an alarming pattern of human rights violations on American soil — all and caring for their families, friends for a profit. and communities. ______Its members are all drug-free. Lucy Gwin never knew what hit her — literally. It’s in the news. It’s talked about on After working as a professional writer for years and radio and TV. And it’s got the answers. raising two daughters, through the reckless actions of another, her life was irrevocably changed. In 1991, she was hit by a drunk driver in a WHAT IS SCIENTOLOGY? downtown intersection. The police were called but, because of traffic delays, the driver escaped from the This 833-page volume, describing scene, never to be found. She was rushed by ambu- the philosophy and beliefs, catechism, lance to a hospital where she remained unconscious for three weeks. When she awoke she was taken to the creeds and codes, services and New Medico rehabilitation facility in Cortland, New scriptures of the Scientology religion, York. Soon after her arrival Gwin walked outside to smoke a cigarette. “This place is nothing but a is the definitive reference work on prison,” were the words she heard uttered by another Scientology. patient as she stood outside. Brain injury survivor Lucy Gwin: “That’s when the vultures come.” The next morning, she awoke to the screams of The book came about because of her roommate, who was taking a shower “assisted” Her insurance was billed for substance abuse witnessed fraudulent psychotherapy on brain strong public interest in the by staff. A cheery social worker, speaking slowly, told treatment even though she didn’t have a substance injured patients, pressure on staff to keep patients Gwin she would work to make her stay “very abuse problem. Incredibly, New Medico, the largest for as long as possible and mass billings for non- Scientology religion and the Church, happy.” chain of rehabilitation facilities in the U.S. at the existent or useless treatment. and the need for accurate and For weeks, Gwin wandered the facility, making time, justified the billings on the basis that the driver “There was a psychiatrist who would come in mental notes of abuse against patients including the who hit Gwin was a drunk. New Medico billed Gwin’s and put all the brain injured patients in the gym and complete information. Thousands of rape of her roommate by three staff members, insurance $10,000 U.S. for seven days of treatment. kick the ball around for a few minutes,” he said. “He hours of research went into this watching a patient receive kicks to the head for Charges against New Medico, covered in a con- billed everybody’s insurance all at once for group trying to leave and psychiatric drugging of patients gressional report entitled “Fraud and Abuse in the psychotherapy.” comprehensive volume on Scientology who questioned their “treatment.” Head Injury Rehabilitation Industry,” included, According to De Martino, in order to submit and its activities. After several weeks, a sympathetic staff member “inappropriate care, fraudulent billings, misleading bills to Medicaid, New Medico would fly a psychi- warned Gwin that New Medico planned to send her marketing practices and the use of non-skilled atrist in from another state, put him up in a hotel You can purchase your own copy of for psychosurgery for “seizures” she never had. In workers.” Other allegations included “unethical for several days and have him fill out invoices in What Is Scientology?, the desperation, she called a friend who lived nearby. recruitment of patients, virtually non-existent the facility’s gymnasium on patients he had never The next day, amidst threats from facility staff medical treatment, falsifying treatment records even met. encyclopedic reference on and warnings she was insane, that friend to show improvement to families, referral New Medico hired college students to help Scientology, in either hardback carried Gwin out of the facility. fees paid to hospital personnel and patient commit patients who were questioning treatment to Despite the widely held contentions quota.” a nearby psychiatric hospital in Binghamton, N.Y. ($125.00) or softcover ($19.95), by of psychiatrists and psychologists behind The congressional probe heard that There, De Martino said, New Medico would attempt writing to the Church of Scientology brain injury rehab, survivors like Lucy New Medico was charging $2,000 per to get legal guardianship in order to access the Gwin do remember the abuse they suffer. patient per day, which were hospital rates patients’ assets. International, 6331 Hollywood Indeed — and unfortunately for New for nursing home services worth only a But some of the worst abuses of patient rights Boulevard, Suite 1200, Los Angeles, Medico — the memories of Gwin and other maximum of $200 a day, according to the were committed against his own son. During one of patients are crystal clear. testimony of former New Medico medical her daily visits, Mrs. De Martino was told by staff that CA 90028 or calling (800) 334-LIFE. “Most of us believe that when people are hurt, director Dr. Kenneth Hoelscher. her son was “all cleaned up” for her visit. When she no one would take advantage of them,” says Gwin, pulled the blankets down, WayneJohn was covered who now works as a journalist in New York. “Wrong. Billed for kicking a ball in excrement. Complimentary copies are available That’s when the vultures come.” Ed De Martino was a maintenance worker “My son wasn’t fed anything but water for 21 to religious leaders, government Gwin said that during her three-week stay, turned health care aide at New Medico’s days and went from 191 to 100 pounds,” said Mrs. patients spent their days sitting “outside at picnic Cortland, N.Y. facility. Ironically, two years after De Martino. “This was the most extreme case of officials and members of the news tables, smoking.” When she confronted the staff getting the job at New Medico, De Martino’s son gross neglect I’ve ever seen.” media at this address. about their physical abuse of other patients, she was WayneJohn became severely brain injured after While in the facility, their son also was put on 20 put in a “baskethold,” a restraint similar to a Full being hit by a drunk driver. different psychiatric drugs including Haldol and Nelson wrestling hold, leaving the patient completely The De Martino family lived only a few blocks Chlorpromazine. The De Martinos’ family doctor immobile. “It’s one of the most evil things you can do away from the former New Medico facility. As a ordered that WayneJohn be taken off every drug to a person,” said Gwin. “It’s terrifying.” staff member and parent, Ed De Martino said he except one.

8 | FREEDOM Human Rights

Judge Pamela Taylor Johnson of the was that nobody was really implement- While in the facility for one University of New York at Buffalo. Willer denied obtained criminal indictments against a total of Juvenile Court in Baton Rouge, ing what they knew.” year, WayneJohn received physical claims of abuse by former Ontario patients who were three Tangram staff members, one of them the Louisiana, is one of those who toured He added, “This course reopened my therapy only twice, which led his hospitalized at a Texas facility called Tangram manager of Tangram’s eight facilities. As a result of the Los Angeles Criminon Community general attitude about others and certain limbs and joints to atrophy. Rehabilitation Network. the cooperative efforts of the Human Services Education Center, interviewing offend- situations. Now, without anyone remind- According to De Martino, the But it is more than likely that Willer’s indig- department and CCHR, the Attorney General of ers on the program and discussing their ing me, I am more aware of my negative facility had only one rehab thera- nance stems from his documented connections with Texas filed a civil suit against Tangram on May 12 for progress with center staff and the court. attitude that I used to carry with me daily. pist on hand for 80 or more brain the principals of the Brain Injury Association, abuse and failure to report abuse. Millions in fines Impressed by the program’s I no longer use excuses to commit an injured patients. including Tangram’s owner, neuropsychiatrist against Tangram are sought. When the De Martinos com- Stanley Seaton. Willer is also the consulting psy- For its part, Tangram vehemently denies any methods and purpose, which focus on illegal act or get myself into problems plained about their son’s treatment, chologist at Anagram, an Ontario brain injury abuse against patients and stated it takes allegations restoring the individual’s sense of which can multiply. Due to this course I’ve New Medico sought to send facility, which, by Willer’s own admission, is of abuse “very seriously.” accountability and responsibility, learned to handle situations in life with a WayneJohn to a New Medico modeled after and closely connected to Tangram. Judge Johnson noted that the atmos- more positive attitude and self-control.” facility in Massachusetts because “These rehabilitation programs were considered “Nothing but abuse” phere and the emphasis on results were In case after case, Criminon the company could have billed the most effective by the international rehabilitation A veteran Tangram staff member told Freedom conducive to bringing about change. In Community Education Centers are doing Medicaid 50% more money for out community,” said Willer. that she witnessed physical abuse of patients, falsifi- conjunction with Criminon, she estab- what the Criminon program has done for of state patients — upwards of Yet in 1996, when it suited Willer, he appeared cation of clinical records, use of unlicensed staff and $2,000 per patient, per day. The De on a national Canadian television show, CBC’s “The extensive, even wanton use of psychiatric medica- lished a Criminon referral program in decades: Demonstrating that there is a Martinos refused and told New Fifth Estate,” to attack the former director of a tions. November 1997 in Baton Rouge to way to close the revolving door, to gen- Medico they would take their son hospital-based brain injury program which was The whistleblower, who asked that her identity which youth are today being referred. uinely rehabilitate offenders by restoring home and care for him there. New moving in on Willer’s turf. Within months of Willer’s be protected for fear of retribution, said that the A Community Education Center self-respect and providing a means to Medico officials responded by volley, the director was discredited and Willer was physical abuse of patients was extensive: “Right opened in Compton, California, in become productive members of society. stating the parents were misguided made director of the Ontario Brain Injury March 1998, while additional centers For more information on the and “in denial” for wanting to care Association. Since then, Willer has have been named for Washington, D.C., Criminon program, write to: for their son at home at no cost to become the leading advocate of the use of Tampa, Florida, and other communities CRIMINON, 7060 Hollywood Blvd., Medicaid. U.S. rehab facilities for Canadian patients. that include, in California alone, Suite 220, Los Angeles, CA 90028. Violence and “confabulation” Willer, who describes himself as Hollywood, San Jose and San Francisco. Six years after that congres- one of the foremost experts on brain Criminon: Effective sional investigation, taxpayers in injury in North America, claims that Turning Lives Around both the United States and brain injured patients’ recollection of Sean Burke, director of the Rehabilitation Canada should be more than a abuse at Tangram could be “confabula- Criminon Community Education Criminon Community Education Centers operate in Los Angeles and ■ While Criminon, an international little concerned that the brain tion”: “In the absence of good Center in Los Angeles, said, “In their Compton, California, with additional centers planned for Washington, criminal rehabilitation program, is injury rehab industry is still a memory, an individual with brain graduation speeches, one for one par- D.C., Tampa, Florida, and other communities that include, in California strongly supported by the Church of ticipants tell their fellow students, ‘I alone, Hollywood, San Jose and San Francisco. Above: Criminon Scientology, it is independent and non- didn’t particularly want to do this Community Education Center staffers Henry Rodriguez and Sean Burke religious. Its program is open to people of course in the beginning, but let me tell with Criminon International Executive Director Tammy Terrenzi. all races and creeds. There has always you, if you just stick with it and really Criminon has grown out of A “daily planner” for brain injured patients do it, your life will change.’ They start getting situation. But as I kept coming to class it made Narconon, an independent, non-profit corpora- at Tangram. jobs. They start new relationships with their me think differently. It helped me to understand tion. The secular Narconon program has been families. One even stated that his marriage was about life and how I can make my road straight operating since 1966, from its inception inside been BRAIN INJURY. before Thanksgiving, a client who was never self- abusive came in with a black eye, swollen ears and saved.” and not go off the edge. It is up to me how I want a prison in the United States; through its 39 all black and blue. He said a staff member had put an The effectiveness of the program is evident in my life to be.” drug education and rehabilitation facilities elbow into his eye and pulled and twisted his ear. It the words and actions of its graduates. Another, Silvester, said, “I began the course around the world, tens of thousands of people What is new is that the field was nothing but abuse.” One of them, Consuelo, stated, “At first I with the same attitude that the others had. We all have benefited from it and are leading drug-free She added that she has been encouraging her didn’t care if I went to jail or not because of my felt that we knew right from wrong. The problem and productive lives. peers to speak up. “I told them you’re either part of has been taken over the solution or you’re part of the problem and if they’ve witnessed abuse, they need to start telling it. I’m not lying for anybody and I’m not going to jail for Tammy Terrenzi, executive director of by profiteers, acting under anybody.” Criminon International. “This is when a Other reported incidents include an employee person realizes he is basically good and brutally slapping a patient in the face and another Wiping Out Crime respects himself again — and wants to do where the side of a patient’s face was smashed so good things in life, not bad. This is what the guise of medicine. viciously that it almost caused permanent eye he Criminon program operates Communication Course, with practical Criminon is all about.” injuries. The victim was promised a shopping trip by within corrections systems instruction in how to communicate and In addition to on-site programs, during a Tangram executive in exchange for his silence throughout the United States how to face life rather than withdraw from any given week, roughly 2,250 inmates are about the . and in other nations to rehabili- it — the action that preceded and helped to enrolled on Criminon correspondence thriving, multi-billion dollar business — and that injury will often rely on the cues of others to Incident reports, which are required to detail tate offenders by restoring their bring about the criminal condition. courses in more than 750 U.S. prisons, as its corruption seems to know no national bound- develop their answer to a question. Individuals injuries suffered by patients during restraints were senseT of self-worth so that they can become That is followed with a course in aries. Powerful lobby groups like the Brain Injury with dense memory problems not only confabu- routinely changed or omitted from the patients’ file, well as in prisons in Mexico, Canada, the productive members of society. learning how to learn, and continues with Association in the United States (formerly the late but once they generate a confabulation said the whistleblower. Fictitious accidents are United Kingdom, Russia, Sweden, Italy, Growing out of the worldwide courses that include one based on the National Head Injury Foundation) and the (which is generated to replace real memory, not reported to cover up injuries suffered by patients, she Narconon (“no drugs”) drug rehabilitation booklet, The Way to Happiness, which is Poland, Hungary, South Africa and Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA) have a dishonest act), the confabulation becomes as said. “You’ll write up the report and they’ll go behind program, Criminon’s purpose is to wipe out the focus of the program conducted at Australia. successfully convinced government agencies and real as any actual memory would be.” you and say, why don’t you reword it to make it look crime by eradicating the factors that create Criminon Community Education Centers. Graduates of the program attest to its health insurance providers that brain injury is Yet numerous brain-injured patients treated at more professional and make it so that no legal action criminal behavior in the individual. The Way to Happiness helps to restore a workability — as documented by the not a disability; rather, it requires a lifetime of Tangram had no difficulty recounting, in detail, many can ever be taken against Tangram.” Founded in 1972, the Criminon program person’s innate goodness and pride. A enormous volume of letters and success expensive psychiatric “treatment.” startling incidents of abuse at the facility over a five- consists of a precise sequence of steps, each person on the Criminon program soon dis- stories sent to Criminon offices. In brain injury rehab, beatings are termed year period. And once CCHR made public its Injuries covered up one bringing about specific results in the covers he is the one in charge of his actions, Whether the program is administered “restraints,” psychiatric drugging is called “treat- Tangram investigation, the facility came under One Canadian patient sent to Texas’ Tangram individual to restore his self-respect. his life and his destiny. by correspondence or in person, the results ment” and claims of abuse by brain injury survivors criminal investigation by the Texas Department of facility was Robbie Thompson, who was flown there On-site Criminon programs in prisons “The Criminon program enables crimi- provide hope for a civilization where crime are dismissed as psychotic ramblings. Human Services for alleged abuse of patients. in late 1992 without his parents’ knowledge or and detention centers begin with the nals to regain their self-respect,” said and violence have long been top concerns. One who dismissed the results of CCHR’s and The case is being handled by the Guadalupe consent. Based on the latest daily rate being charged Freedom’s Canadian investigation was psychologist County District Attorney’s Office, which on April 2 for Thompson’s treatment, his five year stay at Dr. Barry Willer, professor of psychiatry at State and May 7 appeared before a Grand Jury and Tangram cost taxpayers an estimated $1.2 million.

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leave Seaton open to fraud charges. Those referred to the program are able to Twenty-six year-old Craig Collings from Ontario study The Way to Happiness at home but are spent five years at Tangram and said that Tangram also required to spend a minimum of two hours was essentially nothing more than a psychiatric each week in a courseroom setting. After facility in the guise of a brain injury rehabilitation reading each section of the booklet, they clinic where patients’ rights were routinely abused. answer in writing a series of questions about “If you come at a person who’s agitated, what’s going what they have just read and how the informa- to happen? They’re going to come at you because tion can be applied to their lives. Instructors they feel threatened. When patients would feel threatened and try and defend themselves, it always then go over each of the student’s answers to resulted in a restraint.” make sure he or she fully understood all infor- Like Thompson, Collings said he was also phys- mation from the section studied. ically abused, that patients were restrained exces- “I really needed this course,” said David, a sively, that patients were given “all kinds” of med- graduate, “because I wasn’t thinking about this ication and that Tangram patients did nothing but stuff. Now I’m doing a lot of things I should be work from early morning until evening. doing. By taking this course, my life has changed for the best. I have more respect for others and Restraint also for myself. Since I enrolled in this course I There are also serious questions concerning the right of Tangram to force any brain-injured adult to be have been taking all of my responsibilities like I held against his or her will. Tangram’s brochure states should have from the start. And thanks to this that only patients who are “not a danger to self and/or course I am living a happier life.” others” are admitted for treatment. Yet according to Tangram’s patient consent Genuine Rehabilitation forms, Tangram reserves the right to “hold clients on Vanderbilt University Economics Professor the premises of Tangram by any reasonable means Mark Cohen has estimated that the nation spends and/or for a reasonable time period although said $90 billion each year on prisons, police and holding and/or restraint may be against the expressed desire of courts in the fight to curb crime. But the return client.” on the investment is abysmal, as so many offend- Texas attorney Martin Cirkiel, ers return to crime after their release. who specializes in health fraud The “revolving door” through which crimi- cases, reviewed the consent forms nals reenter the justice system has long been the from Tangram. “A competent adult bane of judges and those in law enforcement. And could consent to just about it belies the corrections system itself since, theo- anything. The issue here is can a One of the “group homes” used for brain- brain injured person really give retically, once a criminal has been arrested, tried injured patients at Tangram. informed consent. This kind of and sentenced, society should not have to worry fraudulent treatment is an outrage,” about that person any longer. After all, the system “A review of Robbie’s Tangram file shows that said Cirkiel. is supposed to correct those who enter it. injuries suffered during restraints may have been Collings said if patients misbe- The Criminon program fills a unique need covered up with accident reports,” said Dr. Moira haved, they were put “on isolation,” within the system. “I’ve had very limited Dolan, a physician who reviewed Thompson’s case which meant they spent hours resources to deal with the problems facing our at the request of his parents. For example, a working, often without a break, society, particularly those occasioned by rising December, 1995 accident report stated that Robbie inside or outside the facility with no fractured his finger falling in his room. pay. When they were paid, it was crime,” one judge affiliated with the program “With the location of that fracture, it’s what we under the program’s token said, noting that the traditional means for meting call medically a boxer’s fracture,” said Dolan. “That Victim Robbie Thompson (with physician economy system, a form of money means it’s the type of fracture you get when you Dr. Moira Dolan): “A review of Robbie’s that can only be used at Tangram to pay for personal “Looking back at what happened to me over defend yourself. For this type of fracture to happen Tangram file shows that injuries suffered toiletries, outings or recreation. the last four years,” she said, “I was always “[M]y life has changed for the best. I have more from falling is just not believable.” during restraints may have been covered up As part of “vocational therapy,” patients raised getting in trouble.” The Criminon program was The Tangram whistleblower reported that staff animals including chickens, pigs and cows until they with accident reports.” instrumental in changing that and turning her life respect for others and also for myself. I have been who questioned the abuse were ostracized and were ready to go to the slaughterhouse. Patients around. Among other things, it made her realize harassed. “If you’re not in the clique, you’re in were expected to work until they were exhausted. that life itself was far too important to waste. trouble. When you start questioning what you’ve several months the facility did not have a single taking all of my responsibilities like I should have from “The work was really tough,” said Collings. “We were Because the program emphasized how her seen, you’re an outsider.” nurse on its payroll. A Tangram staff member added constantly on the go from the moment we got up Dolan told Freedom that Tangram’s assessment that staff receive a scant 60 hours of training to work until the moment we went to bed.” He also wit- actions affected others, one of the most impor- the start.... I am living a happier life.” of Thompson is rendered highly suspect when with patients. Staff also perform duties which, nessed degrading treatment of patients by staff. tant results from the program for her was the — David, Criminon Community viewed in light of information provided by Robbie’s according to that employee, should only be done by One adult brain-injured patient from decision to set a good example for her children. Education Center student parents, a former Tangram employee who worked trained medical personnel. She cited as an example would often wander away from the “Before, I didn’t think about anything but my with Thompson, and her own examination of him. that all patients line up at breakfast, lunch and facility. In order to “know where he was” at all times, little area,” Jenny said. After graduating from the Robbie’s parents reported that during a year-long dinner for their medications, many of which are psy- the staff attached cow bells to his shoelaces. “I program, she said, “I better understood how to Way to Happiness, a non-religious, common- stay with them, their son never exhibited a behavior chotropic or mind-altering drugs. The medications thought that was going pretty far, it was pretty sense moral code. The booklet’s 21 precepts — out justice have been restricted to fines and jail live my life.” sentences, which have not proven effective in problem nor made threats or gestures of harm are prescribed primarily by Tangram’s owner, Dr. humiliating,” said Collings. As she had never completed high school, she such as “Set a Good Example,” “Don’t Do turning people away from a path of crime. toward himself or anyone else. Stanley Seaton. Collings himself was also subject to acts of was proud to finish the program. “It changed my Anything Illegal,” “Safeguard and Improve Your “The progress notes frequently stated that, while But Dr. Vikki A. Stefans, Medical Director of the humiliation, according to a Tangram staff member. life,” she said. And in a life where many things Environment,” “Be Worthy of Trust” and “I now have the ability to effect significant Robbie continues to show improvement, he still needs Acute Rehabilitation Unit, Arkansas Children’s To punish Craig for trying to run away, his shoes seemed to be going the wrong way, she noted, “Fulfill Your Obligations” — set forth clear, prac- changes in our defendant population,” he said, a great deal of assistance, direction and behavior man- Hospital, said Tangram’s liberal use of psychotropic were taken away from him for several days. In “enabling them to lead productive, crime-free lives agement,” said Dolan. “This is incongruous with the medications is “wildly inappropriate.” “By and another incident, Collings had a rope tied around his “This program is the good thing that happened to tical principles which, when applied, help to noted abilities to teach others how to program a large,” she said, “the anti-psychotics like Haldol and hand which was attached to a Tangram employee. me.” Today she is off drugs, living with her parents, improve the level of morals throughout society. as a result of their participation in Criminon.” complex computer-watch, assist visually impaired Mellaril have a slightly higher risk of side effects in “They led him around like a dog,” said the staff taking care of her children and working part-time. Each precept in the booklet is studied so that As of July 1998, more than 300 have graduated patients and accurately recall 80% of his day.” people with brain injuries. Anti-psychotics for every- member. “To me, that was abusive.” the individual not only understands how it from the Criminon Community Education Centers. body is bad.” Freedom also found that Seaton For years, Collings was also told that Tangram “I Have More Respect for Others” applies to his own life, but so that he can utilize Due to the continuing success of the program, pro- Lining up for drugs admitted under oath to using unlicensed physicians was waiting for the Ontario government to bring him The centerpiece of the program Jenny com- the precept to increase the survival potential of bation officers, judges and others involved in the While there is a neurologist associated with to conduct medical evaluations of patients at home. “I believe I could have gotten everything I pleted is a course based on the booklet, The those around him. justice system are studying it with sharp interest. Tangram who periodically examines patients, for Tangram, which, according to legal experts, could wanted back in Ontario.”

