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From: davidson@sfsu.edu (Daniel Davidson)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Japanese Cult's assets to be seized
Date: 1 Nov 1995 19:42:12 GMT
Organization: San Francisco State University
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Message-ID: <478iik$me1@news.csus.edu>
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Japanese Cult Ordered to Disband, Will Lose its Empire

By Nicholas D. Kristof
NYT, 31 Oct. 1995
[excerpted without permission]

Tokyo

     A court yesterday ordered the disbandment of the
religious sect suspected of organizing the nerve gas attack
on the Tokyo subway system. The ruling sets the stage for
the liquidation of a religious and business empire that has
fascinated and frightened the Japanese.

[...]

In Washington yesterday, Senator Sam Nunn, D-Ga., said that
the cult had made extensive efforts in the United States,
Russia and Australia to buy materials for nuclear and
chemical weapons [...]

[...]

If the sect is dissolved, its members will still have the
right to meet and pray as a group, but it will lose its
status as a religious entity under the law. Its assets will
be sold by a court-appointed liquidator, and will no longer
be able to earn money without paying taxes.

Aum Shinri Kyo owns about 30 pieces of property throughout
Japan, as well as a business empire that operates
restaurants and sells computers. Its net worth is estimated
at $20 million to $1 billion.

Relatives of victims of the nerve gas attacks have filed
civil suits against it; much of the wealth may be
distributed among them.

Leaders of the group have been transferring some machinery
and real estate to other owners, including individual
members and holding companies run by members. Critics
assert that this is an attempt by the sect to hide assets
before it is disbanded.

[...]

[Senator] Nunn said he feared that the sect represented "a
new era" in world terrorism that posed "an extremely
complex problem" for efforts to limit the spread of weapons
of mass destruction.

[end excerpt]


--

		        == Daniel Davidson ==
		  ** Don't hit. Clean your mess. **
			  davidson@sfsu.edu

ÿÿ