35 VOLUME 9 |ISSUE 2 |2018
opportunity, as lots of foreigners come to Korea,’ he says. … Jay
Kim in Korea has been an anti-JMS activist for the past 20 years. He
was not a former believer himself but says he has witnessed quite
a few victims and has a strong belief that Jeong won’t stop running
the cult even after his prison term, because the organisation’s
followers still believe that Jeong is innocent. … He suggests that if
the South Korean government were to forbid Jeong from leaving
the country, that would be helpful to prevent future victims. ‘There
are victims in US like Australia,’ says Lee. ‘I wish these victims work
together and bring Jeong Myeong-seok to justice but if it is not
possible I think we should stop him leaving from Korea at least.’ …
There have been a series of media reports about Australian female
victims. Most recently ABC’s current affair program 7.30 reported
on an Australian father and the recruitment of his daughter to the
secretive Korean religious cult. Gerry Wagemans told the ABC’s
7.30 that his only daughter, Camilla, was approached by recruiters
of the Providence while she was a law student at the Australian
National University in Canberra. … As per the 2014 story by The
Feed, the group says it has nothing to hide and that it is just like any
other religious group. They say their leader is not a messiah and
that the church is not a cult.” (SBS Korean, 1/8/18)
Charles Manson, cult leader and killer, dead at 83
“Charles Manson, the wild-eyed and diminutive cult leader
convicted of orchestrating the gruesome slayings committed by
his followers of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and eight others in
the summer of 1969, has died. Manson was 83. He had been in
custody for what came to be known as the Tate-LaBianca murders
since October 1969, most recently at California’s Corcoran State
Prison. He died of natural causes at Kern County hospital, according
to a California Department of Corrections statement. ...He was
able to prey upon a group of younger followers at a particular
point in time when thousands were searching for answers and an
unconventional life in the so-called Age of Aquarius. ...Manson
was born in Cincinnati on Nov. 12, 1934, to a 16-year-old girl
who drifted in and out of crime and a father who was never in
the picture. By 13, he had committed an armed robbery and was
already exhibiting signs of narcissism and persecution complex,
according to juvenile reports obtained years later. Loquacious
but illiterate, guitar playing was about his only passion. ...Behind
bars from 1960 until March 1967, he became obsessed with The
Beatles, a fellow inmate later said. According to Helter Skelter, the
book written by Manson prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi, the criminal
begged not to be released. ...Manson played mind games with the
group, at times nurturing and at other times doling out discipline.
He performed hypnotic songs, claimed he was a messiah and railed
about a looming race war called Helter Skelter—named after the
song on The Beatles’ so-called White Album. ...Much has been
written and broadcast over the years positing that the Manson
murders also killed the hippie dream. The opinion ignores the fact
that communes, alternative religions and cults—mostly peaceful
groups—remained popular well into the 1970s one survey of
experts in 1978 put the number of cults then in the thousands.
Even the Manson Family, as it were, carried on for a time. A few
members tried to hijack a plane in a futile attempt to free their
imprisoned friends, while Lynette (Squeaky) Fromme pointed a
gun towards U.S. President Gerald Ford, earning a decades-long
prison term.” (CBC News, 11/20/17)
Cult leader Keith Raniere has fled the United States may be
seeking to avoid imminent arrest in New York
“Kieth [sic] Raniere has fled the United States, and is living near
Monterrey, Mexico, as his NXIVM cult continues to collapse. It is
believed Mr. Raniere left the United States earlier this week on a
private plane. It is not known who traveled with him, or whether
he informed followers in suburban Albany, New York, where he was
residing. US law enforcement agencies are reportedly investigating
crimes Mr. Raniere and his cult may have committed. In recent
weeks, Mr. Raniere and his cult have come under worldwide media
scrutiny after a New York Times expose [following an earlier story in
Frank Report] revealed he leads a group that blackmails and brands
women with his initials using a hot iron on their pubic region.”
(Niagara Falls Reporter, 11/25/17)
Federal officials reportedly investigating group in which
women were branded
“The Justice Department has started an investigation into a self-
described self-help group in which women were branded with a
symbol containing its leader’s initials, several people contacted
as part of the inquiry said. … In a related move, Gov. Andrew M.