10 | FREEDOM FREEDOM | 27 Human Rights

But that wasn’t the way the industry was set up “Now what happens when you put someone into to run. One of the architects of the brain injury an institution, is that the institution exacerbates any industry was “behavioral expert” Ahmos Rolider, of those problems and creates a lot of those An alternative to formerly of the University of Kansas. problems,” says Taylor. “Within the institutional What You Can do In 1989, Chedoke-McMaster Hospitals in environment people are expected to be compliant. It Hamilton, Ontario, responsible for coordinating all goes back to ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest’ and t is not enough to simply be aware of Ontario brain injury services, hired Rolider to run its [Jack] Nicholson. It’s that kind of thing. If the person waste, fraud and crime. It is up to Centre for Behavioral Rehabilitation (CBR), a small, doesn’t conform to the rigid block treatment on the everyone to do something about it. six-bed unit created to serve the severely brain ward or unit, the response — and this is where insti- You can report psychiatric fraud and injured population. Despite the fact that Rolider had tutions are especially dangerous — the response is to crimes to the appropriate authorities. little experience dealing with brain injuries, Rolider drug people up so that they become compliant.” I You can help a family member, friend or was promoted as a “miracle worker” with the brain- Brain injury rehab is still big business. acquaintance who is being subjected to injured population. According to official estimates, there are at least forced drugging, emotionally or physically Behind closed doors, Rolider was torturing 2,500 people who are severely brain injured in violent treatment, sexual assault or any of the “Revolving patients, screaming at them and using techniques Ontario alone and each will cost at least $110,000 other forms of abuse which have become com- reminiscent of those used in the military for interro- per year for their “treatment.” This translates to an monplace in the psychiatric industry. gation. This was done under the guise of incredible $274 million in new business every The following is a list of things an individual “aversion therapy,” with the full cooperation 12 months. All of which could be summed can do and whom to notify: of the hospital, even though there was no up as a lot of money to invest with very proof of medical safety or effectiveness. little returns. ■ Report crimes One of Rolider’s victims was Thompson, Brain injury is not a new problem. If you have knowledge of a crime by a psy- who was referred by him to Tangram in What is new is that the field has been chiatrist or “mental health professional,” report Door 1992. taken over by profiteers, acting under the full details immediately to your local police, Even more startling was that one of guise of medicine. According to Mike sheriff or district attorney’s office. Rolider’s key subordinates, outreach thera- Boyd, a brain injury survivor from California In cases of billing or insurance fraud, provide pist Wayne Turner, traveled to Texas to export who testified before a 1992 Congressional details to the district attorney, to the nearest aversion therapy. Documents show that soon after hearing on the brain injury rehab field, the psychi- office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or to Turner was assigned to monitor Ontario patients in atric community “is running amok” and has taken the closest Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Unit of the the United States, he joined the payroll of Tangram over the field of brain injury, which has been com- U.S. Justice Department. You can also report and eventually became director of Tangram Ontario. pletely subverted by psychiatric vested interests such instances to: Justice” whose primary purpose is profit, not patient care. U.S. Department of Justice “All kinds of graft” Joe Ehman, a therapist in Denver, Colorado who Fraud Section Dr. Steve Taylor, a professor at Syracuse has personally dealt with more than 200 cases of 1400 New York Avenue NW University, Coordinator of Disability Studies and brain injury, says, “A lot of the so-called rehab can Washington, D.C. 20530 Grassroots Program Director of the Center on Human Policy, is a staunch really be done on an outpatient basis and, what my Send copies of your report to Freedom opponent of the brain injury rehab “industry.” experience has been, people who have survived Magazine and to: “There are two kinds of rehab facilities: One is injury — and survived rehab — basically all said the Citizens Commission on Human Rights Rehabilitates the greedy, private, for-profit corporations where same thing: A lot of what they learned in rehab they International there’s all kinds of graft,” he said. “Even if we elimi- really don’t use in the real world.” 6362 Hollywood Blvd. nated all the graft and obvious corruption, still the Ehman says that the daily rates charged by facil- Los Angeles, CA 90028 basic problem is, in most states and provinces and ities depend on the insurance policy of the patient — Offenders, Yields certainly with our federal government here in the ensuring that profits are put before patients. ■ Demand action United States, there are strong incentives to put “When I am at this hospital for doing the re- Write to your congressman and senators people with brain injuries away.” entry program, they push the people to come back and urge the following: Remarkable Results That certainly appears to be true in Robbie in six months to a year for re-evaluation, to see if any 1) That government funding to psychiatric Thompson’s case. A review of patient files functioning has changed with bladder, bowels, research entities such as the National Institute showed OHIP received regular requests for “90- muscles, nerves, and that sort of thing and maybe of Mental Health be eliminated. day extensions of funding” from Chedoke there’s a need for it, but the first question they ask 2) That government funding for psychiatric Hospital on behalf of Tangram to continue a the people is ‘What is your insurance company?’ It’s and psychological research, studies and surveys by George Michelsen The scope of the problem explains the wide- Over a six-month period, 67 misdemeanor offenders were referred to a pilot project patient’s treatment. The requests are form letters just a money maker. This is right now, this is today.” being carried out in schools and prisons be spread interest sparked by positive results from a and in Robbie’s case, OHIP approved every In Texas, CCHR is working with state senator stopped. pilot project conducted in a municipal court in conducted in Los Angeles. Nearly two years request for 90-day funding extensions. Michael Moncrief to craft legislation which will set 3) That psychiatric centers and programs ith a population of more than Los Angeles. after its completion, only one had returned to As a personal care facility, Tangram does not new, humane standards for brain injury rehabilita- be removed from the community and that gov- 1.7 million, the fourth largest Over a six-month period, 67 misdemeanor the court — an unheard of recidivism rate of perform medical or surgical procedures and New tion. And north of the border, government officials ernment funding for these programs be halted. community in the United States offenders were referred to the pilot, now known 1.5 percent. The continuing success of the Medico’s facilities were former nursing homes con- are finally at the end of their rope, taking the extra- 4) That funding only be channeled to is also the costliest to the as Criminon’s Community Education Center. As Criminon program has caused probation verted into rehab centres. ordinary step of filing litigation in the United States provenly workable programs that are held average taxpayer. of July 1998 — 22 months after its completion — Dr. Taylor said rehab facilities are nothing more to recover misappropriated funds. On April 6, accountable for measurable, useful results. officers, judges and others to study it with Addresses: In raw numbers, it follows only only one had returned to the court — an unheard sharp interest. than rest homes that have changed their names. Ontario Health Minister Elizabeth Witmer New York (7.3 million people), of recidivism rate of 1.5 percent. “Based on what I do know, I personally consider announced that the province had filed suit in The Honorable ______WLos Angeles (3.5 million) and Chicago (2.8 rehab facilities — and this is not too strong a word Madison, Wisconsin against the California-based U.S. Senate million), overshadowing and — a scam. They’re very expensive, glorified nursing Tenet Healthcare and its former subsidiary, National Washington, D.C. 20510 “It Changed My Life” couldn’t live with that hanging over her head and Philadelphia (roughly 1.6 million apiece), and far homes.” Medical Enterprises, seeking $175 million in The Honorable ______The pilot project was part of the interna- U.S. House of Representatives surpassing San Diego (1.1 million) and all others. turned herself in. damages. One U.S. legal analyst noted that such a A psychiatrically “created” field Washington, D.C. 20515 Experts predict the population in this com- tional Criminon (“no crime”) rehabilitation Standing before the judge, Jenny knew that suit shows extraordinary concern. “This looks like a Mr. Wilson Hulley, Executive Staff Member of strong case,” he said, “but lawsuits like these are For the names of your elected representa- munity — America’s jails and prisons — escalat- program, which makes it possible for those con- her life was not something of which to be proud. victed of offenses to reform and continue their She had accomplished none of her goals and, the President’s Committee on the Employment of generally seen as too great a risk and are rarely tives, call (202) 224-3121. ing to 3.5 million by 2004. People With Disabilities, is a brain injury survivor brought — a foreign government suing major corpo- Unfortunately, most who enter this area of lives, without further crime. most importantly for her, had not provided a safe ■ Get further information family environment for her children. who said the field of rehab has been created by psy- rations in another country. It suggests a strong com- the criminal justice system are never reformed While the pilot demonstrated that people can chologists and psychiatrists. “It’s easier for them to mitment from the Canadians.” Such commitment Write to the Citizens Commission on or corrected. 80 percent return to prison or jail change, Jenny, a single mother with two children, Following her guilty plea, she was offered the justify a person’s rehab because they can do it from from federal U.S. authorities is overdue. Human Rights: within one year of serving time. Indeed, many serves as a more recent case in point for long- choice of jail or participation in a program based a ‘creative’ standpoint, as opposed to a medical It is long past time for the U.S. Department of CCHR International authorities maintain that these institutions term success of the Criminon program. After on common-sense moral values that would help standpoint.” Justice to launch a full investigation into those 6362 Hollywood Blvd. worsen inmates as they emerge embittered, years of personal trouble, the low point in her life her to examine the life and behavior that had Dr. Taylor said the kind of treatment given to who have created or allowed a brain injury Los Angeles, CA 90028 bent on revenge and better “educated” to a life came when a warrant was issued for metham- brought her before a court of law on a criminal brain- injured patients in institutions makes patients “system” which is merely a cloak for widespread www.cchr.org ■ of crime. phetamine possession. She concluded she charge. She chose the latter. worse, not better. fraud and abuse. Or call (800) 869-2247.

26 | FREEDOM FREEDOM | 11 Human Rights Turning the Tide As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights passes 50 years, much remains to be done — but when private citizens work alongside governments and human rights groups, there is much that can be done. by Tal Kapelner and Aron C. Mason

hen a debate between President Bill Clinton and China president Jiang Zemin was broadcast live on Chinese television in June, even skepti- cal human rights and foreign policy observers hailed the event not only as a step forward for U.S.-China relations, but for human rights. Shows of force can never replace genuine and self-determined change in a country’s collective Wconscience. Such change requires open communication to nurture the principles of freedom of expression, association, and belief. As President Clinton stated to students at Beijing Univer- sity, “These are not American rights or European rights or devel- oped world rights. They are birthrights of people everywhere.”

12 | FREEDOM FREEDOM | 13 Human Rights

______Simon’s view. For here is a nation tions later. The case of Abner In the fall of 1998, Amnesty International Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng wrote in with decades of apartheid policy F.W. de Klerk and Louima, a Haitian immigrant will begin to address that need with the 1978 that “when [the people] call for democ- which, as President Nelson tortured and sodomized with a launch of its USA Campaign, the first-ever racy they are demanding nothing more than Mandela put it, treated citizens as Nelson Mandela plunger by four New York police national human rights effort focused solely that which is inherently theirs.” And for the “disposable garbage.” officers, illustrates just how far on U.S. compliance with and accountability Chinese communist leaders who preached of The recent visit there by this trend has gone. toward international human rights standards. capitalist exploitation of Chinese work, but who Bill Clinton marked the first We must reconstitute and As we all know, action must begin at the local never delivered on their promise of self-deter- time a U.S. president set foot in reinvigorate our struggle level. That is why in 1998, in coordination mination, Wei wrote, “Whoever refuses to that nation and spotlighted the against the various manifesta- with Amnesty International, I will convene return democracy to [the people] is a shameless extent and importance of the tions of racism that exist in our the first of what I hope will become a model thief more despicable than any capitalist who progress made. (See “Embracing society today, and thwart for other cities and towns across America — robs the workers of the wealth earned with their Tolerance,” page 16.) Although attempts to roll back civil the country’s first “human rights awareness own sweat and blood.” many factors have been rights gains. We must also seek hearing” in Decatur, Georgia. Wei’s courageous call was, in truth, as much for credited with bringing an end to to end the economic depriva- This “town hall” meeting will bring human rights as it was for democracy. As he the apartheid system, a closer tion and marginalization that together human rights activists, community explained repeatedly in his letters, it was extremely examination is instructive. exists as a result of racism. leaders and ordinary citizens to candidly unlikely for a people without a voice to protect It is notable that much of the At the same time, we must discuss abuses and ways to safeguard human themselves against tyranny and injustice. For his momentum outside South Africa reverse the discriminatory rights in their community. I have urged my tracts beseeching the Chinese people not to follow began in the United States. In trends in our judicial system. colleagues in the House of Representatives to dictators, be they reactionary or communist, Wei 1971, a Philadelphia minister, The reality of an unfairly was imprisoned and tortured for the greater part of Rev. Leon Sullivan, effectively applied death penalty, in which 18 years. kicked off what would become black men are 10 times more Freed in December 1997 at the urgings of known as the “divestment likely to be executed than the international community, including the movement” in the United whites, is chilling. At the same Clinton administration — his release all the States when he demanded time, prisons are slowly being more timely given the December 10, 1997, com- that General Motors withdraw handed over to large conglom- mencement of a year-long celebration of the from South Africa. The erate multinational corpora- 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of movement caught fire on college tions. In the name of “effi- Human Rights’ adoption — Wei was grateful to campuses across the country and ciency,” this system which has be out of prison, but not satisfied. The point of eventually spread to the halls of no interest in either reform or any struggle against a nation’s oppressive leaders rehabilitation has given rise to is true and lasting human rights reform — which an inherently sadistic industry has yet to emerge in China. As Wei wrote after and produced albums and concerts protesting which profits from the incar- his release, “Chinese leaders are not so much apartheid. ceration of our young, mostly amenable to reason as they are to pressure.” The story of South Africa Within South Africa, human rights groups Black, men. Unfortunately, in certain respects, Wei’s release teaches that the effort and and activists did their part to expose the truth Lastly, if we are to lead the alleviated pressure on the Chinese government to about the barbarities and burst the government’s world in the area of promoting improve its behavior in respect to human rights. vigilance necessary to public relations bubble. In 1971, Zulu Chief human rights and democracy, Changes in human rights in any given region Gatsha Buthelezi revived the Inkatha, one of the U.S. officials regularly pay lip service to demand activity, constant pressure and vigilance. topple an anti-human rights few anti-apartheid groups not banned by the gov- human rights and often castigate Third World “Diplomatic solutions” have failed when not ernment. Throughout the 1970s, members of the leaders for not upholding the internationally “On October 10, 1998, combined with the active, physical demonstration status quo can be immense, Church of Scientology worked with like-minded accepted standards embodied in the UDHR. of a people’s and a society’s will. individuals and groups to expose barbaric human With each new international crisis, Congress in coordination with Amnesty International, I will On that score, it is well to remember it is not and that truly sweeping and rights abuses under apartheid in South Africa. and the White House take turns staking out enough to have and enjoy a reasonably high level lasting reforms are attained Their work included revealing in Freedom the the moral high ground by issuing high- convene the first of what I hope will become a model for of human rights in the United States but care existence of psychiatric slave labor camps, where browed statements and passing symbolic res- little about what happens in other nations. The from the combined effort of up to 10,000 blacks at a time were incarcerated, olutions about the importance of respecting other cities and towns across America — the country’s Universal Declaration proclaims the “inherent with many dying from wholesale neglect and human rights. Meanwhile, these very same dignity and ... equal and inalienable rights of all private and public sectors, abuses that included administration of deadly officials turn a blind eye when it comes to first ‘human rights awareness hearing’ in Decatur, members of the human family.” History has electro-convulsive shock without anesthetic. human rights abuses at home. shown us time and again that nations which from national governments In return for speaking up and catching the Such criticism of others on human rights Georgia.” abuse their own peoples are far more likely to world’s ear, the Church and its members encoun- seems inappropriate at best, and hypocriti- resort to violence against their neighbors. and international human tered years of sustained assault from the apartheid cal at worst, when we consider that, accord- — Rep. Cynthia McKinney Moreover, considering how rapidly business in regime, measures that included the banning of ing to Amnesty International, “the USA is a all quarters is expanding into foreign markets, and rights bodies. Freedom. With persistence, however, truth emerged country with a persistent and serious pattern victorious. Independent commissions vindicated of human rights abuses.” That the United that the health of those markets is inextricably we must do so in a consistent and even- hold similar hearings in their districts or linked to the state of government, it is clear that res- and commended the Church’s work and sweeping States address its human rights challenges states. head-on is vital to American credibility and handed manner. We continue to embrace olution of such abuses is in the interest of every investigations and reforms were ultimately realized. The time has come to look critically at leadership abroad. Moreover, it is simply the many of the world’s most repressive dicta- American — even if the only bottom line he con- Congress. The United Nations stepped up pressure For some, the opposition was more violent and ourselves as a society and to address our right thing to do. tors in the name of some immediate strate- siders is his own. Or as Harry Truman put it, “We as well; in 1979, a United Nations committee pub- more personal. Activist Steve Biko, leader of the As we have seen throughout our history, gic objective. At the same time, the United shortcomings in the area of human rights. must build ... a far better world, one in which the lished a list of entertainers who continued to South African Students’ Organization, who refused American democracy is a work in progress. States has often stood by human rights The United States cannot continue to make eternal dignity of man is respected.” perform in South Africa despite its racist policies. to be silenced, was killed. As we look to protect the will of the majority, abusers when they were our “allies,” even bold proclamations about human rights In 1985 came a watershed event: Congress — we must also safeguard the rights of minori- when faced with near total isolation in the abuses abroad while ignoring our own. When Success in South Africa: a Joint Effort under pressure from such members as Congress- Crisis Brings Change ties with equal vigilance and determination. international community. Worse still, we it comes to human rights, the United States There remain a number of countries where the man William Gray and national leaders such as Rev. The 1989 retirement of South African Prime The individual, civil and economic rights of reward some of the world’s most notorious must lead by example. disregard for human rights is an entrenched way of Jesse Jackson — passed the Comprehensive Anti- Minister P.W. Botha, and his replacement by F.W. de minorities are increasingly under attack. human rights abusers with lucrative trade life, and it is these nations which are most resistive Apartheid Act, imposing federal sanctions against Klerk, represented a significant political change. Patterns of institutionalized racism continue deals. In this way, not only do we undermine to change. “All the diplomatic pressure in the world South Africa. They gathered enough support to The imposition of sanctions by the United States to plague our society. the very principles we claim to uphold, but isn’t going to make a Libya or a Cuba change its override the veto of President Ronald Reagan. forced de Klerk to accept the reality that economic Rep. McKinney (D-Ga.) serves on the course,” says veteran foreign affairs authority and Many Americans also refused to support com- isolation would translate into financial disaster for A pattern of police brutality has taken we also facilitate and further entrench House International Relations and National retired Senator Paul Simon. “Such efforts should panies that would not divest, while more and more all South Africans. hold in many of America’s cities, and race is human rights abuses abroad. Security Committees, and is a doctoral can- not be made in isolation.” companies, from soft-drink manufacturers to banks, But there was no single factor in bringing de almost always a factor. In cases where Blacks, The need for a domestic human rights didate in International Relations at Tufts Examining a country where sweeping change joined in the divestment effort. Musical artists in the Klerk to the negotiating table. It was a convergence Hispanics and other minorities are suspects, monitoring and educational effort is clear University’s Fletcher School of Law and finally did occur — South Africa — bears out United States, Canada and Europe composed songs of many forces, from Mikhail Gorbachev’s “new the tendency is to shoot first and ask ques- and long overdue. Diplomacy.

