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970918-1027

ISKCON-Slovenia Clashes with News Media

Ljubljana - Solvenia (VNN) - The controversy is centered around two girls, both former members of ISKCON-Slovenia. Both claim to have been raped by ISKCON members, one at the age of 20 in Heidelberg - Germany while visiting the temple in 1992 by the then temple comander, and the other at the age of 17 while living in an ISKCON-Slovenia temple in February 1997. Both alledged perpetrators are disciples of Hari Kesa Swami. In connection with this another boy has come forward claiming to have been sexualy assaulted at the age of 17, while living in the ISKCON-Slovenia temple by the then temple treasurer, a disciple of Rohini Suta das . The rapes had been reported to the police and to the ISKCON authorities at the time they occurred. After being told by ISKCON authorities to forget about the events nothing happened for some time.

Sadbhuj Gour das, a disciple of Bhakti Pramode Puri Maharaja, who is the husband of one of the girls today says: "I want to stress that my loyality is not with the Gaudya Math or Iskcon, but to the teachings of siddhanta!" He is now under attack by ISKCON and is receiving late night telephone calls with no one on the other end. He at first discouraged the devotees who had approached him with plans to inform the press about the events to go through with their plans. He was eventually able to negotiate a meeting with ISKCON officials.

Their demands were an apology by ISKCON officials and an unspecified amount, to be determined by ISKCON, paid in restitution to the victims. Further that the alleged perpetrators, not be welcome at he ISKCON temple any longer.

About 30 letters were written via email to various GBC members like Rohini Suta das, Hari Kesa Swami, Jayapataka Swami, Mukunda Goswami, Bhakti Vaihbava Swami, describing what had happened. Their letter stated they would go to the news media if they would not get satisfaction. The only replies they received stated "THE USER DOES NOT WANT ANY MESSAGE FROM YOU". Instead they received threats via telephone and mail from local ISKCON members.

Eventually negotioations to settle the matter privately were going on with ISKCON officials Rohini Suta das and Nikilananda das, heading an investigation commission for ISKCON. According to Sadbhuj Gour das two members of the investigation committee suggested to him to forget about the whole thing, that they would be up against a big institution (ISKCON) with big money. They told him: "Think positive and forget everything!" They should treat the whole thing like the "War in Bosnia".

When negotioations to settle the matter broke down and the party of devotees proceeded to contact the local media several newspapers, magazines and TV stations interviewed the devotees and ran their stories. "Mladina", one of the more popular magazines in Slovenia ran a front page article showing Rohini Suta das and his disciples washing his feet. The title was "HARE KRISHNA RAPE", the article covered seven pages. State TV station "TV Slovenia" broadcast the story on the 9. September 1997 all over Slovenia in the daily news.

ISKCON in turn had a news conference denying most of the event. In reaction to the news media coverage ISKCON staged a protest march in front of media buildings with banners like "YOU KILLED LADY DI, NOW YOU TRY TO KILL US!" , "LET US LIVE!" and "SERVANTS OF GOD DON'T COMMIT CRIME".

Attempts by VNN to contact ISKCON Communications as well as Rohini Suta das at their official email addresses posted on the ISKCON web site resulted in similar replies "does not want any messages from you".

Sadbhuj Gour das has told VNN that he and the devotees he was trying to help are fearing for their lives at the moment and refer to Sulocan das who was assasinated by ISKCON fanatics in California some years ago for speaking out against deviations in ISKCON.

To find a history of letters send to ISKCON officials and other information go to http://www.harekrsna.com/vada/temples/temples.htm.

The VNN has and is inviting all involved parties to present their side of this story to news@vnn.org.