SECRET SWAMI BBC 2 . 17 June 2004. 21.00 hrs
On 7 April 2004, the International Humanist and
Ethical Union raised at the UN Commission on
Human Rights 60th session the issue of the Rights
of Children and specifically the issue of Satya
Sai Baba and the allegations of paedophilia
against him. It may be recalled that two years
ago the UN's Under Secretary General Shashi
Tharoor wrote a misleading article in
International Herald Tribune (3 Dec 2002) aimed
at promoting Satya Sai Baba, without mentioning
or referring to allegations of fraud, or exposes
on television of his sleight of hand tricks, or
reports of murders in his bedroom etc. IHEU's raising the issue was the first time that
the matter of Satya Sai Baba has been mentioned
at the UN Human Rights Commission. It is high
time other Human Rights organisations too take up
the issue of Satya Sai Baba.
IHEU's President and main representative at the
UN in Geneva said "... there is one particular
case of child abuse that I wish to draw to the
attention of the Commission. We are appalled by
the widely reported allegations of systematic
sexual molestation of minors against the highly
successful and influential Indian god man Satya
Sai Baba. These allegations led UNESCO in 2000 to
withdraw from a proposed joint event with the
Institute for Satya Sai Education (see UNESCO
Media advisory). Despite the matter being
raised in the UK Parliament (early day motion 886
by MP Tony Coleman), and despite the issuing by
the US State Department of a Travel advisory in
2001 (see The US State Department Travel Advisory), these disturbing allegations have not
received the appropriate attention of the
Government of India - which is a signatory to the
Convention on the Rights of the Child and is
obliged by its Article 34 to act. We are hopeful
that international attention, scrutiny and
pressure will lead to a full scale investigation
into the activities of this so-called god man,
and ensure the protection of all children who
come into contact with him".
Humanists, Freethinkers and Skeptics like the late Abraham Kovoor, Dr. H. Narasimhaiah and B. Premanand are famous names which are associated with the attempts to expose Satya Sai Baba. Leader of the IHEU Member organisation Indian CSICOP, B. Premanand continues his valiant fight to expose the alleged criminality of the world's most famous god man, so that the due process of law could be applied and a proper investigation by the police carried out. An overview of Satya Sai Baba's life and the work of Humanists trying to expose him can be got by reading the undersigned's Sex Lies and Video Tape, Retelling the Satya Sai Story at URL: www.nhne.com/specialreports/srsaibaba.html#sex
AFTER THE DANISH TV DOCUMENTARY 'SEDUCED' now it is the BBC's turn to investigate into the life of the ailing Satya Sai Baba and make explosive revelations about his sexuality. The BBC says " ... there are a number of former devotees who have turned away from his teachings, claiming he has ruined their lives. Alaya, a former follower who claims he was sexually abused by the swami, says in the programme: "I remember him saying, if you don't do what I say, your life will be filled with pain and suffering." In an intimate and powerful portrait, Alaya's family talks openly about how they feel they were betrayed. The documentary features Premanand and also former devotees like Glen Meloy.
"Back in India, there are serious questions to be asked of politicians, who seem to have continuously ignored the problem. Indeed, some would say, the correct position for these politicians appears to be at the feet of Sai Baba. He certainly has friends in high places, and throughout the scandal, his popularity has remained intact. Has this "God-man" been wrongly accused or does his status mean he is immune to criticism?"
Watch the Documentary 'The Seret Swami' showcased. And ask why no action against him has yet been taken!
Babu Gogineni
See http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Paedophilia_claims_made_against_%22living_god%22
(From The Mail Archive - SACW | 16 June 2004 http://www.mail-archive.com/act@yahoogroups.com/msg00023.html -- scroll down to no. 6))