14 | FREEDOM FREEDOM | 23 Human Rights Human thinking” to the changing class stratifica- As the millennium approaches, and tion of white Afrikaner society — and cer- as the ability to send information to more tainly the steady decline of South Africa’s places at greater speeds draws the Advisory Committee Cites besieged economy. corners of the planet closer together, Pretoria was facing a difficult but not those who seek peace and tolerance still impossible situation when the new presi- must guard against the pockets of dent made his epochal February 2, 1990, violence and mistreatment of others speech releasing Nelson Mandela, aroused by bigotry and paranoia. In “HARASSMENT, removing the ban on the African National certain nations, such as Germany, dis- Congress and opening negotiations. His crimination and persecution may be was not a surrender, but an act of political fostered by leaders at top levels of strategy. government, even while those same offi- IGHT De Klerk hoped to attain a cials proclaim they stand for tolerance, INTIMIDATION AND commanding position where he could justice and equal rights. (See “Embracing R S neutralize the black revolution by legit- Tolerance,” page 16, and “German imizing it, then control the negotiations to ‘Harassment’ Condemned by State achieve his goal of “power-sharing,” in Department” page 20.) which the black majority would have a “The degree to which a country VIOLENCE” hand in government but not a controlling observes and respects human rights is an one. De Klerk’s strategy was designed to excellent index of the quality of its democ- arlier this year, the United rikyo from Japan. Unless these commis- prevent majority rule, but by enabling the racy,” says William C. Walsh, a noted States State Department’s sions focus their work on investigating black majority to mobilize politically he human rights attorney and specialist in Advisory Committee on Reli- illegal acts, they run the risk of denying ensured it. international law, who has also served the gious Freedom Abroad pub- individuals the right to freedom of religion Those who did not join the United United Nations. “What that means to lished its Interim Report to or belief. In Germany, members of the States in imposing sanctions were correct Americans is that they must care what is the Secretary of State and the Church of Scientology and of a Christian in at least one respect: There are no sanc- happening in countries abroad, especially Leadership President.E charismatic church have been subject to tions that cannot be circumvented. But as they may someday do business with or Manned by religious leaders and intense scrutiny by the Enquete Commis- the price of South Africa’s bargaining dis- in those countries. They have to ask scholars from across the United sion there, and several members advantage escalated over the years. In themselves: ‘Do I want to get comfortable Award States and chaired by Assistant have suffered harassment, dis- August 1985, when the anti-apartheid with a rogue state, or a nation which Secretary of State John crimination, and threats of campaign had made it difficult for South treats its own people intolerably?’” 1998 Banquet to be held at Shattuck, the committee was violence.” Africa to raise foreign loans, it was forced The United Nations came up with National Press Club established in November The Committee’s to seek short-term, high-interest loans both the best answer and the best 1996 “to serve the Sec- strong language was all the and then ask the banks to roll these over, defense. An absence of human rights Freedom will celebrate 30 years of public service retary of State and the more embarrassing for year after year. Within a year, a dispro- stained the hands of governments and journalism this September at the National Press Club in Assistant Secretary for the Germany given the portionate 67 percent of South Africa’s threatened their rules. But far too many Washington, D.C., presenting Human Rights Leadership Bureau of Democracy, backdrop against which its $16.5-billion foreign debt was made up of governments have failed to sincerely Awards to individuals that have distinguished themselves Human Rights and Labor, in discriminatory conduct was these short-term loans, which could be implement the Universal Declaration of through exemplary contributions in the following fields: an advisory capacity with raised: the wretched human called up at any time. For a country in Human Rights. Those governments ■ Freedom of Speech and Expression respect to significant issues of rights violations of certain political turmoil, this was a crisis waiting have not grasped that their very survival ■ Freedom of Information religious freedom, intolerance, Asian and Middle-Eastern Human to explode. depends utterly upon adopting such ■ Government Reform and reconciliation abroad as agreed nations. “In societies where the gov- That crisis came when Chase Man- reforms and thus giving their peoples a ■ Children’s Rights upon by the Committee and the Depart- ernment imposes strict political ideology hattan Bank, already under pressure to nation worthy of their patriotism. To ■ Mental Health Reform ment of State,” according to its charter. and control over the populace, including withdraw from South Africa, decided to bring peace where there is conflict, and ■ Religious Freedom As delineated in the report, the on religious matters, many individuals and Rights for All: call in its loans. Within days, other banks to prevent future wars, it is vital that all ■ Social Justice Advisory Committee has “two broad tasks: communities of faith operate ‘under- followed. South Africa found itself facing people urge the adoption and imple- Your nominations are welcome. Please include in to call attention to problems of religious ground’ and risk harassment, detention, demands for the repayment of $13 billion mentation of the Universal Declaration your proposal: persecution and other violations of reli- and imprisonment.” within four months. The shock sent the of Human Rights and, where needful, 1. Your name, address and phone number, and those gious freedom, and religious intolerance In releasing the report, Secretary of currency plunging. Unable to meet the other sweeping reforms. of the person you are nominating; abroad and advise on how to end them; State Madeleine Albright announced that demand, South Africa froze the debt and Looking back upon 50 years under 2. The nominee’s current job/position, as well as any and to provide information on how to she was already carrying into effect impor- LEADING imposed strict foreign-exchange controls. the Universal Declaration, it is more than previous positions relating to his or her human rights bring about reconciliation in areas of tant recommendations from the Advisory The effect was to turn South Africa into a evident that much world turmoil could contributions; conflict, especially conflicts where religion Committee. “I will designate a new, senior- siege economy, keep it drained of foreign have been averted had that document 3. What the person has done to qualify for Freedom’s is a factor, and promote respect for human level coordinator within the Bureau of exchange and development capital and been given more notice. The United Human Rights Leadership Award and rights, so that religious freedom can be Democracy, Human Rights and Labor to send white living standards into decline. Nations, the U.S. State Department and 4. Documentation that demonstrates his or her fully enjoyed.” ensure that our efforts to advance religious All of which contributed significantly to the scores of private human rights bodies contributions. In this context, and by way of a freedom are integrated successfully into BY creating the conditions from which de are unquestionably doing the right thing Send details to: general overview, the committee strongly our broader foreign policy,” she said. “The Klerk sought escape four years later. for the world by insisting on compliance Human Rights Leadership Awards criticized expressions of discrimination coordinator’s responsibilities will include Thus it was that the apartheid system with that document. The importance of Freedom Magazine instigated or tolerated in European coun- developing a strategy for appropriate was abolished, full and free democratic such voices — and the need for more 6331 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 1200 tries, most notably Germany. overall implementation of the advisory elections were held — a South Africa voices and more action — cannot be Los Angeles, CA 90028-6329 “Government actions that discrimi- committee’s recommendations.” totally unlike any the world has seen since overstated. As South Africa has shown Past winners in the Freedom of Speech and EXAMPLE Expression category have included Paul McMasters, nate against certain faith communities, She concluded her remarks by both whites first landed there centuries ago. the world, the effort must be cooperative. even actions taken allegedly to ‘protect’ praising the committee’s work and reaf- By Rep. Cynthia McKinney Liu Qing, chairman of Human executive director of the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center, U.S. Representative Don Edwards society, in fact can seriously threaten firming the United States’ position on Cooperation and Success Rights in China, put it well: “We cannot and syndicated columnist Jack Anderson. U.S. Senator members of the faith group and impede matters of Human Rights: “I consider the What the story of South Africa simply wait for human rights and Patrick Leahy and the late U.S. Representative John their ability to worship,” says the report. promotion of religious freedom to be an n 1998, the world will mark an important most certainly teaches is that the effort democracy ... to happen. There has Moss, known as the Father of the Freedom of “Several European countries, including integral component of U.S. foreign policy milestone in the struggle for international and vigilance necessary to topple an never been a dictatorial government human rights — the signing of the Uni- anti-human rights status quo can be that has voluntarily given these rights to Information Act, are among the former recipients in the Belgium, France, and Germany, have to be pursued not in isolation, but as part Freedom of Information category. Dr. Arthur A. Fletcher, recently established commissions of of our efforts to increase the respect for versal Declaration of Human Rights immense, and that truly sweeping and its people. Therefore, society must act (UDHR). However, nearly 50 years after lasting reforms are attained from the on its own initiative to force govern- then chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, inquiry on sects, partly in response to human rights around the world.” and the Reverend Cecil L. “Chip” Murray are among the fears of violent , such as Aum Shin- the initiation of this historic accord, combined effort of private and public ments to change and improve.” ■ there is little cause for celebration here sectors, from national governments and past Social Justice awardees. Iin the United States. international human rights bodies. For further information about nominations or banquet reservations, contact Freedom by writing to the address above or by calling (213) 960-3500. 22 | FREEDOM Human Rights

The message of freedom and individual rights reverberated throughout President Clinton’s recent trip in sub-Saharan Africa, with Nelson Mandela in South Africa, emphasizing positive changes and growing promise. Pope John Paul II, who concluded a stay in Nigeria the day the president arrived in Ghana, also stressed the importance of human rights.

By Tal Kapelner and Thomas G. Whittle

hen Bill Clinton’s plane touched down in Accra, Ghana, this spring, it marked the first time in two decades that a United States president had arrived to tour sub-Saharan Africa. One of the Chief Executive’s first acts was to praise Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings before an enthusiastic audience of 500,000 “for his leadership for democracy.” Embracing His visit took him to six nations — in addition to Ghana, there was Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Botswana and Senegal W— with emphasis on the region’s positive changes and the United States’ awareness of its mounting influence in world affairs. The sweep focused global attention on the growing promise of democracy and human rights. Much has happened there since the 1978 trip by then President Jimmy Carter, including the ousting of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in 1979, the independence of Zimbabwe in 1980, the end of all remaining apartheid laws in South Africa in 1991 and the peaceful election of Nelson Mandela — a political prisoner for 18 harsh years — as president of that Tolerance country in 1994. Speaking before the Parliament of South Africa — a body in which the majority of leg- islators, until recent years, were not permit- ted to vote — Clinton praised that nation and its leader. Drawing from words on the tomb of John Dube, founder of the African Presidential, National Congress, he said, “Mr. President, for millions upon millions of Americans, South Africa’s story is embodied by your heroic sacrifice and your breathtaking walk ‘out of the darkness and into the glorious light.’” Papal Visits Focus During the tour — calculated as three times longer than all trips to Africa by previous U.S. presidents combined — the message was one of freedom and individual rights. It was a theme that reverberated World Attention wherever he went, one that has grown in strength as democracy spreads and those who have the liberty to speak out take note where freedom lies under heel. on Democracy, Building Blocks Although certain African nations may be regarded as under- developed or “Third World,” from a human rights perspective, Human Rights South Africa and others have certainly joined the modern com- munity of world nations — after the extensive cooperative efforts of foreign governments, human rights bodies and private citizens (see “Turning The Tide,” page 12). After all, the

16 | FREEDOM Human Rights

persecution still occur ... [but] despite these diffi- today is not between the adherents of one have been sent anonymously warning that “Your culties, religious leaders and groups are playing an religion or culture and another,” said Secretary Association is under observation by the SS; You increasingly significant role in preventing and of State Madeleine Albright. “Rather it is are requested to cease your activities and retreat resolving conflicts, reconciling antagonistic between those of all cultures and faiths who overseas!” groups ... and promoting human rights.” (See believe in law, want peace and embrace toler- And Scientologists are not alone. An esti- “Advisory Committee Cites ‘Harassment, Intimi- ance and those driven, whether by ambition, mated 100 million DM are spent annually to dation and Violence,’” page 22.) desperation or hate to commit acts of aggression fund attacks on minority groups. That money The Advisory Committee’s interim report and terror.” supports, among other things, a vast network of noted as an example of leadership in the religious “anti-sect commissioners” — government offi- arena the June 1997 creation of a permanent Out of Step cials paid with state funds and select priests and Inter-Religious Council in Bosnia-Herzegovina by In contrast to areas where progress has been pastors who are their church counterparts. the country’s leaders of the Muslim, Roman made, in South Africa and elsewhere, concern These officials forward government propaganda Catholic, Serbian Orthodox and Jewish commu- continues regarding one of the supposedly demo- attacks on those singled out for ostracism, which nities. The leaders of these ethnic and religious cratic Western states, one where basic freedoms have included Muslims, Christians and Hindus. groups issued a joint statement recognizing their and human rights have been guaranteed by law Even from the perspective of some major common values and that both religious consider- for more than half a century: Germany. players in German media and academia, the ations as well as common decency demanded Treatment of minorities in Germany — anti-minorities campaign has gone well beyond that each person respect the basic human rights religious and ethnic — has been a continuing the pale. In May, six leading scholars, including of others, and for all who have erred to take problem as top officials there have rejected tol- a former German federal minister, denounced responsibility for their actions. erance and equality, sanctioning outrageous the government-sanctioned hysteria in a nation- Hope for an end to persecution and violence human rights violations. In recent years, con- ally published open letter. And in June, the springs also from new forums where grievances ditions for minorities have worsened sharply, newsweekly Der Spiegel strongly criticized a can be aired and problems discussed. The particularly following reunification, with government-sponsored commission to “investi- Appeal of Conscience Foundation has hosted Africans beaten to death in the streets, Turkish gate” religious minorities for manifesting the meetings for leaders of different religions to and Vietnamese homes firebombed, Jewish very same dangerous and anti-democratic traits address conflicts and human rights crises in synagogues burned. they claimed were present in “so-called sects many parts of the world. The foundation is also The German government — a supposedly and psychological groups,” noting that more mentioned in the Secretary of State’s interim enlightened nation — has been repeatedly than 2-3 million DM had been expended to no report to the President as having promoted labeled a human rights violator by numerous meaningful result. dialogue between religious communities and human rights watchdogs and organizations, Censure from human rights watchdogs has government through conferences, and as most notably including the U.S. State Depart- also escalated. In March, after an 11-day on- bringing religious leaders to speak about reli- ment, the United Nations Human Rights Com- site investigation into religious discrimination gious freedom issues at training sessions for U.S. mittee, the Rutherford Institute, Human Rights in Germany — during which he interviewed government foreign service officers. Watch/Helsinki and the Organization for senior government officials as well as represen- And offenders are increasingly in the spot- Security and Cooperation in Europe. tatives of non-governmental organizations, light. “Clearly, the central conflict in the world This year’s State Department Human Rights minority faiths and other groups — the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Religious Intol- erance recommended that “the State, beyond day-to-day management, must implement a The first U.S. President ever to visit South Africa, Clinton, with South African President Nelson Mandela, looks out the jail window on Rodden Island, strategy to prevent intolerance in the field of where Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years as a political prisoner during the apartheid regime. religion and belief.” Special Rapporteur Abdelfattah Amor reported serious problems of discrimination against a range of religious minorities including hallmark of an evolved nation is the adoption November 1995, opposition leader Ken Saro- alliances that include openly genocidal factions. Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Baha’is, and practice of meaningful human rights stan- Wiwa and eight others were hanged. Despite Security-conscious governments in the area the , Hare Krishnas and the dards. “A respect for human rights is a crucial strong international protests, security forces have shared arms and intelligence and serious Bagwans. Even those who said they do not experi- index of whether or not that nation is represen- reportedly continue to murder, torture, harass human rights abuses exist on all sides. ence direct persecution from the government said tative of a civilized society,” says Washington, human rights and pro-democracy groups, and Countries with recent or current wars, in they suffer since “there is a climate of mistrust D.C., human rights attorney Bill Walsh. “It is sexually abuse female suspects and prisoners. Africa or elsewhere, present a unique set of cir- towards all religious minorities,” said Amor. actually a far more telling than technology or Prison conditions remain life-threatening while cumstances from the perspective of human report contained that agency’s most But in spite of such embarrassing admoni- economic factors,” he added, citing the simple government tribunals operating outside the con- rights. There is never a “humane” war, no stinging and extensive reproach of tions, that climate of mistrust has, in some cultures of the South Pacific, such as Tonga and stitutional court system undermine the judicial matter the circumstances. What has been differ- Germany since the Second World respects, grown even more oppressive and the Marshall Islands, as examples of nations process. Restrictions on freedoms of speech, ent about some conflicts, however, is that they War. (See “German ‘Harassment’ brazen. In a very telling example of how far which treat human life with dignity — and thus press, assembly and association continue. took on genocidal dimensions. Condemned by State Department,” certain German officials are willing to go in their are rarely labeled “backward.” Pope John Paul II, who concluded a stay in The alarming brutality of the massacres and page 20). It is the fifth consecutive pursuit of persecution, an agent of the German The presidential tour served to spotlight the Nigeria the same day President Clinton arrived sexual violence against women in Algeria, for year that the treatment of Scientol- Office for the Protection of the Constitution was many positive changes that have occurred in in Ghana, stressed the need for free elections example, commanded the world’s attention. At the ogists was expressly criticized. Yet arrested this spring in Basel, Switzerland, on Africa. And while significant progress has been and human rights in his public appearances. end of 1997, as many as 1,000 civilians were being the situation faced by Scientologists charges of illegal espionage. Subsequent disclo- made, several African nations remain topics of “The dignity of every human being, his inalien- killed each month. Civil war as well as slavery and remains a profoundly disturbing sures from Swiss authorities revealed that the discussion among activists; most notable among able rights, the inviolability of life, freedom and forced conscription of children continued in the one. Teachers, students, executives, agent was working undercover, in violation of them is Nigeria, for its human rights record justice, the sense of solidarity and the rejection Sudan. The government there continued to use athletes, artisans — indeed, people international treaties and law, seeking to acquire ranks as one of the most wretched in the region. of discrimination — these must be the building murder, “disappearances,” torture and harass- in almost any walk of life in “information” on Scientologists in that country. Despite an announced timetable from the blocks of a new and better Nigeria,” he stated. ment of suspected opponents to stay in power. Germany — know that they risk The agent stands trial in late 1998. country’s ruler, General Sani Abacha, for transi- Responsively, General Abacha promised to losing their job, their business or Naked discrimination and persecution in tion to multiparty rule, to date there has been little consider a Vatican request to release roughly 60 Promoting Dialogue their rights solely because of their Germany contrast with progress toward equal progress toward democracy. The March 15, 1997, prisoners, including prominent dissidents, pro- Religious freedom — also expressed as religious beliefs, not because of any rights, freedom and justice in other nations that elections were, in the words of the U.S. ambas- democracy activists and journalists. freedom of conscience or freedom of belief — is act of wrongdoing. Hundreds have declared themselves democracies, showing sador, “deeply flawed.” In April 1997, the govern- inseparable from any discussion of human rights. An estimated 100 million DM is spent annually in Germany already have. how out of step German leaders are — violating ment issued Decree Number 7, which allows for Nations at War And in Algeria, the Sudan and elsewhere, for to fund attacks on minority groups in the media and through Political parties have dissemi- the growing consensus that harassment of the removal at will of any elected official by the Another nation where human rights have example, violence has been directed against the government. Political parties have disseminated booklets nated booklets which portray reli- minorities, persecution of ethnic groups, and head of state. Other elections were postponed but remained in danger is the Congo — despite minority religious groups. that portray religious minorities as “insects” to be gious minorities as “insects” to be curbs against political opposition and speech are are now scheduled for August 1998. former President Mobutu’s departure in May In examining religious liberty worldwide, the exterminated and specially packaged simply intolerable. The winner of the 1993 presidential 1997 and his subsequent death. Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Reli- exterminated and specially packaged condoms for the stated condoms for the stated purpose of Or, as Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings told election, Chief Moshood K. Abiola, remains in Tribesmen in the Great Lakes region of gious Freedom Abroad stated in an interim report purpose of preventing the conception of “new Scientologists” preventing the conception of “new the crowd in Accra before introducing President detention for “treason” after declaring he had Africa — specifically in Rwanda, Burundi and released January 23, 1998, “Throughout the while letters, bearing the Nazi eagle, swastika and Scientologists.” Letters, bearing the Clinton, “Only by allowing the individual to won, with the election results annulled. In eastern portions of the Congo — have organized world aggressive acts of religious intolerance and “SS” logo, have threatened anonymously. Nazi eagle, swastika and “SS” logo, flourish can our communities also flourish.” ■

