September 27^th 2000

Dear Joe Hironaka and other UNESCO officials,

Thank you very much for your thoughtful gesture of forwarding the Times of India response. Although it is entirely a matter for the UNESCO to pursue with that nespaper, I would like to mention a few points here.

The editor says that he has exercised "editorial discretion" in publishing the UNESCO's official media release. With due respect, I must differ on this position. There is no question of any "editorial discretion" when it comes to carrying the official media statement of an organization. The newspaper just has to reproduce the media statement in full as that is the purpose of the organization releasing a media statement.

No newspaper has the moral or legal authority to only publish those parts of any official statement that they see fit. This would make ALL official statements subject to the twisting and misrepresentation of the official positions of any organization on any matter, by newspapers citing "editorial discretion"

For example, if any goverment department in any country gives out an official press release, newspapers have absolutely no authority to edit any section of that release that would give an incorrect or partially correct impression. Whether or not the newspaper agrees with the press release and its possible interpretations, they have no choice except to publish the entire statement and also say that it is an official media release by that organization.

The Times Of India has no moral or legal authority to be the mouthpiece of UNESCO's policy or its statements. Such decisions are taken by the people concerned within the UNESCO and all the newspapers have a moral and legal authority to make available to the public what the UNESCO has stated officially.

If a minister states officially in a press release that he/she believes that there has been some wrong doing in a specific department, can the press edit portions of that official media release because it doesn't share the minister's belief or because those charges have not been reported earlier or substantiated???? Certainly NOT. It is the responsibility of the minister, in this case, to justify, explain or substantiate what he/she said. NOT the newspaper as the newspaper was merely publishing what the minister wanted published.

Don't the newspapers carry hundreds of charges of corruption by various politicians against other politicians?? Are all these "charges" substantiated at the time when the newspaper carries those statements?? No. The newspapers have to simply reproduce faithfully what was said by the person/organization and leave it to the concerned person or organization to deal with any further questions arising out of that. Nobody is going to call an official press release as the position of the newspaper, it is merely the statement carried in the newspaper.

The editor refers to the first principle of journalism as responsible reporting. With due respect again, I would suggest that the first principle of journalism is to REPORT FULLY AND FAITHFULLY. This is responsible journalism. Even a slight omission or change in words or phrase of an official statement would entirely misrepresent the Organization's position and as such becomes irresponsible journalism. The newspapers cannot and should not assume responsibility of stating the policy or official position of an organization because of their own beliefs or inclinations. This becomes deliberate distortion of the official position of an organization and does not find any place at all in responsible journalism.

Coming to the UNESCO and its position on Sai Baba, The UNESCO is not such an irresponsible organization, as the editor implies in his response, to make an official statement without any basis at all. Further, the editor refers to "allegations" made by the UNESCO. This too is totally incorrect as the UNESCO has NOT made any allegations against Sai Baba. The UNESCO merely received several reports from individuals from all parts of the world that Sai Baba was involved in the sexual molestation of youth/minor boys. The UNESCO, by conducting its own process of determination, along with some input from govermental agencies, came to a considered opinion that it would NOT associate itself with Sai Baba FOR THE REASONS MENTIONED BY UNESCO. The UNESCO has itself made it clear in their statement that they are NOT pronouncing themselves with regard to the charges, but are merely voicing their concern about Paedophilia.

The UNESCO has every right to assume any position it wants for whatever reasons it sees fit, and it is not for the Times of India to comment on or alter that position or the reasons thereof. When the UNESCO has assumed the responsibility of taking a position, and have stated their official reasons for doing so, it is for the UNESCO to explain any further questions that may arise out of their position or statement, NOT Times of India.

I feel that the Times of India has not only deliberately misrepresented the official position of the UNESCO, but also by implication has questioned the judgement of the UNESCO in this regard. While any newspaper has the right to question the judgement of any individual or organization or their position on any matter, such analysis does not find place in their reporting, but instead should be discussed in an editorial or separately. The editor has again sadly misplaced journalistic ethos, and has dealt inappropriately with the situation.

I request the UNESCO to take up the matter strongly and to its logical conclusion, that is, getting the Times of India to publish the official statement of the UNESCO fully and accurately. Also, I request the UNESCO to take note of the already evident fact that some sections of the press are "protecting" and "shielding" Sai Baba from getting bad mention. This is a very serious situation involving paedophilia and sexual abuse of young men by a so called "spiritual leader".

The matter involves larger principles as also wider implications. Although I am not sure whether it falls within the scope of UNESCO to take up specific cases of paedophilia, surely the UNESCO, in keeping with its larger worldwide commitment to prevent sexual abuse of children should pursue this matter beyond the minimum necessary level.

I also request the UNESCO to forward details of the existing situation to any appropriate authority it thinks fit who may be able to help with this. There are only a group of individuals and former followers of the godman Sai Baba involved with these efforts now, and we would greatly appreciate any help from any authorities to bring to the public notice the serious crimes committed by Sai Baba and to help prevent such things in the future.

These are NOT frivolous or scurrilous charges made by irresponsible individuals, but instead, real and serious charges made by individuals who had been sexually molested by Sai Baba. Not all the individuals were minors at the time it happend, but some were. The facts of the matter are that there are thousands of boys and young men who had been systematically sexually abused by Sai Baba over a period of more than 30 years.

I was myself working as a volunteer in the Sai Baba Ashram intelligence and security wing between 1992-95 and had heard so many of these instances from several students of Sai Baba's college. Not only that , these students would never be able to talk to their parents or expected to be believed by their parents due to the social setup in India, and also the fact that Sai Baba has a "holy" reputation outside. The boys, some as young as 11 years, had been forced to perform oral sex on Sai Baba for several years.

These accounts and stories are far too many, from so many parts of the world, and across a long time span. The fact is that Sai Baba has successfully kept it secret and from getting to the public, largely assisted by the attitude of the media who do not attach importance to these things and brush them away. The media is forever interested in projecting only one side of the Sai Baba they see and believe in, and are not applying the principle of Audi Alterum Partem to the Sai Baba issue.

At least I am happy that the editor of the Times Of India has indicated a willingness to take a look at the allegations made by several individuals. We would be happy to send all the available information, personal accounts, details of the incidents of sexual molestations with whatever additional corroborative evidence available to the UNESCO or to the Times of India or to any authority. ALL these people are willing to testify in any court of law or to any official law enforcement agency.

Please treat this matter with utmost seriousness.

I thank you all for the time and effort in reading this rather long mail, but I feel that it is completely necessary at this time and hence such elaboration on my part. I appreciate your patience.

Regards,

Hari Sampath,