Cuomo of New York is expected to soon recommend possible
changes in how state regulators review complaints against
doctors, a spokesman said. The decision follows the disclosure
that health department officials declined to act on complaints
about two doctors affiliated with Nxivm [NXIVM], including one
who reportedly used a surgical device to brand women. Inquiries
into those two doctors are now underway, a spokesman for the
governor said. John Marzulli, a spokesman for the office of the
United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York, which
is reportedly leading the inquiry, said he could neither confirm
nor deny whether an investigation into NXIVM, which is based in
Albany, was underway. … Since the late 1990s, over 16,000 people
have enrolled in courses offered by NXIVM (pronounced Nex-e-
um), which the group says are designed to bring about greater self-
fulfillment by eliminating psychological and emotional barriers.
Most participants take some workshops, like the group’s Executive
Success Programs, and resume their lives. But other people have
become drawn more deeply into NXIVM, giving up careers, friends
and families to become devoted followers of Mr. Raniere [‘whose
followers refer to him as Vanguard’]. Critics and former members
have described the group’s practices as cultlike. … Mr. Raniere, 57,
recently left the Albany area and traveled to Mexico, where NXIVM
has hundreds of followers, to stay with an adherent in Monterrey.
Former associates said Mr. Raniere had never previously gone to
Mexico. A former NXIVM member in Mexico said that Mr. Raniere
was seen recently in Monterrey, though his current whereabouts is
not known. Mr. Raniere and other NXIVM officials did not respond
to requests for interviews or repeated emails. A lawyer who
represents the group, Robert D. Crockett, also did not respond
to written questions, including whether federal or state officials
had contacted NXIVM. … Several former NXIVM members said
that senior women in the group, including the daughter of its co-
founder, were involved in the sorority and branding ceremonies.
In addition, a text message sent by Mr. Raniere indicated that he
was aware that women were being branded with a symbol that
contained his initials. … NXIVM did not respond to requests for
opportunity, as lots of foreigners come to Korea,’ he says. … Jay
Kim in Korea has been an anti-JMS activist for the past 20 years. He
was not a former believer himself but says he has witnessed quite
a few victims and has a strong belief that Jeong won’t stop running
the cult even after his prison term, because the organisation’s
followers still believe that Jeong is innocent. … He suggests that if
the South Korean government were to forbid Jeong from leaving
the country, that would be helpful to prevent future victims. ‘There
are victims in US like Australia,’ says Lee. ‘I wish these victims work
together and bring Jeong Myeong-seok to justice but if it is not
possible I think we should stop him leaving from Korea at least.’ …
There have been a series of media reports about Australian female
victims. Most recently ABC’s current affair program 7.30 reported
on an Australian father and the recruitment of his daughter to the
secretive Korean religious cult. Gerry Wagemans told the ABC’s
7.30 that his only daughter, Camilla, was approached by recruiters
of the Providence while she was a law student at the Australian
National University in Canberra. … As per the 2014 story by The
Feed, the group says it has nothing to hide and that it is just like any
other religious group. They say their leader is not a messiah and
that the church is not a cult.” (SBS Korean, 1/8/18)
Charles Manson, cult leader and killer, dead at 83
“Charles Manson, the wild-eyed and diminutive cult leader
convicted of orchestrating the gruesome slayings committed by
his followers of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and eight others in
the summer of 1969, has died. Manson was 83. He had been in
custody for what came to be known as the Tate-LaBianca murders
since October 1969, most recently at California’s Corcoran State
Prison. He died of natural causes at Kern County hospital, according
to a California Department of Corrections statement. ...He was
able to prey upon a group of younger followers at a particular
point in time when thousands were searching for answers and an
unconventional life in the so-called Age of Aquarius. ...Manson
was born in Cincinnati on Nov. 12, 1934, to a 16-year-old girl
who drifted in and out of crime and a father who was never in
the picture. By 13, he had committed an armed robbery and was
already exhibiting signs of narcissism and persecution complex,
according to juvenile reports obtained years later. Loquacious
but illiterate, guitar playing was about his only passion. ...Behind
bars from 1960 until March 1967, he became obsessed with The
Beatles, a fellow inmate later said. According to Helter Skelter, the
book written by Manson prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi, the criminal
begged not to be released. ...Manson played mind games with the
group, at times nurturing and at other times doling out discipline.