18 | FREEDOM FREEDOM | 19 Human Rights

persecution still occur ... [but] despite these diffi- today is not between the adherents of one have been sent anonymously warning that “Your culties, religious leaders and groups are playing an religion or culture and another,” said Secretary Association is under observation by the SS; You increasingly significant role in preventing and of State Madeleine Albright. “Rather it is are requested to cease your activities and retreat resolving conflicts, reconciling antagonistic between those of all cultures and faiths who overseas!” groups ... and promoting human rights.” (See believe in law, want peace and embrace toler- And Scientologists are not alone. An esti- “Advisory Committee Cites ‘Harassment, Intimi- ance and those driven, whether by ambition, mated 100 million DM are spent annually to dation and Violence,’” page 22.) desperation or hate to commit acts of aggression fund attacks on minority groups. That money The Advisory Committee’s interim report and terror.” supports, among other things, a vast network of noted as an example of leadership in the religious “anti-sect commissioners” — government offi- arena the June 1997 creation of a permanent Out of Step cials paid with state funds and select priests and Inter-Religious Council in Bosnia-Herzegovina by In contrast to areas where progress has been pastors who are their church counterparts. the country’s leaders of the Muslim, Roman made, in South Africa and elsewhere, concern These officials forward government propaganda Catholic, Serbian Orthodox and Jewish commu- continues regarding one of the supposedly demo- attacks on those singled out for ostracism, which nities. The leaders of these ethnic and religious cratic Western states, one where basic freedoms have included Muslims, Christians and Hindus. groups issued a joint statement recognizing their and human rights have been guaranteed by law Even from the perspective of some major common values and that both religious consider- for more than half a century: Germany. players in German media and academia, the ations as well as common decency demanded Treatment of minorities in Germany — anti-minorities campaign has gone well beyond that each person respect the basic human rights religious and ethnic — has been a continuing the pale. In May, six leading scholars, including of others, and for all who have erred to take problem as top officials there have rejected tol- a former German federal minister, denounced responsibility for their actions. erance and equality, sanctioning outrageous the government-sanctioned hysteria in a nation- Hope for an end to persecution and violence human rights violations. In recent years, con- ally published open letter. And in June, the springs also from new forums where grievances ditions for minorities have worsened sharply, newsweekly Der Spiegel strongly criticized a can be aired and problems discussed. The particularly following reunification, with government-sponsored commission to “investi- Appeal of Conscience Foundation has hosted Africans beaten to death in the streets, Turkish gate” religious minorities for manifesting the meetings for leaders of different religions to and Vietnamese homes firebombed, Jewish very same dangerous and anti-democratic traits address conflicts and human rights crises in synagogues burned. they claimed were present in “so-called sects many parts of the world. The foundation is also The German government — a supposedly and psychological groups,” noting that more mentioned in the Secretary of State’s interim enlightened nation — has been repeatedly than 2-3 million DM had been expended to no report to the President as having promoted labeled a human rights violator by numerous meaningful result. dialogue between religious communities and human rights watchdogs and organizations, Censure from human rights watchdogs has government through conferences, and as most notably including the U.S. State Depart- also escalated. In March, after an 11-day on- bringing religious leaders to speak about reli- ment, the United Nations Human Rights Com- site investigation into religious discrimination gious freedom issues at training sessions for U.S. mittee, the Rutherford Institute, Human Rights in Germany — during which he interviewed government foreign service officers. Watch/Helsinki and the Organization for senior government officials as well as represen- And offenders are increasingly in the spot- Security and Cooperation in Europe. tatives of non-governmental organizations, light. “Clearly, the central conflict in the world This year’s State Department Human Rights minority faiths and other groups — the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Religious Intol- erance recommended that “the State, beyond day-to-day management, must implement a The first U.S. President ever to visit South Africa, Clinton, with South African President Nelson Mandela, looks out the jail window on Rodden Island, strategy to prevent intolerance in the field of where Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years as a political prisoner during the apartheid regime. religion and belief.” Special Rapporteur Abdelfattah Amor reported serious problems of discrimination against a range of religious minorities including hallmark of an evolved nation is the adoption November 1995, opposition leader Ken Saro- alliances that include openly genocidal factions. Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Baha’is, and practice of meaningful human rights stan- Wiwa and eight others were hanged. Despite Security-conscious governments in the area the Unification Church, Hare Krishnas and the dards. “A respect for human rights is a crucial strong international protests, security forces have shared arms and intelligence and serious Bagwans. Even those who said they do not experi- index of whether or not that nation is represen- reportedly continue to murder, torture, harass human rights abuses exist on all sides. ence direct persecution from the government said tative of a civilized society,” says Washington, human rights and pro-democracy groups, and Countries with recent or current wars, in they suffer since “there is a climate of mistrust D.C., human rights attorney Bill Walsh. “It is sexually abuse female suspects and prisoners. Africa or elsewhere, present a unique set of cir- towards all religious minorities,” said Amor. actually a far more telling than technology or Prison conditions remain life-threatening while cumstances from the perspective of human report contained that agency’s most But in spite of such embarrassing admoni- economic factors,” he added, citing the simple government tribunals operating outside the con- rights. There is never a “humane” war, no stinging and extensive reproach of tions, that climate of mistrust has, in some cultures of the South Pacific, such as Tonga and stitutional court system undermine the judicial matter the circumstances. What has been differ- Germany since the Second World respects, grown even more oppressive and the Marshall Islands, as examples of nations process. Restrictions on freedoms of speech, ent about some conflicts, however, is that they War. (See “German ‘Harassment’ brazen. In a very telling example of how far which treat human life with dignity — and thus press, assembly and association continue. took on genocidal dimensions. Condemned by State Department,” certain German officials are willing to go in their are rarely labeled “backward.” Pope John Paul II, who concluded a stay in The alarming brutality of the massacres and page 20). It is the fifth consecutive pursuit of persecution, an agent of the German The presidential tour served to spotlight the Nigeria the same day President Clinton arrived sexual violence against women in Algeria, for year that the treatment of Scientol- Office for the Protection of the Constitution was many positive changes that have occurred in in Ghana, stressed the need for free elections example, commanded the world’s attention. At the ogists was expressly criticized. Yet arrested this spring in Basel, Switzerland, on Africa. And while significant progress has been and human rights in his public appearances. end of 1997, as many as 1,000 civilians were being the situation faced by Scientologists charges of illegal espionage. Subsequent disclo- made, several African nations remain topics of “The dignity of every human being, his inalien- killed each month. Civil war as well as slavery and remains a profoundly disturbing sures from Swiss authorities revealed that the discussion among activists; most notable among able rights, the inviolability of life, freedom and forced conscription of children continued in the one. Teachers, students, executives, agent was working undercover, in violation of them is Nigeria, for its human rights record justice, the sense of solidarity and the rejection Sudan. The government there continued to use athletes, artisans — indeed, people international treaties and law, seeking to acquire ranks as one of the most wretched in the region. of discrimination — these must be the building murder, “disappearances,” torture and harass- in almost any walk of life in “information” on Scientologists in that country. Despite an announced timetable from the blocks of a new and better Nigeria,” he stated. ment of suspected opponents to stay in power. Germany — know that they risk The agent stands trial in late 1998. country’s ruler, General Sani Abacha, for transi- Responsively, General Abacha promised to losing their job, their business or Naked discrimination and persecution in tion to multiparty rule, to date there has been little consider a Vatican request to release roughly 60 Promoting Dialogue their rights solely because of their Germany contrast with progress toward equal progress toward democracy. The March 15, 1997, prisoners, including prominent dissidents, pro- Religious freedom — also expressed as religious beliefs, not because of any rights, freedom and justice in other nations that elections were, in the words of the U.S. ambas- democracy activists and journalists. freedom of conscience or freedom of belief — is act of wrongdoing. Hundreds have declared themselves democracies, showing sador, “deeply flawed.” In April 1997, the govern- inseparable from any discussion of human rights. An estimated 100 million DM is spent annually in Germany already have. how out of step German leaders are — violating ment issued Decree Number 7, which allows for Nations at War And in Algeria, the Sudan and elsewhere, for to fund attacks on minority groups in the media and through Political parties have dissemi- the growing consensus that harassment of the removal at will of any elected official by the Another nation where human rights have example, violence has been directed against the government. Political parties have disseminated booklets nated booklets which portray reli- minorities, persecution of ethnic groups, and head of state. Other elections were postponed but remained in danger is the Congo — despite minority religious groups. that portray religious minorities as “insects” to be gious minorities as “insects” to be curbs against political opposition and speech are are now scheduled for August 1998. former President Mobutu’s departure in May In examining religious liberty worldwide, the exterminated and specially packaged simply intolerable. The winner of the 1993 presidential 1997 and his subsequent death. Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Reli- exterminated and specially packaged condoms for the stated condoms for the stated purpose of Or, as Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings told election, Chief Moshood K. Abiola, remains in Tribesmen in the Great Lakes region of gious Freedom Abroad stated in an interim report purpose of preventing the conception of “new Scientologists” preventing the conception of “new the crowd in Accra before introducing President detention for “treason” after declaring he had Africa — specifically in Rwanda, Burundi and released January 23, 1998, “Throughout the while letters, bearing the Nazi eagle, swastika and Scientologists.” Letters, bearing the Clinton, “Only by allowing the individual to won, with the election results annulled. In eastern portions of the Congo — have organized world aggressive acts of religious intolerance and “SS” logo, have threatened anonymously. Nazi eagle, swastika and “SS” logo, flourish can our communities also flourish.” ■

18 | FREEDOM FREEDOM | 19 Human Rights GERMAN Harassm ent Condemned by State Department “I consider the promotion of religious freedom to be an integral component Human rights report names Germany of US foreign policy.” — U.S. Secretary of State, for 5th consecutive year Madeleine Albright

s mandated by U.S. law, sive conditions faced by German Scientologists: country review include the Universal Decla- the U.S. State Department “So-called ‘sect-filters,’ statements by indi- ration of Human Rights, the International tendered its annual viduals that they are not affiliated with Sci- Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Country Human Rights entology, are used by some businesses and the UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Report at the beginning of other organizations to discriminate against Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination the year, addressing nation- Scientologists in business and social dealings. Based on Religion or Belief. by-nation compliance with Scientologists assert that business firms The Universal Declaration of Human international accords and whose owners or executives are Scientologists, Rights, adopted by the United Nations obligations governing human rights. as well as artists who are Church members, General Assembly on December 10, 1948, A have faced boycotts and discrimination, More than in any previous year, Germany recognizes in Article 18, that “everyone has featured prominently in the report’s criticism, sometimes with state and local government the right to freedom of thought, conscience covering some 16 pages of the report. It is the approval. Other Church members have and religion” as a right stemming from the fifth consecutive year the discussion of reported employment difficulties and, in the inherent dignity and equality of every Germany has focused on serious concerns state of Bavaria, applicants for state civil person. It also provides the individual with over politically sanctioned discrimination service positions are screened for Scientology the “freedom to change his religion or belief” against members of the Church of Scientology. membership. Several states have published and the “freedom, either alone or in commu- Yet equally significant is that this year’s pamphlets warning of alleged dangers posed nity with others and in public or private, to report also criticized Germany’s discrimina- by Scientology. In October, a Berlin hotel and manifest his religion or belief in teachings, tory and undemocratic treatment of other a firm renting meeting space reportedly practice, worship and observance.” refused to rent space for public events to be religious groups, including Jehovah’s Wit- “We have criticized the German government’s The 1998 Country Human Rights Report held at their facilities when they learned that nesses and Charismatic Christians who have treatment of Scientologists and we will continue was the most embarrassing yet for German been subject to “vandalism, threats of the Church of Scientology was involved in to do so.” — John Shattuck, Assistant government officials bent on abusing human violence and public harassment or scrutiny organizing the events.” Secretary of State. rights.”We are pleased,” said Leisa Goodman, by sect commissioners.” Assistant U.S. Secretary of State John It was the second time in less than two Shattuck, speaking at the press conference spokesperson for the Church of Scientology weeks that the German government’s “sect where the report was released, framed the International, “but it is important to commission” has come under fire from State one of Germany’s major political parties: U.S. government’s concerns when he remember that the object of criticism by the Department authorities. (See “Advisory “Authorities have sometimes sought to dereg- remarked that “Scientologists are experienc- State Department and other human rights Committee Cites ‘Harassment, Intimidation ister Scientology organizations.... Most major ing uneven treatment not for their actions bodies is to bring change. So long as people and Violence’,” page 22.) political parties continued to exclude Scien- but merely for their religious affiliations.” are denied equal rights and lives are ruined Most examples of discrimination cited in tologists from membership....” The key international documents provid- with government aid or consent, we will the Country Human Rights report were inci- This year’s report was also significant for ing the standards against which the U.S. continue to fight until we see that change.” ■ dents not only condoned but instigated by the detail it offered in describing the oppres- State Department conducted its country-by-

20 | FREEDOM FREEDOM | 17 Human Rights Human thinking” to the changing class stratifica- As the millennium approaches, and tion of white Afrikaner society — and cer- as the ability to send information to more tainly the steady decline of South Africa’s places at greater speeds draws the Advisory Committee Cites besieged economy. corners of the planet closer together, Pretoria was facing a difficult but not those who seek peace and tolerance still impossible situation when the new presi- must guard against the pockets of dent made his epochal February 2, 1990, violence and mistreatment of others speech releasing Nelson Mandela, aroused by bigotry and paranoia. In “HARASSMENT, removing the ban on the African National certain nations, such as Germany, dis- Congress and opening negotiations. His crimination and persecution may be was not a surrender, but an act of political fostered by leaders at top levels of strategy. government, even while those same offi- IGHT De Klerk hoped to attain a cials proclaim they stand for tolerance, INTIMIDATION AND commanding position where he could justice and equal rights. (See “Embracing R S neutralize the black revolution by legit- Tolerance,” page 16, and “German imizing it, then control the negotiations to ‘Harassment’ Condemned by State achieve his goal of “power-sharing,” in Department” page 20.) which the black majority would have a “The degree to which a country VIOLENCE” hand in government but not a controlling observes and respects human rights is an one. De Klerk’s strategy was designed to excellent index of the quality of its democ- arlier this year, the United rikyo from Japan. Unless these commis- prevent majority rule, but by enabling the racy,” says William C. Walsh, a noted States State Department’s sions focus their work on investigating black majority to mobilize politically he human rights attorney and specialist in Advisory Committee on Reli- illegal acts, they run the risk of denying ensured it. international law, who has also served the gious Freedom Abroad pub- individuals the right to freedom of religion Those who did not join the United United Nations. “What that means to lished its Interim Report to or belief. In Germany, members of the States in imposing sanctions were correct Americans is that they must care what is the Secretary of State and the Church of Scientology and of a Christian in at least one respect: There are no sanc- happening in countries abroad, especially Leadership President.E charismatic church have been subject to tions that cannot be circumvented. But as they may someday do business with or Manned by religious leaders and intense scrutiny by the Enquete Commis- the price of South Africa’s bargaining dis- in those countries. They have to ask scholars from across the United sion there, and several members advantage escalated over the years. In themselves: ‘Do I want to get comfortable Award States and chaired by Assistant have suffered harassment, dis- August 1985, when the anti-apartheid with a rogue state, or a nation which Secretary of State John crimination, and threats of campaign had made it difficult for South treats its own people intolerably?’” 1998 Banquet to be held at Shattuck, the committee was violence.” Africa to raise foreign loans, it was forced The United Nations came up with National Press Club established in November The Committee’s to seek short-term, high-interest loans both the best answer and the best 1996 “to serve the Sec- strong language was all the and then ask the banks to roll these over, defense. An absence of human rights Freedom will celebrate 30 years of public service retary of State and the more embarrassing for year after year. Within a year, a dispro- stained the hands of governments and journalism this September at the National Press Club in Assistant Secretary for the Germany given the portionate 67 percent of South Africa’s threatened their rules. But far too many Washington, D.C., presenting Human Rights Leadership Bureau of Democracy, backdrop against which its $16.5-billion foreign debt was made up of governments have failed to sincerely Awards to individuals that have distinguished themselves Human Rights and Labor, in discriminatory conduct was these short-term loans, which could be implement the Universal Declaration of through exemplary contributions in the following fields: an advisory capacity with raised: the wretched human called up at any time. For a country in Human Rights. Those governments ■ Freedom of Speech and Expression respect to significant issues of rights violations of certain political turmoil, this was a crisis waiting have not grasped that their very survival ■ Freedom of Information religious freedom, intolerance, Asian and Middle-Eastern Human to explode. depends utterly upon adopting such ■ Government Reform and reconciliation abroad as agreed nations. “In societies where the gov- That crisis came when Chase Man- reforms and thus giving their peoples a ■ Children’s Rights upon by the Committee and the Depart- ernment imposes strict political ideology hattan Bank, already under pressure to nation worthy of their patriotism. To ■ Mental Health Reform ment of State,” according to its charter. and control over the populace, including withdraw from South Africa, decided to bring peace where there is conflict, and ■ Religious Freedom As delineated in the report, the on religious matters, many individuals and Rights for All: call in its loans. Within days, other banks to prevent future wars, it is vital that all ■ Social Justice Advisory Committee has “two broad tasks: communities of faith operate ‘under- followed. South Africa found itself facing people urge the adoption and imple- Your nominations are welcome. Please include in to call attention to problems of religious ground’ and risk harassment, detention, demands for the repayment of $13 billion mentation of the Universal Declaration your proposal: persecution and other violations of reli- and imprisonment.” within four months. The shock sent the of Human Rights and, where needful, 1. Your name, address and phone number, and those gious freedom, and religious intolerance In releasing the report, Secretary of currency plunging. Unable to meet the other sweeping reforms. of the person you are nominating; abroad and advise on how to end them; State Madeleine Albright announced that demand, South Africa froze the debt and Looking back upon 50 years under 2. The nominee’s current job/position, as well as any and to provide information on how to she was already carrying into effect impor- LEADING imposed strict foreign-exchange controls. the Universal Declaration, it is more than previous positions relating to his or her human rights bring about reconciliation in areas of tant recommendations from the Advisory The effect was to turn South Africa into a evident that much world turmoil could contributions; conflict, especially conflicts where religion Committee. “I will designate a new, senior- siege economy, keep it drained of foreign have been averted had that document 3. What the person has done to qualify for Freedom’s is a factor, and promote respect for human level coordinator within the Bureau of exchange and development capital and been given more notice. The United Human Rights Leadership Award and rights, so that religious freedom can be Democracy, Human Rights and Labor to send white living standards into decline. Nations, the U.S. State Department and 4. Documentation that demonstrates his or her fully enjoyed.” ensure that our efforts to advance religious All of which contributed significantly to the scores of private human rights bodies contributions. In this context, and by way of a freedom are integrated successfully into BY creating the conditions from which de are unquestionably doing the right thing Send details to: general overview, the committee strongly our broader foreign policy,” she said. “The Klerk sought escape four years later. for the world by insisting on compliance Human Rights Leadership Awards criticized expressions of discrimination coordinator’s responsibilities will include Thus it was that the apartheid system with that document. The importance of Freedom Magazine instigated or tolerated in European coun- developing a strategy for appropriate was abolished, full and free democratic such voices — and the need for more 6331 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 1200 tries, most notably Germany. overall implementation of the advisory elections were held — a South Africa voices and more action — cannot be Los Angeles, CA 90028-6329 “Government actions that discrimi- committee’s recommendations.” totally unlike any the world has seen since overstated. As South Africa has shown Past winners in the Freedom of Speech and EXAMPLE Expression category have included Paul McMasters, nate against certain faith communities, She concluded her remarks by both whites first landed there centuries ago. the world, the effort must be cooperative. even actions taken allegedly to ‘protect’ praising the committee’s work and reaf- By Rep. Cynthia McKinney Liu Qing, chairman of Human executive director of the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center, U.S. Representative Don Edwards society, in fact can seriously threaten firming the United States’ position on Cooperation and Success Rights in China, put it well: “We cannot and syndicated columnist Jack Anderson. U.S. Senator members of the faith group and impede matters of Human Rights: “I consider the What the story of South Africa simply wait for human rights and Patrick Leahy and the late U.S. Representative John their ability to worship,” says the report. promotion of religious freedom to be an n 1998, the world will mark an important most certainly teaches is that the effort democracy ... to happen. There has Moss, known as the Father of the Freedom of “Several European countries, including integral component of U.S. foreign policy milestone in the struggle for international and vigilance necessary to topple an never been a dictatorial government human rights — the signing of the Uni- anti-human rights status quo can be that has voluntarily given these rights to Information Act, are among the former recipients in the Belgium, France, and Germany, have to be pursued not in isolation, but as part Freedom of Information category. Dr. Arthur A. Fletcher, recently established commissions of of our efforts to increase the respect for versal Declaration of Human Rights immense, and that truly sweeping and its people. Therefore, society must act (UDHR). However, nearly 50 years after lasting reforms are attained from the on its own initiative to force govern- then chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, inquiry on sects, partly in response to human rights around the world.” and the Reverend Cecil L. “Chip” Murray are among the fears of violent cults, such as Aum Shin- the initiation of this historic accord, combined effort of private and public ments to change and improve.” ■ there is little cause for celebration here sectors, from national governments and past Social Justice awardees. Iin the United States. international human rights bodies. For further information about nominations or banquet reservations, contact Freedom by writing to the address above or by calling (213) 960-3500. 22 | FREEDOM Human Rights

