-----Original Message-----
From: Hironaka j
Sent: Wed, 27 Sep 2000 15:12:38 +0200
To: harisampath
Subject: [Fwd: TR: Sai Baba and Times of India letter]


Dear Hari Sampath:

FYI, we received the following correspondence from a Times of India editor, stating that "such allegations as are referred to by UNESCO have not been reported in the mainstream Indian press. Sai Baba enjoys high esteem in the eyes of millions of Indians and foreigners".

Thank-you again for raising your concerns about the TOI reporting so adamently on behalf of UNESCO. You might also wish to send the TOI
editor any information or sources you may have found to help them research allegations of paedophilia by the sect leader. Please keep us informed.

With warm regards,


Joe Hironaka




-------- Original Message --------
Subject: TR: Sai Baba and Times of India letter
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2000 14:55:19 +0200
From: "Salas Rossenbach, Elke"
To: "Gosselin, Hélène-M."
CC: "Hironaka, Joe" , "Sanchez-robles,


Hélène, voici une merveilleuse leçon de journalisme. Qu'en dites-vous?
Elke.

-----Message d'origine-----
De: Padgaonkar l. ms
Date: mercredi 27 septembre 2000 13:55
À: Salas Rossenbach, Elke;
Objet: RE: Sai Baba and Times of India letter


--- Received from ROSTSCA.UHPAD 6147310/6146308 00-09-27
13:55 -

-> e.salas-rossenbach(a)PARIS.UNESCO.org
-> e.salas-rossenbach(a)unesco.org

Dear Elke ,

I spoke to the Times of India regarding the inclusion of the para that had been excised from my letter to the editor. Here is what they have to
say:

"The TOI as a responsible newspaper cannot publish any charges that are not substantiated. We are exercising our editorial discretion. Such
allegations as are referred to by UNESCO have not been reported in the mainstream Indian press. The Sai Baba enjoys high esteem in the eyes of millions of Indians and foreigners. However, following the receipt of a letter from UNESCO, The Times will investigate these allegations. If there is substance in them, we will do a story and include in it the para that has been excised. In keeping with the first principles of journalism, we cannot published anything that is not buttressed by facts. The Times requests UNESCO to forward whatever have material they have to help them in their enquiry."

Latika


That is all I can do for the moment. Prof. Moegiadi has seen all the correspondence.


From: e.salas-rossenbach
To: l.padgaonkar

Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2000 12:43:19 +0200
Subject: RE: Sai Baba and Times of India letter

Dear Latika,

Following the publication by the Times of India of only half of our clarification regarding UNESCO's withdrawal from the Puttaparthi conference, Mrs Gosselin asks you to send to this newspaper the text of the clarification - which you will find as a media advisory on the Internet (website of the Education Sector)-, asking them to reproduce it. As I understand, when you wrote to the newspaper before, UNESCO's clarification was included in the text of your letter. Mrs Gosselin wants you to send the whole text and ask in a separate letter to the editor to publish it. Elke.



-----Message d'origine-----
De: Hironaka
Date: mercredi 27 septembre 2000 09:39

Objet: Fwd: Sai Baba and Times of India letter
Importance: Haute



FYI, the e-mail I received below states that the "letter to the editor" composed by Latika was not published in its entirety by the Times of India, and demands that this be done.

The e-mailer Hari Sampath writes: "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."

FYI, The Times of India, founded in 1838, claims the widest circulatation among English general broadsheets in India and #2 in the world. The Web site is: "www.timesofindia.com"

The ball is in our court. A number of groups in India are clearly galvanized by the issue of alleged paedophilia and Sai Baba.

Under the circumstances, would a Dir/OPI or ODG level "letter to the editor" be appropriate?

Perhaps Ms Latika P. can again draft the text with visa from Elke?
What do you think?

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