A European documentary on the Office of Special Affairs, which used to be The Guardians Office, until;
On December 6, 1979, some five years after Operation Snow White began, it officially came to an end. Five of the Scientologists were sentenced to four years in jail, with four of the convicted being taken immediately. Mary Sue Hubbard, wife of L. Ron Hubbard, was sentenced to five years. Each of the six faced a fine of $10,000. The next day the four remaining Scientologists were sentenced. Three of the four faced a fine of $10,000 and five years in jail. The fourth was fined $1,000 and sent to jail for six months. Upon release Mary Sue Hubbard was given five years of probation and community service. All of the Scientologists immediately began to appeal. Their appeal was rejected.
In November 1980, the two remaining Scientologists, Jane Kember and Mo Budlong, were finally convicted on nine counts of aiding and abetting burglary in connection with break-ins at government offices, and were sentenced to two to six years.L. Ron Hubbard was named by federal prosecutors as an "unindicted co-conspirator" and went into hiding for the rest of his life.
Here's a loose translation of the article... I don't speak German..
THE EYE OF SCIENTOLOGY
Many think of Tom Cruise in Scientology, but hardly anyone knows the "Office of Special Affairs." Interview with director Mark Thoess about his investigative documentary, and the largest private intelligence of the world: OSA.
Behind the name "Office of Special Affairs", or OSA, is hidden the secret of Scientology, as told by dropouts and critics of the sect.
According to Scientology, the "Office of Special Affairs" it is a media and law office, but there's also the "Investigations Section,". Why does an organization that see's itself as a religion, have a secret service?
Director and cinematographer Mark Thoess has made this effort, together with author Frank Nordhausen, to search for answers.
ARTE: How large is OSA, do you think?
MARKUS: No one knows for sure. O.S.A. In the United States, it has perhaps only 100 people. Interviewees in the film compare O.S.A. to the Stasi (former East German secret service). The high-level dropout Marc Headley told us that OSA spends $100,000 a week.
ARTE: Is O.S.A. officially a secret?
MARK THOEß: The Scientologists do not deny that there is a "Investigations Section", but they say they did nothing illegal. Many things that happen in OSA are very dubious.
ARTE: Like what?
MARK THOEß: That Scientology monitors as people around the clock, says Ingo Heinemann, who worked for a consumer association as a lawyer back in the 1970s against Scientology. There were judicial inquiries made, where detailed instructions on what occurs in the OSA were found.
ARTE: How did OSA retrieve their information?
THOEß MARK: It found out, for example, why Mr. Heinemann was investigating Scientology, and who were the backers who financed his efforts. And how to attain information - for example, by looking through his garbage cans.
ARTE: Scientology considers itself a religion - why does a church such information?
MARK THOEß: This question asks itself. I personally do not believe that Scientology is a religion. I believe that Scientology is a business company that does nothing more than what is now insanely popular: to recruit a person and they make it their own, as long as it is dependent on the organization - promising a better world without crime.
ARTE: In the USA, Scientology is recognized as a charity and is tax-exempt. Is Scientology also recognized as a religion, as is always claimed?
THOEß MARK: No, the American state recognizes no religion. The tax exemption in 1993 is a great victory, if not the largest ever, for OSA & Scientology. The letter from the tax authority with regards to Scientology referred to the common interest and led to it's tax-exempt status for religious reasons.
Scientologists now run around with this letter and say: "We are still recognized in America, so you must now recognize us here as well."
ARTE: In Germany, we saw the constitutional protection of the sect. Why is it not banned?
THOEß MARKUS: On one hand, there is the constitutional protections in Germany, which most countries have. On the other hand, the organizational structure in Germany is complicated: there is the International Organization of Scientologists, but also many sub-organizations such as Narconon Criminon. Therefore, it is difficult to ban Scientology as a whole.
Two examples: Russia has classified Scientology literature as extremist in 2011, and the higher regional court in Greece confirmed the dissolution of the Athens Scientology office in 1997. But, there's more than one Scientology entity in a country; there are maybe 20 sub-organizations to it.
