12/24/97 - 1422

Balavanta Suppresses Findings by Own Investigators

USA (VNN) - As announced by ISKCON's PR web site CHAKRA, Balavanta states: "Contrary to the report on VNN, the GBC special investigation does not confirm any statement to the effect, 'put poison in different containers'". (see also VNN story# 1400)

VNN has testimony by one of Balavanta's investigators that his lab tests have indicated that the section in question does say: "Put poison in different containers".

Even though CHAKRA claims to be an independent, non official ISKCON web site it can be clearly understood that the head of CHAKRA, Vipramukya Swami as well as other members of the Chakra team are on ISKCON's payroll. Therefore there cannot be any question of independence.

This was also evidenced by Chakra's own statement that they had sent a broadcast email to 2500 devotees, which consists mainly of COM addresses. Other COM users have been banned from COM for sending such emails. This is further proof that CHAKRA is an official ISKCON entity that is initiated, financed and maintained by ISKCON.

As evidenced by VNN story #1390, ISKCON has created a Public Relations department for the Internet, called CHAKRA, that is forced to present the official GBC version. CHAKRA listens primarily to ISKCON's official channels that are known to have previous difficulties with the truth.

However, VNN has received some reports that other parties, conducting their own investigation, are hearing different words in the section in dispute.