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Tagesanzeiger Zurich |
Scientologists revile politicianA vacation
to Florida turns into a horror trip for a Scientology critic By Hugo Stamm August
11, 2000 |
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Ursula Caberta, Director of the Hamburg Agencies' Work Group on Scientology, did not believe her eyes and ears when she arrived at the airport in Tampa, Florida. About 50 Scientologists were shouting "Nazi go home" at her, as proved by video tape recordings. The Hubbard adherents were also holding up signs in the air which said the same thing. "How the Scientologists learned of my arrival in Florida is a mystery to me." Florida is the location of an international Scientology headquarters.
The psycho-terrorism continued at her hotel. "They followed every move I made," said Caberta of the Hamburg SPD administration, who is involved with Scientology as a result of her office. Nevertheless she still met with American Scientology critics. The Scientologists' attorneys took their revenge with an operation of a curious kind. They shoved a court summons under her hotel door. The attorneys had managed to motivate a judge to order an immediate deposition. "It was a five-hour hearing like the Stasi used to have," stated Caberta. A German Scientology attorney had traveled from Munich for the occasion.
Lawsuit for Damages
The operation was rounded out with a lawsuit for damages from a Scientology-affiliated businessman who demanded 75,000 dollars. The businessman claimed Caberta ruined a major contract for him with her information work. "It has become painfully clear to me why the Scientologists are able to operate unhindered in the USA," said Caberta, "They can take care of any critic they want by using these court and legal proceedings."
The German Consul General urged Caberta to depart ahead of schedule because he was concerned about further actions from the Scientologists. Caberta didn't have to think it over long: "Unbelievable what they can do in the USA with tourists," she said. "And of all countries, this is the one which regularly accuses Germany of violating human rights because we dare to talk about Scientologists." She lost her faith in the American legal system.
Juerg Stettler, spokesman from Scientology, defended Scientology's action by saying that Caberta held a press conference and wanted to organize a demonstration in front of the Scientology buildings. He said that Caberta had provoked the reaction, the more so since various Scientologists had taken refuge from her in the USA. Those people, he said, were allergic to Caberta and would consider her now becoming active there as impudence.