______Simon’s view. For here is a nation tions later. The case of Abner In the fall of 1998, Amnesty International Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng wrote in with decades of apartheid policy F.W. de Klerk and Louima, a Haitian immigrant will begin to address that need with the 1978 that “when [the people] call for democ- which, as President Nelson tortured and sodomized with a launch of its USA Campaign, the first-ever racy they are demanding nothing more than Mandela put it, treated citizens as Nelson Mandela plunger by four New York police national human rights effort focused solely that which is inherently theirs.” And for the “disposable garbage.” officers, illustrates just how far on U.S. compliance with and accountability Chinese communist leaders who preached of The recent visit there by this trend has gone. toward international human rights standards. capitalist exploitation of Chinese work, but who Bill Clinton marked the first We must reconstitute and As we all know, action must begin at the local never delivered on their promise of self-deter- time a U.S. president set foot in reinvigorate our struggle level. That is why in 1998, in coordination mination, Wei wrote, “Whoever refuses to that nation and spotlighted the against the various manifesta- with Amnesty International, I will convene return democracy to [the people] is a shameless extent and importance of the tions of racism that exist in our the first of what I hope will become a model thief more despicable than any capitalist who progress made. (See “Embracing society today, and thwart for other cities and towns across America — robs the workers of the wealth earned with their Tolerance,” page 16.) Although attempts to roll back civil the country’s first “human rights awareness own sweat and blood.” many factors have been rights gains. We must also seek hearing” in Decatur, Georgia. Wei’s courageous call was, in truth, as much for credited with bringing an end to to end the economic depriva- This “town hall” meeting will bring human rights as it was for democracy. As he the apartheid system, a closer tion and marginalization that together human rights activists, community explained repeatedly in his letters, it was extremely examination is instructive. exists as a result of racism. leaders and ordinary citizens to candidly unlikely for a people without a voice to protect It is notable that much of the At the same time, we must discuss abuses and ways to safeguard human themselves against tyranny and injustice. For his momentum outside South Africa reverse the discriminatory rights in their community. I have urged my tracts beseeching the Chinese people not to follow began in the United States. In trends in our judicial system. colleagues in the House of Representatives to dictators, be they reactionary or communist, Wei 1971, a Philadelphia minister, The reality of an unfairly was imprisoned and tortured for the greater part of Rev. Leon Sullivan, effectively applied death penalty, in which 18 years. kicked off what would become black men are 10 times more Freed in December 1997 at the urgings of known as the “divestment likely to be executed than the international community, including the movement” in the United whites, is chilling. At the same Clinton administration — his release all the States when he demanded time, prisons are slowly being more timely given the December 10, 1997, com- that General Motors withdraw handed over to large conglom- mencement of a year-long celebration of the from South Africa. The erate multinational corpora- 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of movement caught fire on college tions. In the name of “effi- Human Rights’ adoption — Wei was grateful to campuses across the country and ciency,” this system which has be out of prison, but not satisfied. The point of eventually spread to the halls of no interest in either reform or any struggle against a nation’s oppressive leaders rehabilitation has given rise to is true and lasting human rights reform — which an inherently sadistic industry has yet to emerge in China. As Wei wrote after and produced albums and concerts protesting which profits from the incar- his release, “Chinese leaders are not so much apartheid. ceration of our young, mostly amenable to reason as they are to pressure.” The story of South Africa Within South Africa, human rights groups Black, men. Unfortunately, in certain respects, Wei’s release teaches that the effort and and activists did their part to expose the truth Lastly, if we are to lead the alleviated pressure on the Chinese government to about the barbarities and burst the government’s world in the area of promoting improve its behavior in respect to human rights. vigilance necessary to public relations bubble. In 1971, Zulu Chief human rights and democracy, Changes in human rights in any given region Gatsha Buthelezi revived the Inkatha, one of the U.S. officials regularly pay lip service to demand activity, constant pressure and vigilance. topple an anti-human rights few anti-apartheid groups not banned by the gov- human rights and often castigate Third World “Diplomatic solutions” have failed when not ernment. Throughout the 1970s, members of the leaders for not upholding the internationally “On October 10, 1998, combined with the active, physical demonstration status quo can be immense, Church of Scientology worked with like-minded accepted standards embodied in the UDHR. of a people’s and a society’s will. individuals and groups to expose barbaric human With each new international crisis, Congress in coordination with Amnesty International, I will On that score, it is well to remember it is not and that truly sweeping and rights abuses under apartheid in South Africa. and the White House take turns staking out enough to have and enjoy a reasonably high level lasting reforms are attained Their work included revealing in Freedom the the moral high ground by issuing high- convene the first of what I hope will become a model for of human rights in the United States but care existence of psychiatric slave labor camps, where browed statements and passing symbolic res- little about what happens in other nations. The from the combined effort of up to 10,000 blacks at a time were incarcerated, olutions about the importance of respecting other cities and towns across America — the country’s Universal Declaration proclaims the “inherent with many dying from wholesale neglect and human rights. Meanwhile, these very same dignity and ... equal and inalienable rights of all private and public sectors, abuses that included administration of deadly officials turn a blind eye when it comes to first ‘human rights awareness hearing’ in Decatur, members of the human family.” History has electro-convulsive shock without anesthetic. human rights abuses at home. shown us time and again that nations which from national governments In return for speaking up and catching the Such criticism of others on human rights Georgia.” abuse their own peoples are far more likely to world’s ear, the Church and its members encoun- seems inappropriate at best, and hypocriti- resort to violence against their neighbors. and international human tered years of sustained assault from the apartheid cal at worst, when we consider that, accord- — Rep. Cynthia McKinney Moreover, considering how rapidly business in regime, measures that included the banning of ing to Amnesty International, “the USA is a all quarters is expanding into foreign markets, and rights bodies. Freedom. With persistence, however, truth emerged country with a persistent and serious pattern victorious. Independent commissions vindicated of human rights abuses.” That the United that the health of those markets is inextricably we must do so in a consistent and even- hold similar hearings in their districts or linked to the state of government, it is clear that res- and commended the Church’s work and sweeping States address its human rights challenges states. head-on is vital to American credibility and handed manner. We continue to embrace olution of such abuses is in the interest of every investigations and reforms were ultimately realized. The time has come to look critically at leadership abroad. Moreover, it is simply the many of the world’s most repressive dicta- American — even if the only bottom line he con- Congress. The United Nations stepped up pressure For some, the opposition was more violent and ourselves as a society and to address our right thing to do. tors in the name of some immediate strate- siders is his own. Or as Harry Truman put it, “We as well; in 1979, a United Nations committee pub- more personal. Activist Steve Biko, leader of the As we have seen throughout our history, gic objective. At the same time, the United shortcomings in the area of human rights. must build ... a far better world, one in which the lished a list of entertainers who continued to South African Students’ Organization, who refused American democracy is a work in progress. States has often stood by human rights The United States cannot continue to make eternal dignity of man is respected.” perform in South Africa despite its racist policies. to be silenced, was killed. As we look to protect the will of the majority, abusers when they were our “allies,” even bold proclamations about human rights In 1985 came a watershed event: Congress — we must also safeguard the rights of minori- when faced with near total isolation in the abuses abroad while ignoring our own. When Success in South Africa: a Joint Effort under pressure from such members as Congress- Crisis Brings Change ties with equal vigilance and determination. international community. Worse still, we it comes to human rights, the United States There remain a number of countries where the man William Gray and national leaders such as Rev. The 1989 retirement of South African Prime The individual, civil and economic rights of reward some of the world’s most notorious must lead by example. disregard for human rights is an entrenched way of Jesse Jackson — passed the Comprehensive Anti- Minister P.W. Botha, and his replacement by F.W. de minorities are increasingly under attack. human rights abusers with lucrative trade life, and it is these nations which are most resistive Apartheid Act, imposing federal sanctions against Klerk, represented a significant political change. Patterns of institutionalized racism continue deals. In this way, not only do we undermine to change. “All the diplomatic pressure in the world South Africa. They gathered enough support to The imposition of sanctions by the United States to plague our society. the very principles we claim to uphold, but isn’t going to make a Libya or a Cuba change its override the veto of President Ronald Reagan. forced de Klerk to accept the reality that economic Rep. McKinney (D-Ga.) serves on the course,” says veteran foreign affairs authority and Many Americans also refused to support com- isolation would translate into financial disaster for A pattern of police brutality has taken we also facilitate and further entrench House International Relations and National retired Senator Paul Simon. “Such efforts should panies that would not divest, while more and more all South Africans. hold in many of America’s cities, and race is human rights abuses abroad. Security Committees, and is a doctoral can- not be made in isolation.” companies, from soft-drink manufacturers to banks, But there was no single factor in bringing de almost always a factor. In cases where Blacks, The need for a domestic human rights didate in International Relations at Tufts Examining a country where sweeping change joined in the divestment effort. Musical artists in the Klerk to the negotiating table. It was a convergence Hispanics and other minorities are suspects, monitoring and educational effort is clear University’s Fletcher School of Law and finally did occur — South Africa — bears out United States, Canada and Europe composed songs of many forces, from Mikhail Gorbachev’s “new the tendency is to shoot first and ask ques- and long overdue. Diplomacy.

14 | FREEDOM FREEDOM | 23 Human Rights Leadership Profile Human Rights Leadership PROFILE ng

ErnestineErnestine PetersPeters e Director, NAACP Western Region by Warren Pagliaro new people brought on board or moved to important thing for her; her work has never positions where their talents could be best been about herself but about this organiza- put to use. tion. She believes in it and she’s seen it s one of the guests at the Today, with the debate over Affirmative work.” NAACP’s 29th annual Image Action still raging, race relations a top Awards looked around the priority for President Clinton’s final term in The NAACP Pasadena Civic Ballroom, office and issues affecting minorities very Founded in 1909 by American citizens, appreciating the abundance of much in the minds and mouths of millions both black and white, the NAACP has talent and influence around of Americans, the now-vibrant association’s suffered through many uphill battles. Some him, he observed, “Things have role is increasingly important and relevant. 89 years ago, its primary order of business really changed. You can see it Indeed, many civil rights authorities say the was preventing organized violence against Ahere, you can see it in the people. This is a organization’s influence is greater today African-Americans and, obtaining the new NAACP.” than it has been at any time since the civil passage and enforcement of anti-lynching Of that there can be little doubt. Just a rights movement of the 1960s. laws. In the years which ensued, up through few years ago, the National Association for Although many had part in this and into World War II, the NAACP shifted its the Advancement of Colored People was comeback, many within the NAACP point to focus to seeking equal rights in the U.S. awash in internal strife, financial crises and a woman who went from energetic volunteer military and fair job opportunities for civil- varying degrees of scandal. Then, in ways to become, at that most critical juncture for ians. both sweeping and subtle, the changes the organization, one of the NAACP’s most By the 1950s, the NAACP was plowing began. Kweisi Mfume voluntarily relin- dynamic regional directors: Ernestine important judicial ground, including the quished his seat as U.S. congressman from Barlow Peters. landmark Supreme Court decision of Brown Maryland and also stepped down as “When you talk about credit where v. Board of Education of Topeka which held chairman of the Congressional Black credit is due,” says veteran NAACP official public school segregation unconstitutional. Caucus to become NAACP national presi- Jeanetta Williams, “you are definitely Later, NAACP members were instrumental dent. The association was reorganized and talking about Ernestine. She is 100%-plus. in obtaining legislation mandating equal restructured, new policies implemented and And I know the NAACP has always been the voting rights.

24 | FREEDOM FREEDOM | 13 Human Rights

The organization’s history features many from the budget to the pre-show, taping of great names in the struggle to see all the event, to the after-show event. Americans treated equally — people who “She works around the clock! laid the foundation for the sweeping changes Sometimes I get a call from her at 6:00 a.m. which millions now take for granted. “The ... She’s always right there. Right on it. You saying goes that you ‘stand on the shoulders have to be, to get done all that she does. And of those gone before,’” says Jeanetta she uses her resources well.” Williams. “People like Ernestine are a little According to those who serve under her, different, because they are already offering this is typical of the dedication she brings to their shoulders to other people.” all projects. “I became state president under From her impressive efforts as coordina- her a year ago,” says Ernest L. Johnson, tor for the nationally acclaimed NAACP Louisiana NAACP state president, “and I Image Awards, her creation of the NAACP found her always very industrious, very Turni Affirmative Action and Diversity Career resourceful. In fact, I could not have accom- Convention in Los Angeles, now in its 13th plished what I have were it not for her.” He year, her early award-winning work as an credits her leadership and direction in NAACP volunteer, to the innumerable helping him win the coveted top state level programs she conceives, oversees or takes NAACP award for 1997 — the Kelly on, she has already established a formidable Alexander Award — only one year after his track record in advancing human rights for election as state president. minority Americans. And all of this while the running two NAACP regional districts, The Dream covering some 16 states and two foreign Peters is quick to put in perspective the countries — the largest territory of any praise from colleagues. “I wouldn’t expect regional director. any less of myself,” she says. “It is part of A leading example of Ernestine’s vision what I am and where I am from, and I have becoming reality is the NAACP Affirmative never forgotten that.” Action and Diversity Career Convention Where she is from was a deeply segregated (also known as the NAACP Job Fair). Memphis, one of 10 children in a very poor Created in 1987 and first kicked off in Los family. There she attended racially divided Angeles, it is a forum where minority job schools and in many other ways knew what it hunters can meet face to face with corpora- meant to suffer discrimination. By contrast, tions and shop for new careers. she also observed the compassion of those Sponsored by companies large and who saw others in terms more meaningful small, attendees enter free of charge and than skin color. As a child, she was taken meet representatives of more than 90 com- under the wing of a white pastor and his wife. panies. Job seekers can talk to staff of the She was still a child when she realized firms in the market for new personnel or segregation was neither natural nor neces- just drop off resumes. Some employers, sary. “It was such a simple thing, but I went including the Los Angeles Police Ernestine Peters was a child when she realized to an integrated summer camp and it struck Tid segregation was neither natural nor necessary. Department, interview and test applicants me that children like me could interact on the spot. This year’s fair included as par- “I went to an integrated summer without any feelings of prejudice on their As the Universal Declaration of ticipants DreamWorks Studios, Enterprise camp and it struck me that children like me own,” she said. “Racism is not a natural Rent-A-Car, the Los Angeles Unified School could interact without any feelings of prejudice state of being. I decided I wanted to do what Human Rights passes 50 years, District, Aerospace Corporation, Media One on their own,” she said. “Racism is not a I could to get rid of it.” and Sony Pictures. natural state of being. I decided I wanted to do Though she began helping her local much remains to be done — The program has grown a local, annual what I could to get rid of it.” NAACP chapter at an early age, it was later, event to a national event held twice a year. as a mother, that another pivotal event gave but when private citizens work Thousands have found satisfying jobs owing her new focus. Ernestine lost her daughter, in no small part to Peters’ dedication and advancing the image of black Americans in Tiffani Oympia, to childhood cancer. “I alongside governments and vision. According to Lou Shomer, president the Arts. 1998 honorees included composer knew then that I had a mission to reach out of Showmex Productions which produces and producer Kenneth “Babyface” and help other people, to touch and help as human rights groups, there is the event, “It is a pleasure working with Edmonds, director Stanley Kramer, actor many other lives as I could,” she said. Ernestine. She’s a professional, and she gets Dijmon Hounsou, actress Vanessa Williams Beyond expanding her work with the much that can be done. things done rather than just talking about and U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman. NAACP, she began providing extended them.” Peters’ contributions to the Image family outreach counseling to families of by Tal Kapelner and Aron C. Mason Awards were considerable from the outset. children diagnosed with cancer and other Image Awards As a volunteer in 1991, Peters produced, catastrophic diseases. And her dedicated The Image Awards began more than with musician Jeffrey Osborne, a music community service did not escape the hen a debate between President Bill Clinton and three decades ago, when, on October 22, video which successfully promoted mem- notice of leaders outside the NAACP; she China president Jiang Zemin was broadcast 1962, the newly organized Beverly berships and sponsorships at the National has been recognized and commended by the live on Chinese television in June, even skepti- Hills/Hollywood branch honored Sammy NAACP convention in Texas. In recognition U.S. Congress, the Governor of California cal human rights and foreign policy observers Davis Jr. for his efforts to obtain fair employ- of this and other successful projects and and the City of Los Angeles for her efforts hailed the event not only as a step forward for ment for African-American entertainers. He events, Peters was appointed as coordinator and her example. U.S.-China relations, but for human rights. was also acknowledged for his generous of the Image Awards. And with her at the When Martin Luther King, Jr. articulated Shows of force can never replace genuine and financial assistance which helped establish helm, the annual event has become the his dream of a “nation... where [people] will self-determined change in a country’s collective this new NAACP branch — the first to NAACP’s top fundraiser. not be judged by the color of their skin but conscience. Such change requires open communication to expressly address racism in the entertain- “Without Ernestine, it would be impossi- by the content of their character,” he knew W ment industry. From that first small awards ble to be where we are today with the Image it was ultimately up to the generation which nurture the principles of freedom of expression, association, and belief. As President Clinton stated to students at Beijing dinner this event has grown to a nationally Awards,” says John Williams, Vice Chairman followed him to realize that dream. It is University, “These are not American rights or European rights or broadcast network television event, of the 1998 NAACP Image Awards and through the dedicated efforts of those like developed world rights. They are birthrights of people every- attended by thousands and honoring the trustee of the NAACP special contribution Ernestine Peters that, bit by bit, the dream where.” accomplishments of black entertainers and fund. “She has done an exceptional job in of a nation where all Americans enjoy true those who have contributed significantly to coordinating all of the details of the event justice and equality is becoming reality. ■

