12 Tribes-France-TV Doc-2007–ENG SUBS-3/3

0:00
some of which are infants, toddlers, children, youths, some of them almost 18. We have individuals who have been there for a long time, who have settled in the community of Sus, while others change residence quite frequently.
0:18
- what guarantee can you give us that today there are no children abused, children in poor health in there?
0:22
- I am incapable of giving you such an assurance but this is precisely why I want to know what’s going on, the judicial institution wants to know what’s going on, which is the reason why we are working on this.
0:33
0:34
800 kms from there, in Paris, some Representatives are also interested in the community.
0:38
Paris, 8 December 2006
0:39
Under the request of the Republique, a Report on Parliamentary Enquiry on Cults and children was done. This was last December, under the preceding term of Parliament.
0:51
Among different religious movements, the Community of Sus was there, occupying an important part.
0:56
And the Representatives denounced with virulence the inertia of the state authorities in this matter.
1:02
Georges Fenech President of the Commission d’ Enquête parlementaire sur mouvements sectaire.
1:03
We are faced with the fact that since the death of the little Raphael, about 10 years ago, NOTHING serious has been done,
1:09
and they are allowed to just keep going the same way, until when?
1:12
Another tragedy? Until these children become real martyrs in the Biblical sense?
1:18
The number is hard to believe, but according to the Representatives well beyond Tabitha’s Place the enquiry reports that between 60 000 and 80 000 children in France are put in danger by sectarian aberrations of all kinds.
1:31
This is not happening in some ashram in India or in the most remote parts of Brazil,
1:35
this is happening here at home, in France, on the territory of the Republic, where there are rights and duties of parents.
1:39
But there is an inertia, an inhibition on the part of the public powers, maybe somewhat hesitant,
1:47
afraid of undermining the liberty of conscience.
1:50
But, bottom line is: Liberty of conscience does not authorize someone to deprive a child of his rights.
1:54
1:54
The public powers, we went to inquire of them.
1:57
Meters from the Assemblee [Assembly], the district of government departments,
2:01
it is a not so well know body, directly attached to the Prime Minister. All information on sectarian aberrations make it up to inside these walls, into the Miviludes.
2:13
JEAN-MICHEL ROULET PRESIDENT OF THE MIVILUDES
2:17
2:18
Here we are at the Miviludes , the Inter-ministerial Mission of Vigilance and Combat of Sectarian Aberrations.
2:23
We occupy these two storeys of this building which belongs to the Prime Minister.
2:27
- How many people work here? – There are 15 people representing the major Ministries, the General Secretary is a Magistrate of the Judicial Order,
2:36
we have a representative of the Ministry of Economy and Finances, a representative of the Education Department, of Youth and Sports, of Health, and a representative of Internal Affairs.
2:50
It is somewhat a case of David against Goliath, 15 people, an annual budget of only 150 000 Euros and much to do, in particular to protect children.
3:03
For years now children have been the favourite target of sectarian movements because they are vulnerable, because they represent an important purchasing power
3:12
and because they are a way to get to the parents.
3:16
Moreover, the younger you enter a sect the more you can be formatted and become the perfect adept, the perfect robot.
3:22
-Does the Miviludes have the power to investigate, for example if a victim calls you to denounce a sect, do you have the power to look into it to see if there is a real sectarian problem in there?
3:34
3:35
- The Miviludes is not an investigation department, the Miviludes is not a central bureau of repression of sectarian aberrations.
3:42
And the Miviludes is not a judicial police service, nor a court. So it does not judge. It is above all an agency of studies and reception.
3:51
Enquiries on sectarian aberrations are the business of the Police and in particular the Renseignements Généraux [General Intelligence Directorate].
4:00
A date is set in this discreet hotel. This is a former Officer of RG who is expecting us, just retired. His word is freer than the official version.
4:12
25 years spent on the ground, an operative that describes a change in times.
4:20
Is there a diminishing priority on the sects on the part of the RG?
4:24
- Yes, there is for sure a diminishing vigilance as well as a diminishing of interest concerning the surveillance of sectarian movements.
4:35
The activity of the RG has been reorientated towards anti-terrorism. The budgets and material means put towards the surveillance of sectarian aberrations are significantly diminishing.
4:46
If there was to be a great difficulty, violent act, group suicide, or other like we have seen happened in the past, it would today certainly be a lot more difficult to understand, to explain and prevent. We would be a lot blinder now than say 4 or 5 years.
5:07
You are not asked to take your foot off [the accelerator], but they make you understand that it is better to take your foot off.
5:13
- Is it favourable these days for the career of RG personnel to to be working on sects?
5:17
- to work on the local sect who is causing damage because it is going to pervert the minds of certain children, because it is going to attack the ordinary family unit, to work on this type of sect, to my knowledge, doesn’t pay at the level of your career.
5:34
JEAN-MICHEL ROULET PRESIDENT OF THE MIVILUDES
5:35
Is there a diminishing vigilance from the state concerning sectarian aberrations?
5:42
what, you are not allowed to answer this question?
5:43
- it’s annoying
5:44
- well, the police officers we meet say it is not very rewarding to work on sects,
5:51
but it was a few years ago, have you seen any of this,
5:58
is there less vigilance , do you think it is a government priority, the combat of sectarian aberrations or has there been for a while a diminishing of this vigilance, do you think?
6:12
- let me answer you, I do have an answer, – is it a sensitive matter or what…? – no no, I have found an answer
6:24
- One could have thought at a certain time that the state had lowered its guard.
6:29
Certain associations feel that way and you can read that in the press, true,
6:32
And mainly, certain sectarian organisations shout loud cockle do doodle doos saying,
6:39
we’ve made it!, now everyone understands that we are part of the landscape, people understand now that we are currents of thought just like any other,
6:48
that we are new religious movements, that we represent new forms of spirituality and so now we have to be left alone to do as we please.
6:55
I say YES, totally agree on allowing free expression of new currents of thought, to new spiritualities, the world is that way made that philosophy evolves.
7:03
But absolutely do not agree with letting the door open to sectarian aberrations
7:06
and to gurus who want to allow themselves to act however they please with their fellow humans beings.