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"Kenja" redirects here. For the African country, see Kenya.

Kenja Communication, or simply Kenja, is an Australian organisation. It was founded by the late Kenneth Emmanuel Dyers and his partner Jan Hamilton in 1982.[1] It has gained media attention due to legal action regarding Dyers' alleged sexual assaults on young girls,[2] events leading to Cornelia Rau's incarceration and the suicide of Dyers.

About Kenja Communication

The word Kenja was derived from the first letters of the names of the two founders, Ken Dyers and Jan Hamilton. They later discovered it means "wise man" (although "wise person" is probably closer) in Japanese. Kenja has offices in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney. They are the; Personal Evolvement Centre; Melbourne Centre for Effective Communication; Human Communication Centre. The Parramatta Centre for Effective Communication has closed.

Kenja describes its purpose as "to increase understanding of the spiritual nature of man and our relation to the human spirit, coupled with practical training in the basics of effective communication – time, space and energy." The site also states that Kenja Communication is "neither political nor religious".[3]

A former Liberal Party parliamentarian Stephen Mutch described Kenja under Parliamentary Privilege as "a sinister organisation designed to fill the pockets and stroke the egos"[4][5] in the New South Wales Legislative Council in 1993 and the media attention Kenja attracted (Sydney Morning Herald; The Daily Telegraph; The Monthly; The Age; The Australian) gives negative and to a lesser degree positive descriptions of them.[6] Mr Mutch also referred to several documents, including an 'anonymous letter' (author known to Mr Mutch, not read into Hansard) which detailed significant similarities between Kenja and Scientology including vocabulary and teaching material.[5] Mr Mutch lost preselection and retired from politics in 1998, going on to complete a doctorate (thesis entitled "Cults, Religion and Public Policy"). Dr Mutch is the Patron of Cult Information and Family Support Inc (CIFS) [2]. Dr Mutch made a public comment after Ken Dyers death, which was; "Ken Dyers had taken the coward's way out by taking his own life last Wednesday" [3].

About Energy Conversion

The Kenja training focuses on a form of meditation called 'Energy Conversion', which is described as a way to "permanently eliminate the suppressed emotion, thought or energy that can divert us from what we want to achieve",[3] though neither Dyers nor Hamilton are qualified and this practice is not recognised by professionals. Energy Conversion Sessions consist of two people sitting opposite each other and looking into each others' eyes for a period of time, and costs about $130.[4]

An "eminent academic in [the] area" who wished to be anonymous said in a letter to Stephen Mutch that the techniques Kenja uses such as Energy Conversion "appear to be designed to allow senior members to exert influence over other members of the organisation ... The use of the techniques appears to lead to a reduction in the reality testing by individuals, and a relatively uncritical acceptance of the instructions of the senior member. Moreover, the individuals appear to experience a sense of dissociation that involves an alteration in normal waking consciousness and a feeling of incapacity to respond negatively to undesired actions."[5]

Classification as a cult or sect

Kenja Communications has been widely reported as a cult or a sect in the High Court of Australia[7], the NSW Parliament[8], The Fairfax and News Limited Media, and by Robert Manne, an eminent Professor of Politics at La Trobe University.[4] Both Ken Dyers and Jan Hamilton use the defence that the word cult is pejorative, and is used in the context of a witch hunt when arguing against allegations of sexual misconduct and in relation to the Cornelia Rau incident. [5][6]. [citation needed]

Ken Dyers

Early life

Dyers was born on 14 July 1922. His father was 54 when he was born. His father, Charlie Dyers, had been a toddler on Daly Waters station in the Northern Territory where he had become lost at the age of three. He was picked up by a drover three years later at the age of six and returned to Daly Waters station. He had lived with an Aboriginal tribe in the intervening years.[9]