12 | FREEDOM FREEDOM | 25 Human Rights

Those referred to the program are able to study The Way to Happiness at home but are also required to spend a minimum of two hours An alternative to each week in a courseroom setting. After reading each section of the booklet, they answer in writing a series of questions about what they have just read and how the informa- tion can be applied to their lives. Instructors then go over each of the student’s answers to make sure he or she fully understood all infor- mation from the section studied. “I really needed this course,” said David, a graduate, “because I wasn’t thinking about this “Revolving stuff. Now I’m doing a lot of things I should be doing. By taking this course, my life has changed for the best. I have more respect for others and also for myself. Since I enrolled in this course I have been taking all of my responsibilities like I should have from the start. And thanks to this Door course I am living a happier life.” Genuine Rehabilitation Vanderbilt University Economics Professor Mark Cohen has estimated that the nation spends $90 billion each year on prisons, police and courts in the fight to curb crime. But the return on the investment is abysmal, as so many offend- Justice” ers return to crime after their release. The “revolving door” through which crimi- nals reenter the justice system has long been the bane of judges and those in law enforcement. And Grassroots Program it belies the corrections system itself since, theo- retically, once a criminal has been arrested, tried and sentenced, society should not have to worry Rehabilitates about that person any longer. After all, the system is supposed to correct those who enter it. The Criminon program fills a unique need Offenders, Yields within the system. “I’ve had very limited resources to deal with the problems facing our society, particularly those occasioned by rising Remarkable Results crime,” one judge affiliated with the program said, noting that the traditional means for meting

“Looking back at what happened to me over by George Michelsen The scope of the problem explains the wide- Over a six-month period, 67 misdemeanor offenders were referred to a pilot project the last four years,” she said, “I was always “[M]y life has changed for the best. I have more spread interest sparked by positive results from a getting in trouble.” The Criminon program was pilot project conducted in a municipal court in conducted in Los Angeles. Nearly two years ith a population of more than after its completion, only one had returned to instrumental in changing that and turning her life respect for others and also for myself. I have been Los Angeles. around. Among other things, it made her realize 1.7 million, the fourth largest Over a six-month period, 67 misdemeanor the court — an unheard of recidivism rate of that life itself was far too important to waste. community in the United States offenders were referred to the pilot, now known taking all of my responsibilities like I should have from 1.5 percent. The continuing success of the Because the program emphasized how her is also the costliest to the as Criminon’s Community Education Center. As Criminon program has caused probation actions affected others, one of the most impor- average taxpayer. of July 1998 — 22 months after its completion — the start.... I am living a happier life.” officers, judges and others to study it with tant results from the program for her was the — David, Criminon Community In raw numbers, it follows only only one had returned to the court — an unheard sharp interest. New York (7.3 million people), of recidivism rate of 1.5 percent. decision to set a good example for her children. Education Center student WLos Angeles (3.5 million) and Chicago (2.8 “Before, I didn’t think about anything but my million), overshadowing Houston and Philadel- little area,” Jenny said. After graduating from the “It Changed My Life” couldn’t live with that hanging over her head and phia (roughly 1.6 million apiece), and far sur- program, she said, “I better understood how to Way to Happiness, a non-religious, common- The pilot project was part of the interna- turned herself in. sense moral code. The booklet’s 21 precepts — out justice have been restricted to fines and jail passing San Diego (1.1 million) and all others. live my life.” sentences, which have not proven effective in tional Criminon (“no crime”) rehabilitation Standing before the judge, Jenny knew that As she had never completed high school, she such as “Set a Good Example,” “Don’t Do Experts predict the population in this com- turning people away from a path of crime. program, which makes it possible for those con- her life was not something of which to be proud. was proud to finish the program. “It changed my Anything Illegal,” “Safeguard and Improve Your munity — America’s jails and prisons — escalat- “I now have the ability to effect significant ing to 3.5 million by 2004. victed of offenses to reform and continue their She had accomplished none of her goals and, life,” she said. And in a life where many things Environment,” “Be Worthy of Trust” and changes in our defendant population,” he said, Unfortunately, most who enter this area of lives, without further crime. most importantly for her, had not provided a safe seemed to be going the wrong way, she noted, “Fulfill Your Obligations” — set forth clear, prac- the criminal justice system are never reformed While the pilot demonstrated that people can family environment for her children. “This program is the good thing that happened to tical principles which, when applied, help to “enabling them to lead productive, crime-free lives or corrected. 80 percent return to prison or jail change, Jenny, a single mother with two children, Following her guilty plea, she was offered the me.” Today she is off drugs, living with her parents, improve the level of morals throughout society. as a result of their participation in Criminon.” within one year of serving time. Indeed, many serves as a more recent case in point for long- choice of jail or participation in a program based taking care of her children and working part-time. Each precept in the booklet is studied so that As of July 1998, more than 300 have graduated authorities maintain that these institutions term success of the Criminon program. After on common-sense moral values that would help the individual not only understands how it from the Criminon Community Education Centers. worsen inmates as they emerge embittered, years of personal trouble, the low point in her life her to examine the life and behavior that had “I Have More Respect for Others” applies to his own life, but so that he can utilize Due to the continuing success of the program, pro- bent on revenge and better “educated” to a life came when a warrant was issued for metham- brought her before a court of law on a criminal The centerpiece of the program Jenny com- the precept to increase the survival potential of bation officers, judges and others involved in the of crime. phetamine possession. She concluded she charge. She chose the latter. pleted is a course based on the booklet, The those around him. justice system are studying it with sharp interest.

26 | FREEDOM FREEDOM | 27 Human Rights

Judge Pamela Taylor Johnson of the was that nobody was really implement- While in the facility for one University of New York at Buffalo. Willer denied obtained criminal indictments against a total of Juvenile Court in Baton Rouge, ing what they knew.” year, WayneJohn received physical claims of abuse by former Ontario patients who were three Tangram staff members, one of them the Louisiana, is one of those who toured He added, “This course reopened my therapy only twice, which led his hospitalized at a Texas facility called Tangram manager of Tangram’s eight facilities. As a result of the Los Angeles Criminon Community general attitude about others and certain limbs and joints to atrophy. Rehabilitation Network. the cooperative efforts of the Human Services Education Center, interviewing offend- situations. Now, without anyone remind- According to De Martino, the But it is more than likely that Willer’s indig- department and CCHR, the Attorney General of ers on the program and discussing their ing me, I am more aware of my negative facility had only one rehab thera- nance stems from his documented connections with Texas filed a civil suit against Tangram on May 12 for progress with center staff and the court. attitude that I used to carry with me daily. pist on hand for 80 or more brain the principals of the Brain Injury Association, abuse and failure to report abuse. Millions in fines Impressed by the program’s I no longer use excuses to commit an injured patients. including Tangram’s owner, neuropsychiatrist against Tangram are sought. When the De Martinos com- Stanley Seaton. Willer is also the consulting psy- For its part, Tangram vehemently denies any methods and purpose, which focus on illegal act or get myself into problems plained about their son’s treatment, chologist at Anagram, an Ontario brain injury abuse against patients and stated it takes allegations restoring the individual’s sense of which can multiply. Due to this course I’ve New Medico sought to send facility, which, by Willer’s own admission, is of abuse “very seriously.” accountability and responsibility, learned to handle situations in life with a WayneJohn to a New Medico modeled after and closely connected to Tangram. Judge Johnson noted that the atmos- more positive attitude and self-control.” facility in Massachusetts because “These rehabilitation programs were considered “Nothing but abuse” phere and the emphasis on results were In case after case, Criminon the company could have billed the most effective by the international rehabilitation A veteran Tangram staff member told Freedom conducive to bringing about change. In Community Education Centers are doing Medicaid 50% more money for out community,” said Willer. that she witnessed physical abuse of patients, falsifi- conjunction with Criminon, she estab- what the Criminon program has done for of state patients — upwards of Yet in 1996, when it suited Willer, he appeared cation of clinical records, use of unlicensed staff and $2,000 per patient, per day. The De on a national Canadian television show, CBC’s “The extensive, even wanton use of psychiatric medica- lished a Criminon referral program in decades: Demonstrating that there is a Martinos refused and told New Fifth Estate,” to attack the former director of a tions. November 1997 in Baton Rouge to way to close the revolving door, to gen- Medico they would take their son hospital-based brain injury program which was The whistleblower, who asked that her identity which youth are today being referred. uinely rehabilitate offenders by restoring home and care for him there. New moving in on Willer’s turf. Within months of Willer’s be protected for fear of retribution, said that the A Community Education Center self-respect and providing a means to Medico officials responded by volley, the director was discredited and Willer was physical abuse of patients was extensive: “Right opened in Compton, California, in become productive members of society. stating the parents were misguided made director of the Ontario Brain Injury March 1998, while additional centers For more information on the and “in denial” for wanting to care Association. Since then, Willer has have been named for Washington, D.C., Criminon program, write to: for their son at home at no cost to become the leading advocate of the use of Tampa, Florida, and other communities CRIMINON, 7060 Hollywood Blvd., Medicaid. U.S. rehab facilities for Canadian patients. that include, in California alone, Suite 220, Los Angeles, CA 90028. Violence and “confabulation” Willer, who describes himself as Hollywood, San Jose and San Francisco. Six years after that congres- one of the foremost experts on brain Criminon: Effective sional investigation, taxpayers in injury in North America, claims that Turning Lives Around both the United States and brain injured patients’ recollection of Sean Burke, director of the Rehabilitation Canada should be more than a abuse at Tangram could be “confabula- Criminon Community Education Criminon Community Education Centers operate in Los Angeles and ■ While Criminon, an international little concerned that the brain tion”: “In the absence of good Center in Los Angeles, said, “In their Compton, California, with additional centers planned for Washington, criminal rehabilitation program, is injury rehab industry is still a memory, an individual with brain graduation speeches, one for one par- D.C., Tampa, Florida, and other communities that include, in California strongly supported by the Church of ticipants tell their fellow students, ‘I alone, Hollywood, San Jose and San Francisco. Above: Criminon Scientology, it is independent and non- didn’t particularly want to do this Community Education Center staffers Henry Rodriguez and Sean Burke religious. Its program is open to people of course in the beginning, but let me tell with Criminon International Executive Director Tammy Terrenzi. all races and creeds. There has always you, if you just stick with it and really Criminon has grown out of A “daily planner” for brain injured patients do it, your life will change.’ They start getting situation. But as I kept coming to class it made Narconon, an independent, non-profit corpora- at Tangram. jobs. They start new relationships with their me think differently. It helped me to understand tion. The secular Narconon program has been families. One even stated that his marriage was about life and how I can make my road straight operating since 1966, from its inception inside been BRAIN INJURY. before Thanksgiving, a client who was never self- abusive came in with a black eye, swollen ears and saved.” and not go off the edge. It is up to me how I want a prison in the United States; through its 39 all black and blue. He said a staff member had put an The effectiveness of the program is evident in my life to be.” drug education and rehabilitation facilities elbow into his eye and pulled and twisted his ear. It the words and actions of its graduates. Another, Silvester, said, “I began the course around the world, tens of thousands of people What is new is that the field was nothing but abuse.” One of them, Consuelo, stated, “At first I with the same attitude that the others had. We all have benefited from it and are leading drug-free She added that she has been encouraging her didn’t care if I went to jail or not because of my felt that we knew right from wrong. The problem and productive lives. peers to speak up. “I told them you’re either part of has been taken over the solution or you’re part of the problem and if they’ve witnessed abuse, they need to start telling it. I’m not lying for anybody and I’m not going to jail for Tammy Terrenzi, executive director of by profiteers, acting under anybody.” Criminon International. “This is when a Other reported incidents include an employee person realizes he is basically good and brutally slapping a patient in the face and another Wiping Out Crime respects himself again — and wants to do where the side of a patient’s face was smashed so good things in life, not bad. This is what the guise of medicine. viciously that it almost caused permanent eye he Criminon program operates Communication Course, with practical Criminon is all about.” injuries. The victim was promised a shopping trip by within corrections systems instruction in how to communicate and In addition to on-site programs, during a Tangram executive in exchange for his silence throughout the United States how to face life rather than withdraw from any given week, roughly 2,250 inmates are about the incident. and in other nations to rehabili- it — the action that preceded and helped to enrolled on Criminon correspondence thriving, multi-billion dollar business — and that injury will often rely on the cues of others to Incident reports, which are required to detail tate offenders by restoring their bring about the criminal condition. courses in more than 750 U.S. prisons, as its corruption seems to know no national bound- develop their answer to a question. Individuals injuries suffered by patients during restraints were senseT of self-worth so that they can become That is followed with a course in aries. Powerful lobby groups like the Brain Injury with dense memory problems not only confabu- routinely changed or omitted from the patients’ file, well as in prisons in Mexico, Canada, the productive members of society. learning how to learn, and continues with Association in the United States (formerly the late but once they generate a confabulation said the whistleblower. Fictitious accidents are United Kingdom, Russia, Sweden, Italy, Growing out of the worldwide courses that include one based on the National Head Injury Foundation) and the (which is generated to replace real memory, not reported to cover up injuries suffered by patients, she Narconon (“no drugs”) drug rehabilitation booklet, The Way to Happiness, which is Poland, Hungary, South Africa and Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA) have a dishonest act), the confabulation becomes as said. “You’ll write up the report and they’ll go behind program, Criminon’s purpose is to wipe out the focus of the program conducted at Australia. successfully convinced government agencies and real as any actual memory would be.” you and say, why don’t you reword it to make it look crime by eradicating the factors that create Criminon Community Education Centers. Graduates of the program attest to its health insurance providers that brain injury is Yet numerous brain-injured patients treated at more professional and make it so that no legal action criminal behavior in the individual. The Way to Happiness helps to restore a workability — as documented by the not a disability; rather, it requires a lifetime of Tangram had no difficulty recounting, in detail, many can ever be taken against Tangram.” Founded in 1972, the Criminon program person’s innate goodness and pride. A enormous volume of letters and success expensive psychiatric “treatment.” startling incidents of abuse at the facility over a five- consists of a precise sequence of steps, each person on the Criminon program soon dis- stories sent to Criminon offices. In brain injury rehab, beatings are termed year period. And once CCHR made public its Injuries covered up one bringing about specific results in the covers he is the one in charge of his actions, Whether the program is administered “restraints,” psychiatric drugging is called “treat- Tangram investigation, the facility came under One Canadian patient sent to Texas’ Tangram individual to restore his self-respect. his life and his destiny. by correspondence or in person, the results ment” and claims of abuse by brain injury survivors criminal investigation by the Texas Department of facility was Robbie Thompson, who was flown there On-site Criminon programs in prisons “The Criminon program enables crimi- provide hope for a civilization where crime are dismissed as psychotic ramblings. Human Services for alleged abuse of patients. in late 1992 without his parents’ knowledge or and detention centers begin with the nals to regain their self-respect,” said and violence have long been top concerns. One who dismissed the results of CCHR’s and The case is being handled by the Guadalupe consent. Based on the latest daily rate being charged Freedom’s Canadian investigation was psychologist County District Attorney’s Office, which on April 2 for Thompson’s treatment, his five year stay at Dr. Barry Willer, professor of psychiatry at State and May 7 appeared before a Grand Jury and Tangram cost taxpayers an estimated $1.2 million.

28 | FREEDOM FREEDOM | 9 Cover Story

In the summer of 1990, an intensive con- gressional investigation was launched into the “brain injury rehabilitation” industry. At the same time of that investigation, Lynn, Massachusetts-based New Medico, a chain of rehabilitation facilities which was once the WHAT IS SCIENTOLOGY? largest U.S. network of brain injury rehab WHAT IS SCIENTOLOGY? clinics, was also the target of an FBI probe. One of the driving forces behind the inves- tigation was brain injury survivor Lucy Gwin of Rochester, N.Y., today one of the leading It’s the fastest-growing religion in voices for the rights of the disabled in the United the world. States. Her harrowing experience at a brain injury rehabilitation facility owned by New It restores happiness and self- Medico left her so outraged she was moved to respect. document the cases of hundreds of brain injury survivors. Her findings, corroborated by gov- It has helped millions create lasting ernment investigations and evidence obtained relationships by really understanding by Freedom, reveal an alarming pattern of human rights violations on American soil — all and caring for their families, friends for a profit. and communities. ______Its members are all drug-free. Lucy Gwin never knew what hit her — literally. It’s in the news. It’s talked about on After working as a professional writer for years and radio and TV. And it’s got the answers. raising two daughters, through the reckless actions of another, her life was irrevocably changed. In 1991, she was hit by a drunk driver in a WHAT IS SCIENTOLOGY? downtown intersection. The police were called but, because of traffic delays, the driver escaped from the This 833-page volume, describing scene, never to be found. She was rushed by ambu- the philosophy and beliefs, catechism, lance to a hospital where she remained unconscious for three weeks. When she awoke she was taken to the creeds and codes, services and New Medico rehabilitation facility in Cortland, New scriptures of the Scientology religion, York. Soon after her arrival Gwin walked outside to smoke a cigarette. “This place is nothing but a is the definitive reference work on prison,” were the words she heard uttered by another Scientology. patient as she stood outside. Brain injury survivor Lucy Gwin: “That’s when the vultures come.” The next morning, she awoke to the screams of The book came about because of her roommate, who was taking a shower “assisted” Her insurance was billed for substance abuse witnessed fraudulent psychotherapy on brain strong public interest in the by staff. A cheery social worker, speaking slowly, told treatment even though she didn’t have a substance injured patients, pressure on staff to keep patients Gwin she would work to make her stay “very abuse problem. Incredibly, New Medico, the largest for as long as possible and mass billings for non- Scientology religion and the Church, happy.” chain of rehabilitation facilities in the U.S. at the existent or useless treatment. and the need for accurate and For weeks, Gwin wandered the facility, making time, justified the billings on the basis that the driver “There was a psychiatrist who would come in mental notes of abuse against patients including the who hit Gwin was a drunk. New Medico billed Gwin’s and put all the brain injured patients in the gym and complete information. Thousands of rape of her roommate by three staff members, insurance $10,000 U.S. for seven days of treatment. kick the ball around for a few minutes,” he said. “He hours of research went into this watching a patient receive kicks to the head for Charges against New Medico, covered in a con- billed everybody’s insurance all at once for group trying to leave and psychiatric drugging of patients gressional report entitled “Fraud and Abuse in the psychotherapy.” comprehensive volume on Scientology who questioned their “treatment.” Head Injury Rehabilitation Industry,” included, According to De Martino, in order to submit and its activities. After several weeks, a sympathetic staff member “inappropriate care, fraudulent billings, misleading bills to Medicaid, New Medico would fly a psychi- warned Gwin that New Medico planned to send her marketing practices and the use of non-skilled atrist in from another state, put him up in a hotel You can purchase your own copy of for psychosurgery for “seizures” she never had. In workers.” Other allegations included “unethical for several days and have him fill out invoices in What Is Scientology?, the desperation, she called a friend who lived nearby. recruitment of patients, virtually non-existent the facility’s gymnasium on patients he had never The next day, amidst threats from facility staff medical treatment, falsifying treatment records even met. encyclopedic reference on and warnings she was insane, that friend to show improvement to families, referral New Medico hired college students to help Scientology, in either hardback carried Gwin out of the facility. fees paid to hospital personnel and patient commit patients who were questioning treatment to Despite the widely held contentions quota.” a nearby psychiatric hospital in Binghamton, N.Y. ($125.00) or softcover ($19.95), by of psychiatrists and psychologists behind The congressional probe heard that There, De Martino said, New Medico would attempt writing to the Church of Scientology brain injury rehab, survivors like Lucy New Medico was charging $2,000 per to get legal guardianship in order to access the Gwin do remember the abuse they suffer. patient per day, which were hospital rates patients’ assets. International, 6331 Hollywood Indeed — and unfortunately for New for nursing home services worth only a But some of the worst abuses of patient rights Boulevard, Suite 1200, Los Angeles, Medico — the memories of Gwin and other maximum of $200 a day, according to the were committed against his own son. During one of patients are crystal clear. testimony of former New Medico medical her daily visits, Mrs. De Martino was told by staff that CA 90028 or calling (800) 334-LIFE. “Most of us believe that when people are hurt, director Dr. Kenneth Hoelscher. her son was “all cleaned up” for her visit. When she no one would take advantage of them,” says Gwin, pulled the blankets down, WayneJohn was covered who now works as a journalist in New York. “Wrong. Billed for kicking a ball in excrement. Complimentary copies are available That’s when the vultures come.” Ed De Martino was a maintenance worker “My son wasn’t fed anything but water for 21 to religious leaders, government Gwin said that during her three-week stay, turned health care aide at New Medico’s days and went from 191 to 100 pounds,” said Mrs. patients spent their days sitting “outside at picnic Cortland, N.Y. facility. Ironically, two years after De Martino. “This was the most extreme case of officials and members of the news tables, smoking.” When she confronted the staff getting the job at New Medico, De Martino’s son gross neglect I’ve ever seen.” media at this address. about their physical abuse of other patients, she was WayneJohn became severely brain injured after While in the facility, their son also was put on 20 put in a “baskethold,” a restraint similar to a Full being hit by a drunk driver. different psychiatric drugs including Haldol and Nelson wrestling hold, leaving the patient completely The De Martino family lived only a few blocks Chlorpromazine. The De Martinos’ family doctor immobile. “It’s one of the most evil things you can do away from the former New Medico facility. As a ordered that WayneJohn be taken off every drug to a person,” said Gwin. “It’s terrifying.” staff member and parent, Ed De Martino said he except one.

