Scientology plans anti-drug campaign The sect would like to be active in Basel but is not getting support from government agencies or social experts

[Editorial follows] Basel, Switzerland
February 25, 2001
http://www.sonntagszeitung.ch
Sonntagszeitung Zuerich
by Peter Knechtli

Basel - Scientology would like to mingle with the drug politic in Basel: a representative of the controversial sect is sounding out openings in government agencies and anti-addiction institutions. The "Gassenzimmer" manager wanted nothing to do with cooperation.

Annette Klug, public relations Scientologist for the Basel region, first made inquiries at the city horticultural nursery.

Several days ago she met with Samuel Bertschi, the director of the Basel center for issues of addiction. Bertschi said she wanted to know "to what extent Scientology could perform an active role in combatting drugs": "I told her only who is responsible for that, nothing more and nothing less." If Scientology is getting involved in the politics of drugs, he said, then coordinated action was indicated.

Basel Region Addiction aid center expressed "stark surprise"

The Scientologist woman showed up in the offices of Walter Meury, the director of the "Gassenzimmer Riehenring und Spitalstrasse," last week. Meury said, "Mrs. Klug explained that Scientology wanted to take part in a needle-collection operation." Klug verified for "Der SonntagsZeitung" that the planned needle-collection action was only part of a larger international project: "We are making an anti-drug campaign,"

she said. They will set up stands and send out brochures to make the public aware of the "methods by which we remove drugs from bodies."

A source at "Suchthilfe Region Basel" (SRB), which runs two "Gassenzimmer," said the atmosphere was one of "stark surprise" when the Scientologist gave the impression that she had been "forwarded" there from Bertschi. "No, thanks,"

SRB business manager Gabi Maechler turned down the offer and told us, "The problems with drugs are delicate enough without Scientology having to get involved here."

Walter Meury also said he saw no need to cooperate with Scientology. "This thing is too hot politically." Basel is aware of Scientology; it is the first Canton in Switzerland to pass a law against aggressive membership recruitment on public land.

According to Meury there exists "at the moment no need" for a needle-collection operation. He said the operation they already had to collect needles was good enough, "Today there are no longer piles of needles lying around." Doctor Silva Keberle said in response to Scientology that there was a possibility drug addicts "could be manipulated for a private purpose."

Basel Health Director Carlo Conti (CVP) has made his position clear. If Scientology wanted to collect needles then "note would be taken of it," and he also said, "But the Canton has no intention and no need to cooperate with Scientology on the theme of drugs."

--- Editorial from Joe Cisar There is an editorial called "Collaborating with destructive cults" at http://cisar.org/010107a.htm#cisared which may also be relevant to the uninvited advances of certain fringe groups who want to change society - their way. It is not inconceivable that this big drug push on Scientology's part may have something to do with collecting its welfare money from President Bush's "Faith-Based Initiative."

Speaking of drugs and Scientology, the man who ran out of Scientology godfather Gottfried Helnwein's house in Clearwater to attack Mark Bunker's camera had also been convicted for some cocaine offense, for which he had to go back and do time. Also, here is a recent news group post which is relevant:

From: Mike Krotz
Subject: Narconon did not help Gregory Wisner
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 20:30:58 -0500
Message-ID: 3A931A52.BEC4A15F@verizonmail.com
Gregory B. Wisner, age 27, was identified as the person whose body was found in the surf near Indian Rocks Beach, FL, on January 20, 2001.

- From the Report of Autopsy:

"The decedent had tried to stop using cocaine and had mentioned "cleansing" himself to a close friend. Perhaps this is the reason for his visit to the ocean. The cocaine intoxication may have contributed to his drowning. The manner of death is accident."- John R. Thogmartin, M.D., Chief Medical Examiner Gregory Wisner was raised in Scientology households, but more recently had become subject to Scientology's disconnection policy. His father, R. Michael Wisner, is a prominent Scientologist and spokesperson for the virtues of Narconon's procedures, and is co-author of a study claiming that toxic damage to nervous tissue can be reduced with Mr.

Hubbard's protocol.

R. Michael Wisner is in a photo on this web page:

http://www.narconon.org/html/30thanni/html/boldplan.htm And is cited on this page:

http://www.narconon.org/html/results/page12.htm His personal Scientology page is here:

http://www.our-home.org/rmichaelwisner/ R. Michael Wisner is also the author of a book, Living Healthy in a Toxic World, featured here:

http://psychfraud.freedommag.org/page43.htm This book features an introduction by Kirstie Alley.

R. Michael Wisner evidently had minimal contact with his son in recent years. The last meeting between father and son was described as an argument. He did not attend his son's funeral.

Gregory Wisner's mother, Helen, married Herb Zerden when Gregory was quite young. Helen and Herb are active Clearwater, FL area Scientologists. Herb Zerden has been documented working with local FaRT and Bigotwatch founder Mary DeMoss, in her harassment campaign of Scientology critics.

The last conversation between Gregory Wisner and his mother was described as an argument. His mother told police that she thought her son was off at a drug treatment program, and therefore did not suspect anything strange when he disappeared. She also told police she was aware that he had a problem with cocaine.

Gregory Wisner attended Narconon in December 1997.

MK
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