ARTE: How dangerous is O.S.A. really?
MARK THOEß: Scientology is a state within a state, with its own police ethics and financial structure, its own news service and health care system, even with their own punishment systems.
The German Constitutional protection observed is not intended to support dangerous groups like Scientology. I've never heard of another religious community that has so influenced the American consulates, for them to act abroad.
ARTE: In what way?
MARK THOEß: German politicians of high rank, of all stripes have confirmed time and again, that if they take action against Scientology, they would get visits and receive undue political pressure from America.
There are even German politicians appointed to the consulate. All this came in 2010 when Wikileaks: Dispatches-out scandal.
The reason for the political pressure: A lot of money and familiar faces (celebrities like Tom Cruise) are two things that influence politicians to alighn themselves, and act on behalf of, Scientology.
ARTE: You have Mike Rinder, the former head of OSA, the now independent Scientologist who you interviewed. How credible is he?
THOEß MARK: I think he's very believable in what he says about the Scientology leader David Miscavige & political lobbying by the cult.
I consider him lacking in credibility when it comes to himself. Mike Rinder was responsible for almost all major OSA actions until he left 2007. He must know a lot more than he reveals.
ARTE: How were you during your filming when you were confronted by OSA?
THOEß MARK: We were observed during the entire filming in America. We were photographed. Scientologists always knew where we were. We were kept under surveillance. When we drove to Florida, in Clearwater, which is the Scientology stronghold, all windows had something blocking them from the inside, so we couldn't film anything. The dropout Marc Headley told me that OSA possessed contacts within travel agencies.
ARTE: Were you personally threatened?
THOEß MARKUS: There was a very specific incident at a gas station in Hamburg, where I felt threatened, and which we report in the film.
ARTE: Have you communicated with Scientology?
THOEß MARK: We have asked countless times in various countries, for a television interview. We have a very short statement from Scientology's spokesman in France and Germany, Juerg Stettler, when we approached him on the street.
But when you ask him 20 questions, he responds with questions to counter you. Of course, Mr. Stettler has also answered questions in writing, but not before the camera. I cannot understand why an organization like Scientology is not able to give a reasonable television interview.
ARTE: Could you show this film at all?
MARK THOEß: The movie would not happen without the courage of the broadcasters and the production company, even if it is a compromise. The German press law is very strict and it also protects the Scientologists.
ARTE: What is it about the film that stuck out most in your mind?
THOEß MARK: I've made films about other faiths. I was in Kurdistan, and have made a film about honor killings. But I have never been prosecuted for hours, photographed, or even attacked by members of a religion, until we did a story on Scientology. This is unique. And I'm not the first person this has happened to.
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MARK THOESS - Born in Berlin in 1967, trained as a camera assistant, since 1990, he's been a freelance cameraman and author; numerous investigative documentaries. He's currently writing a book on the East German spy, Huseyin Yildirim.
SCIENTOLOGY - The former science fiction writer Lafayette Ronald Hubbard founded in 1954, the "Church of Scientology", since 1986. David Miscavige is the leader of Scientology. Scientology sees itself as a "religion of salvation," the people want "free spirit" (Dianetics). "Operating thetans" to take control over their environment. In Germany there are about 5,000 followers, and according to Germany's Constitutional Protection Office, globally, there are 130,000 Scientologists.
INTELLIGENCE - O.S.A. - In 1966, the first information service "Guardian Office" was established with a Guardian (Guardian) on the tip - Mary Sue Hubbard. The third wife of L. Ron Hubbard in 1979 after the biggest spy scandal of Scientology ("Snow White") was sentenced. From 1983, the office in the "Office of Special Affairs" (OSA) is renamed. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the headquarters in Munich Germany.
www.hamburg.de/ag-scientology
http://www.arte.tv/de/6629606,CmC=6629614.html
http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?27090-OSA-goes-mad-about-a-FILM-that-will-be-broadcasted-in-EUROPE-!!!&p=687214#post687214
Thank you Smurf, very interesting.
