Inside RPF Denmark (III): Cult accused of brainwashing

By Pierre Collignon more
Jyllands-Posten
Copenhagen, Denmark
14 January 2001

Source: http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion.scientology/msg/9697553bf682f94d

Inside RPF Denmark: Franz the Happy
Inside RPF Denmark(II): Susanne's nightmare
Inside RPF Denmark (III): Cult accused of brainwashing
Inside RPF Denmark (IV): An Offer from Scientology

[unofficial anonymous translation, original article available there]

A German Federal State accuses Scientology of running an inhuman punitive camp in Copenhagen — but Danish police do not believe there are grounds for intervention.

The war between German authorities and Scientology is now reaching Denmark. The Interior Ministry in the Federal State of Hamburg reproaches the Danish police and government for letting Scientology run a "totalitarian reformatory" in Copenhagen without impediments.

Scientology's European headquarters are situated in Copenhagen and members from the entire continent are sent here, when they break the internal rules of the movement. The members have to go through a rehabilitation program — the so-called RPF — which implies up to several years of hard physical labour for a token payment, intense schooling in the teachings of Scientology, and complete separation from family members.

"This program is brainwashing as we know it from dictatorships. People are held against their will, and they experience physical and psychological pressure until they obey. It is a matter of misunderstood tolerance if Denmark does not intervene in these violations of human rights," Ursula Caberta says. She is the head of a special task force within the Interior Ministry in Hamburg which investigates Scientology.

Repudiates accusations of coercion

Scientology states that 10-15 people are currently in the disputed rehabilitation program in Copenhagen, but the movement repudiates the accusations of coercion. According to Scientology it is a voluntary offer made only to members of the "elite corps" — the "Sea Organisation".

Today, Jyllands-Posten can disclose Scientology's rehabilitation rules, which are usually confidential. Former members of the movement speak of being humiliated, starved, and exposed to hours of interrogations during their time at the RPF — and according to Scientology's own documents the following restrictions during the "rehabilitation" are valid:

They are not to see their families.
They are not to address other people.
They are not to leave Scientology's buildings on their own.
They are not to drive a car.
They are to wear a black armband and live segregated from the other Scientologists.
They are to run instead of walk.

Scientology tries to achieve official recognition as a religious community in Denmark, and the movement stresses that the RPF program has to be compared to the trials that Christian or Buddhist monks undergo of their own free will. Several experts agree with Scientology on this, but they also warn against excessive tolerance.

Lack of evidence

"You have to speak to the people who go through this program to find out why they are doing it. If some of them feel offended, then encroachments may have taken place — and then society must intervene," Michael Rothstein says. He is a historian of religions at the University of Copenhagen.

The Danish police investigated accusations of illegal coercion in Scientology in the mid-1980s, but the case was abandoned for lack of evidence. Today, the police are not going to go any further — unless they receive an official German application via Interpol.

"In Denmark we have an extensive freedom of associations, and we don't go around investigating people just because we don't like them," detective inspector Kurt Jensen of the Copenhagen Police states.

FLAG ORDER 3434RE-23

Restrictions in the "Rehabilitation Project Force"

The RPF-member:

1. Joins the RPF in a condition no higher than "Liability" (i.e. the person in question has been a strain on Scientology).
2. Has no liberties until the RPF in completed.
3. Is limited to the Base at all times. Any movement outside the Base must be escorted by another member of staff.
4. Has no right to annual vacation from the Sea Organisation.
5. Will receive 25% of his pay during the RPF and has no right to receive a bonus.
6. Only sleeps in an area which is separate RPF quartering.
7. May not initiate written or verbal communication to people outside the RPF. (This means that the RPFers have to wait until they are spoken to before communicating with others. The regulations recommend that you stay in touch with your family "as required".)
8. Will have his rank automatically reduced by two ranks when assigned to the RPF.
9. Will have his rank suspended until completion of the RPF.
10. Is a part of the RPF mess, which is separate from the staff mess.
11. May not participate in staff parties or other staff or public events.
12. Is denied ordinary use of the canteen.
13. Will have no smoking breaks and is not allowed to smoke indoors.
14. Wears a black armband on his right sleeve.
15. Must move quickly and run at the bases of the Sea Organisation.
16. Is not allowed in the staff or public areas unless it is necessary in order to perform assigned duties — and then only under the supervision of a section leader.
17. May never use the staff's or the public recreational facilities.
18. Has to endure extra time at the RPF for violations of the regulations, lack of ability to produce, lack of willingness to go straight, or other offences.
19. Must do his own laundry.
20. May not use the same bathing or toilet facilities as staff or publics.
21. May not take alcohol or narcotics.
22. May not bring into the RPF any kind of radio, TV, recorded music, musical instruments, periodicals, novels, games, cameras, or any other form of entertainment or luxuries in order not to distract from the intense study and work program. This does not include Scientology publications.
23. May not wield any vehicle or heavy machinery.
24. Remains in the RPF segregated from staff.

Source: Scientology. The set of rules is here brought in an abbreviated version.