September 25^th 2000

Dear Ms Latika Padgaonkar and Mr Joe Hironaka,

Thank you for the action taken in putting out your official media release about the conference at the Sai Baba organization. You may have noted that the Times of India has not published the official UNESCO media release completely. This is an official media release by a reputable international organization, UNESCO, and it is a violation of the Press Act on part of the Times Of India to leave out portions of the official media release.

It is the responsibility of the UNESCO to ensure that the Times of India publishes the FULL and accurate version of the official media release by UNESCO . The Times of India is required under law to do so, failing which, the UNESCO could initiate legal proceedings in appropriate courts
in India aginst the above newspaper for misrepresentation of an organization's officially stated position by willful and deliberate omission.

Moreover, any attempt by the newspaper to "protect" or to "shield" any particular individual or organization by wrongfully omitting any portion
of an official press release constitutes violation of the Press Act.

It is not for the Times of India to judge or decide on the contents of the media release nor does the newspaper have any authority to do so. By
publishing the official media release in its original form, the newspaper in no way subscribes to agreement over the content nor any possible interpretation of the content by its readers. The newspaper is merely doing its social, legal and moral duty and is expected to do so.

Moreover, the Times of India is required to publish the full text of the official media release in as prominent a way and position as the original report was published, and also ensure that such disclaimers are published by those newspapers who carried the original story by Times Of India or did reports based on the published report of the Times of India.

The responsibility of doing all these above things rests with the Times of India, and the UNESCO too has a legal and moral responsibility to
ensure that the Times of India complies with ALL the above things.

Any failure to do so would render the Times of India to be reported to the Press Trust of India, the Press counchil and also the Ministry of
Information and broadcasting. The press licence of the newspaper could be revoked for biased and irresponsible reporting.

Also, the entire issue deals with important and serious concerns regarding sexual molestation of children and youth by Sathya Sai Baba of
Puttaparthi. Several official complaints have been lodged in various countries and international investigative agencies are looking into these charges. The UNESCO has clearly expressed itself on this issue and given an official media release. Any attempt on part of the Times of India to suppress information from reaching the public will make them liable to be questioned by law enforcement authorities about their relationship with Sai Baba and his organization.

I strongly urge the UNESCO to take a forceful position on this issue, and to enforce compliance by Times Of India to publishing the full and
accurate version of the UNESCO media release. If the UNESCO does not do so, the UNESCO can be held accountable for its actions too.

Several representations are being made to the Government of India, the permanent mission of India to the United Nations, and also to the
Secretary General, United Nations, about the present situation.

I thank you very much for your time and attention and hope you will send me an update on the situation by e-mail

Thank you,

Hari Sampath.