The Documenatary on OSA:
Scientology wird in verschiedenen Ländern Europas als extremistische Sekte eingestuft und deshalb von Inlandsgeheimdiensten überwacht. Der deutsche Verfassungsschutz beobachtet die Organisation seit Mitte der 90er Jahre wegen des "begründeten Verdachts verfassungsfeindlicher Bestrebungen", denn ihr Ziel sei die Errichtung einer totalitären Gesellschaftsordnung. Das ist bekannt. Kaum bekannt dagegen ist, dass Scientology selbst einen Geheimdienst unterhält, der sich mit Abweichlern und Kritikern befasst. Scientology-Agenten wurden schon Spionage, Einbruch, Nötigung und andere kriminelle Delikte nachgewiesen.
Ihr Office of Special Affairs ist der älteste und größte private Geheimdienst der Welt, kommandiert von Scientology-Führer David Miscavige in Los Angeles. Die Sekte selbst bezeichnet O.S.A. als ihr Presse- und Rechtsamt, das Informationen über Aussteiger und Kritiker lediglich auf legalem Wege beschaffe. Wer sind die Menschen, die für dieses "Amt" arbeiten? Was sind ihre Ziele? Welche Methoden wenden sie an? Darauf gibt der spannende Dokumentarfilm Antworten. Bei ihren Recherchen stießen Frank Nordhausen und Markus Thöß schließlich sogar auf Verbindungen zur hohen Politik - bis ins Außenministerium in Washington DC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EaQIH1hawPI
If I could understand German, I am sure it is a very good documentary. Hopefully someone will add subtitles.Still worth a watch, even without.Anyone who has an inkling into what goes on in Scientology will get the gist of it.
Someone on ESMB is doing a translation:
http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?27090-OSA-goes-mad-about-a-FILM-that-will-be-broadcasted-in-EUROPE-!!!&p=687306#post687306
Re: OSA goes mad about a FILM that will be broadcasted in EUROPE !!!
First 5ish minutes:
Voiceover: Paris March 2011
At a demonstration against Scientology, adherents of the cult become violent.
Demonstrator in mask: We were just attacked by Scientologists! (cut to bloody face)So that's what the understand of free speech.
Voiceover: Worldwide, the sekt fights critics, the media and authorities with a secret service: the Office of Special Affairs. OSA.
1st interviewee: I will submit that the OSA department of Scientology is one of the oldest secret service organizations of the world. They have been working uninterrupted for over 50 years.
2nd Interviewee: The secret service OSA is for Scientology what the Stasi was for the DDR.
VO: We want to know more about this special department of the sekt and have researched for over a year. What for does a belief organization need a secret service? And what are it's assignments? (1:09 )The Scientologists claim OSA is it's press and rights department, but in reality this organization is said to be pushing a Scientology world order. (1:54) A village in Brandenburg. The former sekt official of the evangelical church, Thomas Gando (spelling?), here left in the picture, has regular visits from Gerry Armstrong, an American former sekt member. In the 1970's, Gerry Armstrong was a close follower of the sekt co-worker L. Ron Hubbard. The Scientology leader was even the witness to his marriage. Back then, Armstrong was working on a biography of the sekt leader. (2:30)
GA (in voiceover): In the course of doing this research, I documented the fact that the man lied about his whole life. He lied about his family, his education, his grades. He also wasn't a nuclear physicist. He lied about so many things that for me the whole thing, Scientology and everything I believed in, fell apart. It was in no way an ethical organization .It was very unethical organization.
VO (3:12): Since his exit in the 1980's, Gerry Armstrong is internationally active as advisor in problems with Scientology. The secret service has been following him for 30 years. Also in Buchal tall (sp?) observers have shown up since his arrival. (clip of man filming over brick wall). OSA leads a significant effort to watch over the American. (3:43) On a day in spring 2003, Gando and Armstrong want to take part in a religious service in Berlin. Suddenly pursuers show up.
GA: Then we saw that he was taking pictures, my companions thought he had a pistol. It was terrifying.
