08/26/98 - 2072

Letter To EC Regarding Suicide Threats

USA (VNN) - by Papaharini dd

Dear Executive Committee:

Recently it was posted on VNN in the newsdesk headlines (see VNN story #2029) that 16 devotees were threatening "mass suicide" in Russia, unless you retract your sanctions against their guru.

We have not heard any further response from your team. I am concerned that you take responsibility for such a serious threat at least publicly, by reporting this threat to law enforcement so there may be an intervention for their protection. IF there are ANY children involved and you have failed to take your professional ethical and legal responsibility as priests/counselors to heart- by reporting to authorities the possible danger to adults and children- then you are not fit to sit on any committee for any religious or corporate purpose.

It never ceases to amaze me how you people think you are above the law as citizens of the world. Your responsibilities as officers of non-profit, tax exempt religious corporations are coming straight from Srila Prabhupada's own handwritten mission statement. Your current status in spiritual violation of the simple straightforward July 9th order are now manifesting storms of violent threats by misled disciples of a misled teacher. Your apparent minimization of a threat of mass suicide will be abhorred by the world. How much longer does this serious guru-aparadha to Srila Prabhupada's society have to be allowed to fester? You may make decisions to change your profile with the world community to one of honesty. How do you sleep at night? When will you wake up from the nightmare you are creating?

It's too bad that rather than take your godbrother's and godsister's pleas to heart, you choose to replace sincere counsel with the hand of legal authorities to sort out your sorted affairs. Make different choices.

Your godsister,
Papaharini dd