"We are in a fight together, the fight of human
dignity
against all forms of totalitarianism "
Alain Vivien's speech accepting the 2002
Leipzig
Human Rights Award in Leipzig, Germany, at the old stock exchange on May
11, 2002
[Original auf deutsch]
I'm very sorry today that I have only an imperfect grasp of the German
language.
All the more so, since the award presentation speech that was addressed
to me seems to me to
have been completely overdone.
So I ask your forgiveness. Only a few short words from me in
German, in this so beautiful language, that I also studied once at
Gutenberg University, but which I have not practiced enough for a long
time.
Therefore I will now continue in French, and I thank our interpreter
for the burden that she takes away from me.
[translation from the French]
Allow me first of all to express my joy to you that I am feeling
in accepting this award. The honor goes to the whole mission, which I have
chaired since 1998, it goes to the entirety of its staff, and especially
to Mr.
Debord, too, the advisor for business affairs.
You are assured of my strong appreciation. I would also like
to thank all the moral, religious and spiritual forces that have
participated in our fight.
And I would also like to dedicate a thought of compassion for
the numerous victims of the cult presence, especially for the youngest
among us.
Mr. Minister, you have been so kind as to recall that France
has been paying special attention to the cult presence for approximately
the last twenty years. But France has strongly increased its efforts since
the
horrible massacre that happened in Jura in France that was conjured up by
the
sinister "Order of the Solar Temple."
The view of the public and the French government agencies was
no less disturbed in the face of the numerous cases of fraud that have
been committed by Scientology and by other cultic movements.
In 1998, by order of the President of the Republic, as called
for by the prime minister of the time, Mr. Jospin, the "Mission de Lutte
contre les sectes" (MILS) was created.
The mission made it possible to not only improve the legislation,
but also to organize a central preventive network for the entire national
territory together with the concerned citizen and victims
associations.
We are now seeing the results of our efforts for the first time.
The cult presence has been on the decline in France for two years, and
Scientology especially is experiencing ever more difficulty in finding
members.
I will add that, for the first time, Scientology has been convicted
by French judicial authorities for its conduct that stood in contrast to
human rights; previously only individual Scientologists that had committed
crimes could be charged. Today it is the Scientology organization itself
that has to
face justice.
(Applause)
And all this with the strongest regard for freedom of thought,
of belief and of the expression of religious conviction under the scope of
the law.
(Applause)
Much has also been done on the international plane. Two years
ago the Council of Europe unanimously accepted a proposal regarding
illegal activities
by cults. The European Parliament, for its part, intervened in the same
spirit.
We are very happy about that, but we also remember that this
path must be continued.
Today the cult presence has, as with many other things, actually
established itself on a world scale. Our Mission Interministerielle is in
the position to interact not only with the agencies of the United Nations,
but
also to the inquiries by remote countries that are disturbed at the
problem,
but sometimes do not yet have a democratic enough legislature to answer it
positively.
In that regard I feel especially honored that I am receiving
this award in Leipzig, in a city that has done so much to restore
freedom.
(Applause)
Permit me to dedicate this award to all victims of the cult presence,
and to all those who fight against these new totalitarian tendencies, and
assure them of our solidarity.
(Applause)
[Original auf deutsch]
Dear German friends,
We are in a fight together, the fight of human dignity against
all forms of totalitarianism.
The tendencies of the current cultship pose new challenges for
the international community. These challenges compel us to work
together.
They require developing a basis for joint European legislation
to be a first step to a worldwide position for all democracies in this
area.
(Applause)
In connection with this perspective, I salute the valor of our
American friends, who, in their country, are confronted with the most
significant international cults and the seen and unseen allies of the
psycho-
groups.
I would like to close with a few words of hope:
History has shown us that people have always managed to get by,
even in the worst difficulties. That also goes for situations whose
outcome appears impossible.
Our German friends, especially here in Leipzig, know a lot about
that.
Now, allons!
Let's go! We'll go together. We walk with composure and determination
into our common future.
(Applause) |