VO (4:13): The pursuit leads to a large media response. The pursuer, a well known Berlin real estate expert, is later sentenced for coercion. Scientology admits that his membership is responsible for the action.
TG: I've experienced from no sekt that which I've experienced from Scientology. That I have been physically attacked.
VO (4:36): Armstong has long been collecting reports about such events, for him the freeway pursuit is no lone occurence.
GA: I believe there is nothing that they would not do for Scientology. We will know that they would commit any crime for Scientology, and when the pressure on Scientology and its followers further grows, it becomes more likely that it comes to a catastrophy, assasinations.
end (5:09)
5:09 VO: And a Brandenburg town as goal of Scientology? Scientology is an international organization, branches are almost everywhere and there with also the secret service. On the internet, the organization presents itself as a complex organization of countless partnerships and firms. 1954 founded the American L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction author, the sect. It's goal is the so-called freeing of the planet Earth, called "clear planet" and the establishment of a new civilization without mental illness, criminals and without war. Hubbard claimed Scientology had the only technology to guarantee the survival of mankind, the psycho-technology "auditing", a type of lie detector test with reaching to past lives. Critics describe this method as classic brainwashing. (6:09)
Hubbard was during the second World War in the US Navy Intelligence and later lived on a ship for a long time. He wrote that breaking the law was necessary to attain the goals of Scientology. Lying, stealing, blackmail and a series of other crimes were permissible as ways to save mankind. For that purpose, Hubbard founded his own secret service in the 60s. At first he called it the "guardians office". Soon more than 1000 agents and contributors worked for the service. Hubbard sets goals for them, for example to weed out enemies and gain control over the media and politicians. He posted pages worth of orders for wiretapping operations, hidden research or false information campaigns.
(7:05) This is David Miscavige, Hubbard's successor. For 30 years he presides over the Scientologist and carries out Hubbar's directives. He recruited Hollywood stars like John Travolta. Scientology can also count on the cooperation of other celebrities, such as Kirstie Alley or Tom Cruise, here with Miscavige.
(7:30) In the book of former Scientologist Marc Headley, we read breathtaking accounts from the sects headquarters. Therein, Headley also says the Scientology secret service harrassed hiim after his 2005 exit from the sect. We want to get in contact with him.
(8:00) We travel to Washington DC to meet with him. In the past, Marc Headley produced Scientology propaganda films. Today, he is a successful businessman in the multimedia industry.
MH: Most of the people that work for OSA are 20, 30, 40 years with Scientology. They are 100% Scientologists that work 24 hours a day and 365 days a year for the sect. They do nothing else. The OSA people are convinced that the future of mankind depends on them. If they don't do or achieve what David Miscavige commands of them, then the survival of mankind may be in danger.
VO (9:08): Washington. In the 70s, the founder Hubbard and Scientology came into conflict with US authorities. On the account of the sect's secret service begins one of the largest domestic spying scandals of US history, named "Operation Snow White". Goal was to stop from a government wide investigation of Scientology. Scientology agents infiltrate government authorities and ministries, they steal thousands of files and listen to politicians and thereby gain secret information about government measures agains the sect. A dark affait that shakes the U.S.A. (9:45) The FBI discovered the operation in 1977 , 11 leading Scientologist were sentenced to prison. Scientology falls into a difficult crisis.
MH (9:59): In the 1980's, and later 70s, as Scientology was being attacked by the US government, they formed the strategy to turn Scientology into a religion. It was clear to them that many of their problems would disappear if they hid them behind a religious facade. In the US, it worked very well for them. They then tried to repeat it in other countries, to convince these countries that they were a religion. Then if something criminal occured, the sect as a religious organization couldn't get pulled in.
VO (10:38): The pressure from Washington came at that time mostly from the IRS. Hundreds of millions of tax debts threatened. If the sect had to pay them then , it would have been bankrupt. Scientology goes on the offensive, suing thousands of IRS agents for abuse of power, thereby making them ineffective. 1993, the IRS capitulates and Scientology attains full tax exempt status.
end 11:02
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