8 | FREEDOM Book Review The Courage to Stand Alone Letters From Prison and Other Writings N INJURY SCAM By Wei Jingsheng How a billion-dollar

Edited and translated by named for the “big character” posters dis- Kristina M. Torgenson played on a large wall in the Xidan section cross-border psychiatric of Beijing, Wei and young worker-intellec- Viking Penguin, 283 pages tuals like him seized the opportunity to discuss taboo subjects by creating and scheme is feeding off Reviewed by Lori Jablons publicizing these posters. The posters featured courageous political essays and victims of tragedy n China, 1998, it is customary to experimental literary works and were dis- execute car thieves and cattle played at various points around Beijing. For a few months in the winter of 1978-79, rustlers. It is what the Chinese by Andy Prough & Catherine Malone people are used to and probably a low gray brick wall on Chang’an expect. They are also used to Boulevard became the focus of the seeing their countrymen impris- movement, and the wall gave the oned without fair trial, malnour- movement its name. Special to Freedom ished, deprived of sleep and Wei didn’t visit the Wall until December 4, 1978, a few weeks after the human contact for voicing their opinions. n March 1995, the Clinton adminis- atric hospitals at an estimated cost of $400 IThe aforementioned are the few con- posters began to appear. So inspired by ditions author Wei Jingsheng was “permit- what he saw, Wei wrote “The Fifth tration launched “Operation Restore million to the taxpayer-funded Ontario ted” to write about to his family and Modernization: Democracy” the same Trust,” a law enforcement initiative to Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). It was also members of the government in The night. It was hung on the Democracy Wall, clean up health-care fraud. In its first revealed that U.S. psychiatric hospitals Courage to Stand Alone, a compilation of unedited, the following evening. Wei’s tract year, it recovered $42 million; in its hired “patient brokers” or “bounty letters and essays from 1981 to 1993. In a stated that Deng Xiaoping’s “Four second, the figure had grown to $1.2 hunters” to secure patients through mis- move seen by some as symbolic and by Modernizations” program of economic reform — agriculture, industry, science billion. Now in an unprecedented leading marketing practices and fraudu- others as progress, late 1997 saw Wei fourth year, the program’s success has lent means, resulting in patients being exiled to the United States by China, and technology — could never result in a true transformation without a “Fifth earned it expanded federal funding incarcerated in costly psychiatric hospi- ending his second prison term for political and resources as it moves into its next tals. Some patients were sent for “smoking dissidence. Modernization”: democracy. Oddly, with everything posted on the Iphase. addiction,” and others for “weight loss.” China’s complete disregard for human rights is known worldwide. Perhaps the Wall, democracy was never mentioned But the stunning quantum of funds In this issue, Freedom presents the popularization of the abuses through the outright. Instead, the status quo was, for recovered by Operation Restore Trust is results of a 12-month investigation by the media and celebrity support has cast a the most part, criticized on its own terms. more a cause for alarm than it is for satis- Citizens Commission on Human Rights shadow of ridiculousness or even unreality The shortcomings of an oppressive com- faction, for it offers a sense of just how wide- (CCHR) and Freedom, in conjunction on the seriousness of the situation. But the munist rule were spelled out, the conclu- sion both implicit and obvious. “Our spread and unchecked health-care fraud with Brabant Newspapers of Canada. It is issue of China’s treatment of its people is has been. the story of the insured and incurable — both very real and very serious. One need history books tell us that the people are the masters and creators of everything,” Indeed, to paraphrase one Justice brain injury survivors, who’ve become only look back a mere nine years into department analyst, there is a universe of human cogs in a multi-million dollar China’s past to find the Tiananmen Square word, Wei saw the conditions in which people wrote Wei, “but in reality they are more Massacre, or read yesterday’s paper to learn of the toiled; hardly the “worker’s paradise” propagan- like faithful servants standing at attention and fraud only now being uncovered. The April cross-border psychiatric scheme. brutality of Chinese rule in Tibet. dized at every turn. In 1969 he joined the army waiting to be ‘led’ by leaders who swell like 6 announcement of the filing of an extraor- To fully understand the nature of this As explained in his book, Wei Jingsheng is the after the Red Guard had disbanded. He com- yeasted bread dough.” dinary $175 million federal lawsuit in tale, one must know that the Attorney eldest child of parents committed to the Chinese pleted his military service in 1973, at which point The irreverence of the “Fifth Modernization” Madison, Wisconsin, against Tenet General of Ontario, Canada took the Communist Party, and Wei himself grew up with he was assigned to work as an electrician in the brought the first-time author immediate notori- Healthcare by Canadian officials is, as one unprecedented action of filing a $130 the same political reverence for the party as his Beijing Zoo. ety and was the inciting incident for his involve- attorney put it, “only a start.” million lawsuit against 36 U.S. psychi- mother and father. As a child of the party elite, Events continued to push Wei closer to the ment in other political activities. In 1979, Wei founded Exploration, a journal that published the The facts underlying that suit bring the atric hospitals in April 1997, after CCHR Wei and his two sisters and brother attended the actions which ultimately brought his arrest as a connection between events in Canada and exposed fraud and abuse involving political dissident. By 1976 his disillusionment results of one of the first human rights investiga- finest schools and lived in a compound with other in the United States into sharper focus. In Ontario residents. Five years earlier, in high-ranking families who shared the Communist with the CCP was complete, but he was not tions in China. Qincheng, China’s main prison for ideology. actively seeking freedom for himself and his important political prisoners, was termed a 20th- late 1997, Freedom’s Canadian correspon- 1992, the FBI had raided hospitals owned Wei’s schooling ended with the beginning of fellows nor fighting the oppression they faced. It century Bastille as the horrors of poor food, dents brought to light the story of the by National Medical Enterprises (NME) the Cultural Revolution in 1966, at which point wasn’t until 1978, at 28 years of age, that Wei torture and the use of psychiatric drugs to control largest case of health-care fraud in — the same company named in the Wei became a member of the Red Guard — and, found his calling as an activist and writer. the unwieldy were documented. Canadian history. Thousands of Ontario Canadian suit. The investigation of NME one could say, his education really began. During the Democracy Wall Movement, the Following Wei’s essay of March 25, 1979, he citizens had been funneled into U.S. psychi- resulted in a $380 million settlement. Traveling across the country to spread Mao’s 1978-79 grass-roots pro-democracy movement was arrested. He wrote, “Does Deng Xiaopeng

30 | FREEDOM FREEDOM | 7 Cover Story

want democracy? No, he does not. He says that rights and would sue those who originally the spontaneous struggle for democratic rights is incarcerated him. He knew he would be jailed just an excuse to make trouble, that it destroys again, although his family begged him, for the normal order and must be suppressed.” In health reasons, to stay out of the limelight. doing so, Wei mentioned Deng by name and for On February 27, 1994, Wei had dinner with that he would be punished. John Shattuck, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Late in the night of March 29, he was visited for Human Rights. During their conversation, Wei by some 20 police officers and taken to jail. His told Shattuck that the U.S. should extend Most trial, on October 16, more than seven months Favored Nation status to China and put pressure later, afforded none of the Western luxuries of due on the country to improve human rights. Wei process or right to counsel, and Wei, who refused reasoned that imposing sanctions on China would to plead guilty to the charges that he “divulged only hurt his countrymen. The meeting inflamed military secrets to a foreigner and conducted the Chinese authorities, who accused Shattuck of counterrevolutionary propaganda and incite- “having broken Chinese law,” then detained Wei ment,” was convicted and sentenced to for questioning. His detainment lasted until his spend the next 15 years of his life second trial in December 1995, at which he was THE BRAI confined as a political prisoner. sentenced to another 14 years and sent back to In literature, commonly the hero’s his cell at the Nanpu New Life Salt Works. Now GREAT most tragic flaw is his incapability of rec- Wei was being imprisoned for expressing an ognizing his tragic flaw. Wei, by contrast, opinion in line with Chinese officials. knows that his “tragic flaw,” for lack of a Various human rights groups and govern- better phrase, is the inability to keep ments worldwide condemned the Chinese gov- quiet about the things he feels his ernment for Wei’s sentence. In 1995 Wei won the country should be looking at with an eye Olaf Palm Award and the European Parliament’s toward reformation. Wei writes: “What, Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. then, is happiness? It is nothing less than Wei Jingsheng is a witty and gifted writer who realization of the full potential of humanity. Full is courageous beyond belief. He speaks of how and free development of personal will is the “[T]he greatest pressure for change in China “his head feels like lead” and of how he some- highest goal of humanity.” Wei wanted freedom, will come from the Chinese people. It’s times rambles in his writings, but his message and not just for himself, but for his people, and he was impossible to predict a timetable; nobody sentiments could not be more clearly understood. willing to fight back for it. predicted the disintegration of the former Soviet At certain points in reading, one may have to After the Tiananmen Square Massacre on Union.... Peaceful change may be very difficult remind oneself that, yes, this is the reality of June 4, 1989, international awareness for China’s modern-day China. political prisoners was heightened. Governments to achieve. But this is still what we strive for.” The Courage to Stand Alone is an impor- and human rights groups called for Wei’s release. — Wei Jingsheng tant book for its startling chronicle of the In 1993, before the anniversary of his arrest, the reality of life as a political dissident in China Chinese government made a video of Wei partak- Games, a video of Wei signing his release and one man’s refusal to give in or give up. ing of a large meal and visiting a museum. Of papers was distributed. He was to be released “Chinese leaders are not so much amenable to course, this was not shown in China, as it was into probation, and for the next six months, he reason as they are to pressure,” wrote Wei intended to secure Beijing as the site of the 2000 would be forbidden to express his opinions, upon his release last year. “But the greatest Olympics. (An official, upon Wei’s return from his talk to the media or set up any kind of pressure for change in China will come from day out, asked what impact the bustling city, new business. He would also be deprived of his the Chinese people. It’s impossible to predict a hotels and highways had on Wei’s view of democ- political rights for the next three years. Yet, timetable; nobody predicted the disintegration racy. Wei replied, “None whatsoever.”) with indomitable spirit, days after he was liber- of the former Soviet Union.... Peaceful change Nine days before the International Olympic ated he told journalists that he would continue may be very difficult to achieve. But this is still Committee was to vote on Beijing’s bid for the to demand democracy and respect for human what we strive for.” ■ Learn and Protect YOUR RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS

Restoring and Safeguarding Religious Freedom: A New publication provides guide to protecting your human rights in Europe is a new booklet published as a public service by the comprehensive Church of Scientology and a coalition of religious and information on the most human rights bodies. It contains a description of the fundamental rights vital of human rights guaranteed by national governments throughout Europe, as well as the international human rights in thirteen European standards each of these countries has pledged to uphold. countries Guidelines are given for those who find their rights violated, along with a directory of human rights The fundamental assumption of human rights is that advocacy organizations which offer assistance. each individual is a moral and rational being possessing The booklet is available in nine languages. Copies certain inalienable rights. Human rights are based on may be obtained by writing to the Human Rights respect for the individual and his beliefs. Director, Church of Scientology International, 6331 Procedures and laws which protect minorities and give Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 1200, Los Angeles, CA them a meaningful voice are essential to a true democracy. 90028 or by calling (888) 576-FREE. 6 | FREEDOM Book Review

grammers, including Rick Ross, and that groups which violate civil rights as a matter Ross was known to engage in involuntary of policy and practice cannot escape respon- deprogramming.” sibility for crimes by stating ‘well, that was The court also turned to CAN’s violations done by an individual employee on his own of civil rights laws, and the issue of whether a initiative.’ If someone acting for the KKK private organization can be held liable for the violates your rights, the KKK can be held acts of its members, under a legal doctrine liable, because such actions are consistent WHORES known as vicarious liability or respondeat with their goals, policy and practice. The superior (literally, “let the master answer”). implications for a hate group like the old CAN “We conclude that vicarious liability may be are vast.” imposed on CAN in this action,” said the In a separate case which went to trial in court. “Under either traditional principles of U.S. District Court last year, a federal jury in of the Court respondeat superior or ‘policy and practice’ Chicago found that CAN was a criminal principles, CAN would be liable. Landa acted clique and that its president, Cynthia Kisser, as CAN’s agent, and Landa acted in accor- deprogrammed her own sister and then went dance with CAN’s practice of referring people on to conduct other assaults. to involuntary deprogrammers.” Following the 1995 verdict, the old CAN Further, confirming that CAN engaged in declared bankruptcy and its name and assets “a conspiracy to deprive the plaintiff of the were purchased by a consortium of religious equal protection of the laws,” the appellate groups, the Foundation for Religious panel concluded that “The record shows that Freedom, intent upon reversing CAN’s by Margaret Hagen hurt an accuracy rate that hovers at Landa was involved in the agreement to previous campaign of prejudice and intoler- less than one out of three times deprogram Scott and thereby violate his civil Attorney Kendrick Moxon: With the Court of ance. The new group promotes religious Reviewed by Mari Werner correct.” rights. Landa referred [Scott’s mother] Appeals’ recent decision affirming a multimillion- liberty and family communication and The book goes further than the Tonkin to Ross, and Landa was aware of Ross’ dollar verdict against the old Cult Awareness understanding to resolve disputes regarding argaret Hagen is a stories and statistics, looking at not just methods. ... The fact Ross contacted Landa Network, “efforts to force someone into changing religious beliefs. More than 5,000 individuals psychologist. Her the blatant injustices, but at the subtle for ‘legal advice’ after his arrest is further have telephoned its hotline to date and evidence of her complicity.” their religious views — whatever they are and for obtained help or information. book Whores of the unexamined assumptions that have whatever reason — are clearly labeled as Court is subtitled, crept into our thinking, assumptions CAN argued before the court of appeal The new CAN’s chairman, Rev. Dr. “The Fraud of that many of us do not even connect that it was its “official policy” to not involve violations of federal law.” George Robertson, vice president of Psychiatric Testi- with psychology or psychiatry. itself in deprogramming, and thus it should Maryland Bible College and a Baptist mony and the Rape The treatment of children in court be let off the hook. The Court rejected this minister, said, “We applaud this decision as Mof American Justice.” How did a is one example. This is an area that has argument as contrary to the evidence at trial, practices....” and thus held CAN fully liable the death blow to a former reign of religious woman with a Ph.D. in psychology been radically influenced by psychol- saying that “CAN’s ‘official’ policy prohibiting for the original judgment, plus interest. terrorism, fueled by lies, fear and bigotry. We come to write such a harsh condem- ogy over the last few decades. The involuntary deprogramming [does not] Explaining the importance of these feel religious liberty is America’s most ■ nation of her own colleagues? practice of giving children special undermine the evidence concerning CAN’s findings, Moxon said that “This means that important freedom.” In 1993, Hagen’s brother was accommodation in court is now widely sued for $3.4 million based on accepted. Children may be allowed to alleged psychological damage. She testify via video and never enter the writes in her introduction, “There courtroom, or they may have a parent was no evidence as such in this or therapist seated next to them when “My SON was turned into an ADDICT, locked in a hospital case. The trial consisted of a parade they testify. Most people have come to of half a dozen psychological experts consider this right and fair, since they of various types, all declaiming that are only children, after all, and need to room until the INSURANCE was gone...” the plaintiff suffered from one be protected. mental disorder or another and that Hagen takes a very different view of the disorder — with all the atten- this practice. “How do psychological dant negative effects in her life — experts know that testifying in court Why are school problems increasingly diagnosed as “mental had been caused twenty years traumatizes children? They don’t; they disorders” which call for costly, unending “treatment” — to no earlier by the accused, my brother — a service revolver, Quintiliano was innocent just think it does. Their clinical intuition result? of her murder because his reason for killing person whom none of them had ever met.” tells them so. Is there good, solid research How are children turned into drug addicts in the name of Her brother eventually won the case at her was that he had been driven crazy by to support the belief that testifying in court a defense cost of $90,000, and Hagen began taking too many diet pills. damages children psychologically? No. Is “therapy”? the research project which culminated in After spending three months in a state there good, solid research to support the Where are billions in tax dollars being spent annually for control the publication of this book. psychiatric unit, Quintiliano was released, a belief that testifying in court is worse for a — and personal profit — now the subject of sweeping federal and As an experimental psychologist, Hagen free man. Not long after that he remarried. ten-year-old than for a twenty-year-old? Is state investigations? has specialized in researching perception. In 1983 his second wife filed for divorce, it worse for a child than for an elder? That Find out the documented truth in Psychiatry: The Apparently she has made objective, keen and one week later Quintiliano shot and a ten-year-old child recounting molestation perception a personal habit. The book is killed her. will be more ‘damaged’ than a twenty-year- Ultimate Betrayal. scrupulously well-researched, and written But Hagen doesn’t stop at telling horror old woman recounting rape, more damaged To order your copy now, send check or money with a clarity and wit that make it an stories. She examines the whole subject of than the frightened eighty-year-old terror- order for $25 per single copy, $110 per 5 copies or engrossing, enjoyable read in spite of its the psychiatric role in the justice system ized and beaten in a home invasion? No, no, $200 for 10 copies to: subject matter. carefully and logically. The horror stories and no.” Citizens Commission on Human Rights That subject matter can be disturbing are not just anomalies; statistics show they She goes on to examine the effect of 6362 Hollywood Blvd., Suite B all by itself. Consider, for example, the story are the rule and not the exception. Several this practice on the administration of of former Stratford, Connecticut, police studies, including one published in the justice: “Protecting a child from the Los Angeles, CA 90028 officer Matthew Quintiliano. In 1975, American Journal of Psychiatry, have supposed trauma of confronting and Or call (800) 869-2247 Officer Quintiliano shot and killed his first shown that clinical predictions of violent accusing an alleged perpetrator in court Include $3 for shipping and handling. (California residents wife a few days after she filed for divorce. behavior are wrong twice as often as they presupposes the guilt of the accused; pro- add 8.25 percent sales tax.) Psychiatry: The Ultimate Betrayal He was found not guilty by reason of tem- are correct. “Why not just flip pennies or tecting the child from the defendant can also be ordered through the web site of the Citizens porary insanity based on “amphetamine draw cards?” writes Hagen. “Why not put presumes that the defendant is guilty of the psychosis.” In other words, though his wife on a blindfold and choose without being crimes before the trial is heard. The whole Commission on Human Rights at http://www.cchr.org. was dead from the bullets he fired from his able to identify the patients? It could hardly trial is a sham.