He performed hypnotic songs, claimed he was a messiah and railed
about a looming race war called Helter Skelter—named after the
song on The Beatles’ so-called White Album. ...Much has been
written and broadcast over the years positing that the Manson
murders also killed the hippie dream. The opinion ignores the fact
that communes, alternative religions and cults—mostly peaceful
groups—remained popular well into the 1970s one survey of
experts in 1978 put the number of cults then in the thousands.
Even the Manson Family, as it were, carried on for a time. A few
members tried to hijack a plane in a futile attempt to free their
imprisoned friends, while Lynette (Squeaky) Fromme pointed a
gun towards U.S. President Gerald Ford, earning a decades-long
prison term.” (CBC News, 11/20/17)
Cult leader Keith Raniere has fled the United States may be
seeking to avoid imminent arrest in New York
“Kieth [sic] Raniere has fled the United States, and is living near
Monterrey, Mexico, as his NXIVM cult continues to collapse. It is
believed Mr. Raniere left the United States earlier this week on a
private plane. It is not known who traveled with him, or whether
he informed followers in suburban Albany, New York, where he was
residing. US law enforcement agencies are reportedly investigating
crimes Mr. Raniere and his cult may have committed. In recent
weeks, Mr. Raniere and his cult have come under worldwide media
scrutiny after a New York Times expose [following an earlier story in
Frank Report] revealed he leads a group that blackmails and brands
women with his initials using a hot iron on their pubic region.”
(Niagara Falls Reporter, 11/25/17)
Federal officials reportedly investigating group in which
women were branded
“The Justice Department has started an investigation into a self-
described self-help group in which women were branded with a
symbol containing its leader’s initials, several people contacted
as part of the inquiry said. … In a related move, Gov. Andrew M.
Cuomo of New York is expected to soon recommend possible
changes in how state regulators review complaints against
doctors, a spokesman said. The decision follows the disclosure
that health department officials declined to act on complaints
about two doctors affiliated with Nxivm [NXIVM], including one
who reportedly used a surgical device to brand women. Inquiries
into those two doctors are now underway, a spokesman for the
governor said. John Marzulli, a spokesman for the office of the
United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York, which
is reportedly leading the inquiry, said he could neither confirm
nor deny whether an investigation into NXIVM, which is based in
Albany, was underway. … Since the late 1990s, over 16,000 people
have enrolled in courses offered by NXIVM (pronounced Nex-e-
um), which the group says are designed to bring about greater self-
fulfillment by eliminating psychological and emotional barriers.
Most participants take some workshops, like the group’s Executive
Success Programs, and resume their lives. But other people have
become drawn more deeply into NXIVM, giving up careers, friends
and families to become devoted followers of Mr. Raniere [‘whose
followers refer to him as Vanguard’]. Critics and former members
have described the group’s practices as cultlike. … Mr. Raniere, 57,
recently left the Albany area and traveled to Mexico, where NXIVM
has hundreds of followers, to stay with an adherent in Monterrey.
Former associates said Mr. Raniere had never previously gone to
Mexico. A former NXIVM member in Mexico said that Mr. Raniere
was seen recently in Monterrey, though his current whereabouts is
not known. Mr. Raniere and other NXIVM officials did not respond
to requests for interviews or repeated emails. A lawyer who
represents the group, Robert D. Crockett, also did not respond
to written questions, including whether federal or state officials
had contacted NXIVM. … Several former NXIVM members said
that senior women in the group, including the daughter of its co-
founder, were involved in the sorority and branding ceremonies.
In addition, a text message sent by Mr. Raniere indicated that he
was aware that women were being branded with a symbol that
contained his initials. … NXIVM did not respond to requests for
