Keep Writing to the GBC! (S Dasi)

Write them all! I've written them all a half dozen times.

Here is my most recent letter to Bhakti Caitanya Swami (current GBC Chairman) if it can give some inspiration:

"Yes, the panel... I am very glad the GBC is addressing this long-standing case dealing with Lokanath Swami."

However, the panel is problematic, as you publicly stated in May that the Lokanath case would be handled by the ISKCON Child Protection Office. There is thus no valid reason why a panel needs to first determine whether a child abuse case should or should not go to the Child Protection Office. This goes against GBC policies. The GBC set up the CPO precisely to investigate accusations of child maltreatment in the most transparent manner possible. Adding this layer is therefore both unnecessary and unprecedented.

[PADA: Yes, Sulochana Das approached the GBC justices committee, and we all know how that ended up. He is dead. There needs to be a monitoring group independent of the GBC.]

Secondly, the membership of the proposed panel is problematic and likely to result in bias. While you have two ICC members on the panel, there is not one person on there whose character and track record offers assurance that the interests of the victim are represented. Given this, the panel does not offer assurance that a fair process will be respected.

[PADA: The ICC people are writing all sorts of crazy things, showing they are clueless on all sorts of issues. Some of them said Lokanath is taking their sins (like Jesus). Some of them said Lokanath's scandal is just like the Christian Church scandals (the guru aka Jesus is involved in scandals)? And then they said because PADA is representing an India family, I am against India. (???) 

Then they said in essence -- the reason I am not supporting their pedophile guru process is because I am a Western mleccha. Umm, the ICC thinks only mlecchas are worshiping pure devotees and not following their idea to worship pedophiles? That is like an advertising for being a mleccha? Why is the India ICC saying the mlecchas are more advanced than their India scholars (like them)?]

By intervening in this case, in violation of their own policies, the GBC look weak and duplicitous, and give the impression that they are skirting their own international child protection policy, compounding historic violations against children to protect powerful ISKCON leaders and gurus.

This is a case of child abuse. The reasoning that it was already handled has no merit, since it has never been reviewed by the Child Protection Office, as established by the GBC in May. Previous efforts by the GBC in this case have clearly been made to protect the perpetrator and the institution. 

[PADA: Perhaps, but since the institution has been pedaling off deviants as its acharyas, it already has a bad name all over the universe. The institution has a terrible name and reputation already, and this is making it worse. And linking Jesus to their pedophile gurus is an attempt to make things -- much worse than they already are. Instead of back pedaling and being humble, they are doubling down and even attacking Jesus, never mind attacking us, and attacking the victim etc.] 

In contrast, the CPO will consider all parties and procedures in a professional manner, which is its mandate. When the CPO was formed in 1998, the CPO reviewed ALL child abuse cases in ISKCON up to that point, including child abuse cases predating the formation of the CPO, such as child abuse in Mayapur in the 1970s, even though it had also been previously investigated by the GBC.

The Lokanath case has been mishandled 5 times over the last 3 decades by the GBC: 1993, 1998, 2012, 2017, and now again in 2021. The fact that it keeps recrudescing, is clear evidence that the way the GBC has been handling this case is unacceptable to the greater devotee community. The Child Protection Office is the only "panel" qualified, trained and designated to review this case. That is what they do. That is why they were formed. 

Taking power away from them is disgraceful and sends the message that the topmost authorities in Prabhupada’s movement do not care about children, and that GBC policies don’t apply to those who have friends in powerful places.
This case will never be put to rest until the GBC steps aside and allows the CPO to handle this case without interference. This preferential treatment being given to Lokanath Swami reeks of corruption and nepotism.

In 2007 the GBC RESOLVED:

"Whenever the ISKCON Central Office of Child Protection rules that an offense is such as to restrict a person from serving in ISKCON in positions of leadership (including but not limited to offices of GBC, minister, zonal secretary or temple officer), the restriction must include the position of initiating guru. This restriction shall apply to all previous and future decisions of the Central Office of Child Protection." https://gbc.iskcon.org/2007

The GBC investigated the Lokanath case originally and found what he did was sexual abuse to a child, therefore the GBC should follow their own resolution and remove Lokanath Swami from all positions of leadership. There is no hiding; there is no obfuscating the truth. More and more information with the Lokanath case will see the light of day. This will not go away.

[PADA: Yep, their own professional counsellors concluded that the victim has experienced a very traumatic event. And their 30 years of foot dragging has simply made the trauma worse.]

Three things can not be hidden for long: the sun, the moon, the truth. Mistakes have been made, but they can be rectified. Although you were not one of the 7 GBC members on the original committee to investigate this case in 1993, your involvement in the 2010 Admission Letter should be acknowledged.

[PADA: That is their general excuse. We did not make this policy, it was made before us. OK are you going to change the policy now? Well nope.]

Anyone involved in the conspiracy to cover up Lokanath Swami’s sexual abuse against the child Satya, needs to come clean and apologize. Devotees are forgiving. Especially when they see that the right thing is being done.

I hope this letter finds you well.

I appreciate that this is a difficult task.

Hare Krishna.

Your servant,
S dasi

[PADA: Really, it is very painful for so many victims to see these endless charades from the GBC when it comes to children being victims of abuse. ys pd]