32 | FREEDOM News Update

kidnapping, imprisonment and attempted “Are psychotherapists seated next to “The American Psychiatric Association “deprogramming” of a man from a conserva- witnesses supposed to be invisible to juries? knows perfectly well that whatever the U.S. Court of Appeals Hands Down tive Christian church from the Seattle area. Are jurors supposed to be unaware of their Hagen examines the whole private ideological beliefs of its members The old CAN is now required to pay its victim supposedly protective role? Are they subject of the psychiatric about the unconscious repression of the $875,000 in actual damages and $1 million in supposed to disregard as irrelevant to guilt memory of psychological trauma, there is no punitive damages, plus interest from 1995. or innocence the supportive behavior of role in the justice system scientific evidence supporting the factual But it is also something more: a victory parents and judge? Is there a standard existence of this hypothetical mental phe- for religious freedom and civil rights for bench instruction to that effect? ‘The jury carefully and logically. nomenon. It is grossly unethical for the APA people of faith in America. “This is the first will disregard all of the extraordinary The horror stories are not or any of its members to mislead the legal Landmark Civil federal appellate court decision which measures taken to protect this innocent community into thinking otherwise.” expressly holds that deprogramming violates child from that dangerous and guilty defen- just anomalies; statistics In keeping with its title, the book goes on U.S. civil rights laws,” said Kendrick Moxon, dant’? Of course not.” to explore the economics of this expanding one of the attorneys on the appeal. And, This is but one small part of a large show they are the rule and psychological influence. As the courts have given that the deprogramming attempt was, quantity of legal and social illogic that Hagen opened their doors to psychological testi- at its core, an effort to force a young adult dissects and exposes before the eyes of the not the exception. mony, the ranks of psycho-experts have man to “change” his interpretation of the reader. If you are one of the many who have swelled enormously. Where a psychological Rights Ruling Bible, Moxon noted that the decision “means had the nagging feeling that something is defense is used in a criminal trial, the prose- that efforts to force someone into changing wrong with what psychologists are doing in anti-discrimination coverage. Marry this cution then must hire their own psychologist their religious views — whatever they are our courts, this book will show exactly what with the American Psychiatric Association’s to try to refute the testimony of the defense and for whatever reason — are clearly it is that’s wrong, and what is so wrong about Diagnostic and Statistical Manual which psychologist. Similarly, in civil trials, if one labeled as violations of federal law. This is a it. And still Hagen doesn’t stop there. She lists hundreds of “mental disorders” and we side hires a psychologist, the other will need very important legal precedent.” goes on to look at the precedents and the now have a situation where an employer one as well; often each side will use several. The old CAN was infamous for involve- legislation that have opened the way to the who fires an employee for screaming Also, the desired, and often achieved, end ment in illegal acts against religious groups ever increasing influence of psychiatrists obscenities at clients or colleagues can be result of the psychological testimony is that and their members. And its reputation was and psychologists in our courts. sued for failing to accommodate that the criminal is sentenced to therapy or the well-deserved: its founder a five-time convict The insanity defense has been with us employee’s mental disability. civil defendant is required to pay for therapy. charged with an array of offenses including for a long time. English courts in the 16th More recently the topic of “repressed Hagen sums it up with the biting frankness rape and cocaine smuggling; its favorite century maintained that criminal responsi- memory” has been brought before the characteristic of the volume: “deprogrammer” a convicted jewel thief and bility rested on a defendant’s ability or courts as a reason to set aside the statute of “Thanks to the willingness of judges and diagnosed psychopath; its security chief a inability to tell right from wrong. But how limitations. “Judges and legislators all over juries to believe psychobabble with scien- longtime inmate of some of the nation’s have we come from there to the point where the country,” Hagen writes, “are not going tific foundations equal to horoscope charts, toughest jails. Officer Quintiliano can walk away from to rewrite the law on the statute of limita- babble puffed about by psychological pro- The views of the old CAN’s last executive murder charges by pleading diet pill tions for either criminal or civil actions fessionals with impressive credentials, what director, Cynthia Kisser, shed much light on overdose? Recent laws and precedents have based on the ‘scientific discovery’ that we’ve got now are thousands of self-styled what comprised that organization’s agenda thrown open the doors of the courtroom people sometimes avoid thinking about soul doctors run amok in our courts, drunk and help explain its perverse fascination with wider and wider to the manipulations of awful events in the past and sometimes they with power, bedazzled by spectacular fees Christians: “If [Jesus Christ] were alive now,” psychological and psychiatric practitioners. forget about them. They are rewriting the for the no-heavy-lifting job of shooting off she told the Cleveland Plain Dealer, “we’d Legislation that many of us considered law because the APA has told them that their mouths about any psychological topic take an interest in him because of the great benign or beneficial has opened the way to what is responsible for the absence of con- that sneaks a toe into a courtroom.” controversy surrounding his fringe activi- a huge morass of illogic and injustice being scious memory of terrible events is nothing The book doesn’t paint an appealing ties.... We’d try to see if there was abuse, perpetrated on our justice system. ordinary but rather the mysterious mental picture of the current state of our legal unethical behavior or deceptive practices. The Americans With Disabilities Act of process of repression, whose existence has system, but the ray of hope offered is that we And I’d send whatever we could find to 1990, for example, prohibits discrimination been so clearly demonstrated by the clinical do still have a democratic process in this reporters.” against the disabled. The law includes both techniques of Sigmund Freud and his country. We can make our voices heard. Now Faced with court losses and mounting physical and mental disability under the modern descendants. Shame on them. that we know we can begin to say “No.” ■ problems with the law entangling the old CAN’s officials and deprogrammers, the September, 1995 trial in Seattle came at a crucial time — and the subsequent verdict The Church of Scientology was effectively the last straw for the embat- International has compiled and released tled CAN. an informative publication entitled A Vast implications A Description of the Scientology Religion. The Court of Appeals determined that This 90-page publication contains an CAN’s agent in Washington state, Shirley explanation of the factual background Multimillion-Dollar Landa, acted for and on behalf of CAN in from which Scientology emerged, and making referrals for what CAN euphemisti- provides the reader with a detailed yet cally called “involuntary deprogramming” — DESCRIPTION easily comprehensible explanation of the Judgment Upheld a practice where the target is held against his will while attempts are made to forcibly alter Scientology religion and its application his religious beliefs. Since the verdict against to life. It includes more than 40 full- Against Cult CAN, the practice of deprogramming in color photos and illustrations to aid the America, which had been a lucrative criminal OF THE reader. enterprise, has apparently ceased. The court For a free copy of this booklet, please of Kidnappers found CAN responsible and that “CAN write to the Church of Scientology members routinely referred people to depro- grammers.” International, 6331 Hollywood he U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th In a separate case in Chicago, a federal Boulevard, Suite 1200, Los Angeles, CA Circuit in San Francisco affirmed in jury found that the old CAN was a In its 23-page opinion, the court SCIENTOLOGY April a multimillion-dollar verdict acknowledged the role played in the case by 90028 or call (800) 334-LIFE. criminal clique and that its president, violent deprogrammer and convicted felon If you’re on the Net, you can get the against the old Cult Awareness Cynthia Kisser (above), deprogrammed Network, a clearinghouse for anti- Rick Ross, and Ross’ ties to the old CAN, booklet by asking for it at religious outlaws. The original her own sister and then went on to noting that “The evidence indicates that it http://www.scientology.org TOctober 1995 judgment resulted from the conduct other assaults. was CAN’s practice to refer people to depro- RELIGION

4 | FREEDOM L. Ron Hubbard

the government, to seize Catholic But, of course, the ideas behind news property. The lies and violence surround- media itself is to sell papers and get the ing those times make it very difficult to get bills paid. The same private interests to what ACTUAL IDEA caused the terrible behind the Establishment are too often dictatorship of 17th century England. also the backers of the newspapers and so Those you read in the history books are use them to crush the possible competi- A CAUSE OF only the propaganda lines of both sides. tion. And as today newspapers are seldom WHO started it to be able to grab Catholic solvent they think they have to have property? backers behind them. For instance, I can’t find out, despite The reasons for the decline of newspa- vast reading, why the United States is per circulation are not hard to find. The fighting in Vietnam. What IDEA is really public has ceased to believe what they behind it? print, sensing that their views are not Students who oppose being involved always disinterested. VIOLENCE personally in a war they can’t understand Also in stressing controversy and are treated to batons and courts. They’re conflict newspapers have not realized that called “Red Agitators.” few people beyond sports fans like to Violence stalks America and its hand seems everywhere. But it What they really object to probably is a witness fights. The public today finds conscript army (which is an uneconomic, newspapers above the level of their ability doesn’t have to be that way. inefficient and foolish idea begun by a to confront. So they don’t buy so many This article, written for Freedom in 1970 by L. Ron Hubbard, mass killer known as Napoleon) and the newspapers. specter of inflation and world unrest they However if newspapers and other mass explores how violent acts could be significantly curtailed through know they’ll inherit when, getting older, news media could refrain from editorializ- honest and accurate news reporting. they take over the reins. ing for the bosses and began to search out There’s no cool head in the Establish- the central, often carefully hidden, ideas The unadulterated reality of current affairs can be daunting ment who has the job of listening and behind modern violence and expose them and confusing. Turmoil a continent away can no longer be finding out what it’s all about and mediat- honestly, mass news media would again ing. become a potent force in the culture. dismissed as “over there.” International political, economic or If the ideas in opposition actually could In a democracy particularly, people cultural events may directly influence our lives, so we need to be sorted out, they would cease to be in should be correctly and accurately total opposition and some probably informed. The mass news media is the know what is happening and why — not a version embellished to people’s intelligence service. False reports sensationalize or to overly support a partisan view. or biased accounts are deadly in an intelli- gence system. Encouraged to improve its standards, the media could justify “It takes a fantastic No population can act rationally when the reason freedom of the press is so highly regarded in all the data they are fed is false. And when it amount of digging to find is exposed as having been false the whole democracies. body of news media is rejected. Nobody has really asked either side WHY some minority is Much of the news media, screaming for by L. Ron Hubbard what ideas are in conflict. reform in others, itself could undergo a lot The Establishment has no mediators being attacked. For the of reforming. one can approach so as to talk it over or To begin with they could pay their who have the power to get things straight. real private idea behind reporters and announcers and workmen U.S. Commission has Indeed the Establishment is often very enough money to make life seem brighter. recently recommended that the Establishment attack cloudy on what its ideas are or what it is Writers, photographers and artists are mass news media pay more trying to do. But as a government gets old the most economically insecure people in attention to the views of is often not pleasant and desperate its main idea is that “Any our society. These are even called the minorities and that the gov- dissenting opinion must be smashed.” when exposed to view.” “insecure professions.” ernment provide some The Czar’s government went the route If they don’t deliver exactly what their means where minorities can that way. Students proposed reforms. The boss says, they’ve had it. Their own bring their grievances to government and its press began to attack integrity has to go by the boards in the face A light. students, lie about them, ridicule them, of continual economic threat. About 22 years ago the president of the accuse them of treason. The students overdue reforms could occur and the Freedom of speech does not apply to University of Chicago stated that the demonstrated. The government increased There is no machinery in the Estab- private monopoly obtained through gov- violence would greatly diminish. them. practice of excluding the views and aims of police appropriations. The students lishment for mediation with the people. ernment influence. As it stands today, both sides of the It is standard practice for a reporter to minority groups from mass media was the protested. The government appointed an They depend upon “elections” or polls. But Anyone who might be imagined to be a conflict are seldom reported and violence receive from his editor the data he is to direct cause of violence, riots and civil even more vicious head of their secret they haven’t got a Dept A to which a threat to such private special privilege is is the routine way of things. write and then go interview someone, commotion. police. The students began to assassinate minority can go and say “Look, your idea promptly blared at and lied about and Mass news media errs badly in acting receive contrary data from the interviewee Examining this idea we see that the officials. The government began to torture of financing psychiatric death camps is ridiculed in the controlled mass news on orders it receives to defame or attack but then be forced to write what the boss news media does not neglect to report the student prisoners. And then BANG the messing things up.” media and then covertly attacked by some minority group. News media would said in the first place. violence and reactions of minorities but populace revolted, the Czar was executed A special privilege group — the very Establishment forces. serve a real purpose if it sought to really No wonder they are cynics. Paid with almost never fully reports the actual ideas and the Communist Party took over best people only, please — can use the It takes a fantastic amount of digging to dispassionately discover the ideas buttons, how can they refuse orders? and real grievances of various groups, Russia. Establishment as a mouthpiece, use its find WHY some minority is being attacked. behind today’s conflicts and ignored the They’d starve. churches or minorities. We see reported Nobody, but nobody ever asked the force. They can use mass news media. And For the real private idea behind the Estab- jingoisms and catch phrases they are Scanning yesterday’s and even last violence against students such as their government “WHAT ideas are you support- with this they can remove rivals or dis- lishment attack is often not pleasant when handed. year’s headlines one sees practically the being banned or the subduing of riots. ing?” Nobody ever really asked the senters or competition or minorities. exposed to view. They are, after all NEWS media, not as same news stories over and over and over. We are reading in essence what one students “What do you object to really and Usually their motives are somewhat less To go back a ways in history: All they often seem to be, propaganda Real happenings are occurring in the might call fragmentary reports. The whole how can it be reformed if it exists?” than nice. They have their eye on big Cromwell’s yap about Catholics was machines playing a part in psychological world, but mass news media is given its story isn’t there. And nobody published it. profits or someone else’s property or some probably just private effort by a few, using warfare. pattern of stories because somebody up

34 | FREEDOM FREEDOM | 35 L. Ron Hubbard

top wants it that way. This is called “molding public opinion.” Psychiatric front groups wanted Scientol- ogy defamed. So the “Scientology Story” was invented out of whole cloth and written without a single reporter going near the subjects’ founder for all the 14 years of his active leadership of its organizations! False “Scientology bulletins” were run off and distributed. Quotes never spoken were printed. But nobody ever asked the head of the movement anything and tore up and didn’t print every press handout that was issued. The tide has turned now. There was nothing wrong in the first place. The false reports issued about Scientol- ogy are a grim example of how a special priv- ilege group like psychiatry can use mass news media and the Establishment to try to eradicate competitors. Scientologists are neither violent nor political. They are a technical church group, working successfully in the field of mental health. The false reports were so false that at last the public refused to believe them. Even the better reporters began to turn against fur- thering the attack anymore. It was just too corny. Groups less sane and less stable than the Scientologists, minorities who are not able to handle such situations calmly as the Scien- tologists have, begin to stockpile weapons and throw stones and have a go at the police. Nobody will listen. They are maligned in Establishment and press. And they can only think in terms of violence. Unable to express their views publicly or he 130-page L. Ron Hubbard: A Profile call attention to real abuses and hardships such minorities begin to put their messages chronicles the life and accomplishments of the in the solid form of bricks and bullets. founder of the Scientology religion and the The Establishment itself has to think of impact of his life’s work on millions the world their own individual jobs, none too well paid. over. And like the underpaid reporters they have TT to snap to attention when the “very best This publication provides the most comprehensive people,” the specially privileged private and thoroughly documented view yet published of the groups give their orders to government. man and his work, including professional The answer to all this is not hard to find. accomplishments in many fields — writer, educator, Governments should cease to be pawns explorer, humanitarian, photographer, horticulturist, of private interests and work honestly at master mariner, and more. It profiles a man who was their jobs in the broad interest of the whole people, not the privileged few. well beyond superficial classification. And mass news media should deal To purchase a copy of L. Ron Hubbard: A Profile, honestly in what it actually observes, not in send a check or money order what the big boss says is so. Papers might for $16.00 to the Church of even begin to sell again. Scientology International, 6331 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite L. RON HUBBARD 1200, Los Angeles, CA 90028 or call (800) 334-LIFE.

Complimentary copies are available to religious leaders, government officials and L. RON HUBBARD members of the news media at Founder this address. • A PROFILE • From the Editor’s Desk

prisons and jails hold no less than 1,725,000 men and women — an unprecedented increase of more than 96,100 inmates over the prior year. Consider that “solutions” to The potential peril the crime problem on most tables of govern- The ment are calls for more prisons, a proposi- tion beneficial only to the contractors who would build them. (Indeed, jail and prison of searching for the construction is a leading growth industry.) And consider that outside our borders, well in excess of a billion people live under other Pursuit forms of confinement, governed by regimes which deny fundamental human rights ultimate answers to life. mandated by the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. These are among the matters we examine in this edition of Freedom, broad of challenges which cry out for broad discus- sion and address. We encourage journalists and citizens at large to dig in to these and other social concerns and problems with an eye to ideas and solutions. As we at Freedom reflect on 30 years as the Church Truth of Scientology’s voice for public service jour- nalism, we feel the time is more right than hen French which affect the lives of millions. A politician ever to take a longer view of the world with political once remarked, “If you can’t convince them, the objective of making it a better place in philosopher confuse them,” and recent events show that, the coming millennium. Charles de at least for many in news media and those Much of the news media, crying out for W Montesquieu behind the scenes who craft their messages “reform” in others, itself could stand a good set out guidelines for and content, this advice has been taken to deal of introspection and reforming. In a modern state in the heart, and deeply so. missing crucial aspects of the larger picture, 18th century, he not Surveys show the public at large to be the media does both itself and its consumers only laid the founda- increasingly wise to this problem. A recent a monumental disservice. In stressing con- tion for the French survey by the Roper Center at the University troversy and conflict, they miss that few Revolution but ulti- of Connecticut found that 54 percent of beyond certain sports fans enjoy witnessing mately for the U.S. Americans feel that the news media “gets in fights. In undervaluing clarity and direct- Constitution. the way” of solving society’s problems. ness, they undermine democracy, given the Aron C. Mason The principle of Leading the list of reasons for that percep- media is the intelligence service of a democ- Editor in Chief dividing government tion: Sensationalism. ratic people. Biased or false accounts are power into three A recent case in point involves the deadly in an intelligence system. separate but equal parts — legislative, exec- nation’s highest elected office and the forces Franklin Roosevelt observed that “The utive and judicial — has, ever since, been mustered in a quest for the office-holder’s truth is found when men are free to pursue fundamental to democracy and preservation professional and personal demise. it.” We encourage all readers to exercise And they pack more punch than anything of individual liberty. There can be no doubt that immoral and their freedom to seek out the truth, and to Burnt feet. But over the years, a “fourth power” has dishonest conduct is intolerable and, if champion enhancing that freedom both for you ever studied on the subject of the mind, emerged with an ever-greater presence on found and proven in any sphere of govern- themselves and those not so free. And, as Walking on hot coals may be fun for a parlor ment, Americans should not disregard it. But spirit and life. the stage of national affairs. And by closer always, we welcome your views. game, but it sure feels stupid when you wind up analysis, this fourth factor appears, in many in all the media grandstanding and the “CNN Real answers work. They lead somewhere. respects, to have elevated itself to its own effect” — efforts to keep news broadcasts back at the beginning with the same questions you “higher ground.” filled 24 hours a day — certain very critical You can use them. That’s Scientology. I am speaking of a power almost entirely factors are lost. One is the presumption of had when you started. If you value your future, if you’re a friend outside government control: the influence of innocence until guilt is proven. Another is Visit Freedom Who are you? Where do you come from? the press. that media sensationalization of unproven to you, if you want to help others, read Battles between the press and govern- allegations can cause not only unjustifiable Where are you going? ment are as old as history. And the same personal harm to the accused, but also, in on the Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought by history teaches, rightly, that a free press is this case, to the standing of the United States Did you ever wonder if the answers were sitting author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. often the best check against political in the world community. It is undeniable right under your nose? tyranny. that to dwell relentlessly on questions of World Wide Web Your search is over, but the adventure has But what happens if and when the media presidential misconduct based on unproven So here’s something different. No mumbo itself becomes party to efforts to violate the allegations has the corollary effect of hurting Freedom Magazine has its own web site just begun. at http://www.freedommag.org featuring rights and freedoms of others? not just the president but the presidency. jumbo. No initiation. No human sacrifices. ¨ It is not difficult to find examples where There is another side to the news media the most recent issues of our U.S. edition, vigorous press campaigns have influenced law- coin: those very important issues which as well as foreign issues including the Just the facts. makers to accept measures for which there touch countless lives and yet receive virtu- popular German edition. was no pressing need. Similarly, the press can ally no media notice, cast aside in favor of Back issues and additional international cause the government to minimize or exagger- more “sensational” issues. By way of highly editions are being added regularly. Join the Know yourself. Know life. ate its efforts to enforce existing laws. pertinent examples, consider that the U.S. many users who browse through the site. And then there is the matter of obscuring Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Pick up a copy wherever books are sold or call 1-800-334-LIFE or write to or distracting from issues and information Statistics just announced that the nation’s Bridge Publications, 4751 Fountain Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90029 © 1997 CSI. All Rights Reserved. SCIENTOLOGY is a trademark and service mark owned by Religious Technology Center and is used with its permission. Volume 30, Issue 2 Honesty& $2.50 Investigative reporting Published by the Church of Scientology in the public interest since 1968 Integrity THE The qualities you look for in people. The qualities you look for in a magazine. GREAT BRAIN INJURY Name:

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