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U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT NAMES SATHYA SAI BABA
Re
PEDOPHILE ACCUSATIONS
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| For Immediate Release |
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U.S. STATE
DEPARTMENT NAMES SATHYA SAI BABA
Re PEDOPHILE
ACCUSATIONS
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Released by: Barry
Pittard
2004-06-08 21:42:55 |
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Summary:
The US State
Department is now naming India's most famous
(and infamous) guru Sathya Sai Baba as the
previously unnamed individual mentioned in its
earlier Travel Warning
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For_Immediate_Release:
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: June 9,
2004
Contact: Barry
Pittard
Coordinator, FDSSB
(Former Devotees of Sathya Sai Baba, a Global
Coalition). Phone. Intl: 61 7 5478 6007.
Australia: 07 5478 6007. Email:
bpittard@beachaccess.com.au
U.S.
STATE DEPARTMENT NAMES SATHYA SAI
BABA
Re PEDOPHILE ACCUSATIONS
India's most
famous guru, Sathya Sai Baba, has been named by
the U.S. State Department as the subject of its
earlier travel warning regarding reports against
him of sexual molestation of young males. The
warning had stated Sathya Sai Baba's location,
but not his name.
Sathya Sai
Baba proclaims to be the fullest incarnation of
the divine in world history. He has millions of
followers, from many countries and cultures, who
donate billions to his Central Trust fund. For
many years, Presidents, Prime Ministers and
elites from many political parties, the armed
services, police, judiciary etc have flocked to
his ashram in Puttaparthi, South India.
Political patronage makes it difficult to secure
convictions against him in the courts of
India.
There are now State
Department citizen and media phone contact
numbers where officers will confirm that Sathya
Sai Baba is the individual referred to in its
earlier travel warning (see details below).
As of May 25, 2004, the U.S.
State Department now names the guru it referred
to when warning U.S. travellers to the state of
Andhra Pradesh to be aware of reports of
"inappropriate sexual behavior by a prominent
local religious leader" practised on young male
devotees, including a number of U.S. citizens.
(Consular Information Sheet, November 23,
2001).
The U.S. State Department
will verify that the 'local religious leader'
mentioned in the earlier warning notice is in
fact Sathya Sai Baba. For enquiries other than
by the Media, contact:
John C.
Peters, PetersJC2@state.gov.
Phone: 202
647-6179
Citizen Services Specialist for
India
American Citizen's Services
Unit
U.S. State
Department
Washington,
D.C.
Media Enquiries should be
made to:
Stuart Patt:
202-647-2114. State Department,
Washington.
Travellers in India
may enquire at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi or
U.S. Consulate General in Chennai
.
The Department of Foreign
Affairs, Canberra, are aware of this status
change and Phillip Stonehouse, Executive
Director South Asia, informs that he has
notified Australia's High Commission in New
Delhi.
Barry Pittard,
Australia
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For more details:
bpittard@beachaccess.com.au
Phone: Intnl.
61 7 5478 6007.
Keywords: U.S.
STATE DEPARTMENT NAMES SATHYA SAI BABA Re
PEDOPHILE
ACCUSATIONS
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