War Record

Dyers was born 14 July 1922.[10] During World War II he served in the Australian Army as a Military Policeman with 9th Div Provost Coy from his arrival in the Middle East on 25 September 1941 until he embarked for Sydney on 27 January 1943; and again from 30 July 1943 until his return to Sydney 23 March 1944. His record details a chequered career and a large amount of time in field hospitals and Casualty Clearing Stations. Dyers served in the 32 Works Coy in Australia until he was discharged. He was court-martialled three times. In late 1943 he was in jail for five days awaiting trial on three charges, and eventually convicted of "conduct prejudice to the good order and military discipline".[11] In June 1944 he went absent without leave for 16 days.[12] In April 1945 he was fined for leaving his sentry post and in July fined again for misconduct. It also refers to an assessment of his "mental instability" which is rated at 10 per cent on the day he was demobbed in August 1946.[13]

Sydney Morning Herald journalist Robert Wainright referred to Dyers' War Time biography as exposing a 'Walter Mitty Complex' in his article examining the inconsistencies between Dyers' claims and verifiable records.[14]

Scientology

Dyers was a former Scientology member. In a list published from the 1950s onwards by Scientology, he is listed as an "SP" (a suppressive person).[15]

Child Sexual Assault

In 1993 Dyers was charged with 11 counts of sexual offences against four girls, three of whom were sisters, who were between the ages of 8 and 15. After several trials and appeals, which lasted almost a decade, Dyers was found not guilty of 10 of the charges. He was found guilty of one charge (tried separately) and jailed at Long Bay Correctional Centre for six days before being released on bail. An appeal in 2000 failed, and in 2002 the charge was overturned in the High Court of Australia on the grounds that the trial judge had potentially misdirected the trial, the order was as follows:

9 October 2002
S255/2001
ORDER
1. Appeal allowed.
2. Set aside the order of the Court of Criminal Appeal of New South Wales made on 25 August 2000 and, in lieu thereof, order that:
(a) the appellant's appeal to that Court be allowed;
(b) the appellant's conviction be quashed and a new trial be had.

The DPP did not seek a retrial as they determined he had served his sentence.[7]

On 28 October 2005, Dyers was charged in Sutherland Local Court with the sexual assault of two 12-year old girls, alleged to have taken place at the Kenja's Surry Hills headquarters in 2001-2002. Dyers was released on bail under the conditions that he attends Sutherland Police Station weekly and does not attend Kenja premises or events.[16] Dyers applied for a "permanent stay" in his 2005 court case on the grounds of ill health. He also applied for and received a variance to his bail conditions to travel to a Kenja function in Melbourne. His application for a "permanent stay" was rejected, as was a further application to attend a Kenja function in Sydney. He was given a temporary stay for one year on the grounds of mental health.

Dyers denied he was guilty of the charges against him, saying that they were the result of former members trying to destroy him as part of a witch-hunt.[17] His lawyer made the defence that 13 year old girls "know how to say no, they get educated in school"[18] and that "there will be contrary medical evidence indicating that Mr Dyers has had erectile dysfunction for almost 15 years".[19]

Dyers was phoned by his solicitor on 25 July and informed the NSW Police would interview him again regarding fresh allegations from another young girl.[8]

Dyers committed suicide by gunshot to the head on 25 July 2007.[20]

Twenty Two charges of sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault had been committed to trial by Magistrate Jaqueline Trad at the time of his suicide,[16] and he had received a one year reprieve from attending court on the grounds of mental health. His solicitor had informed him of further charges from a third girl the day before his suicide.

Kenja and mental illness

Cornelia Rau

The home page of Cornelia Rau where a detailed description of her humiliation and sexual assault are described by Cornelia.[9]

In 2005, a mentally ill former member, Cornelia Rau, gained widespread media attention in Australia due to being unlawfully detained for a period of 10 months by the Australian government. Before this, she had disappeared, and later turned up in North Queensland where Aborigines alerted the police after being concerned about her behaviour. She told them she was Anna Brotmeyer (and later Anna Schmidt) from Germany. Immigration officials assumed she was an illegal immigrant, and failed to diagnose her schizophrenia, leading to her detention.

Her family accused Kenja of contributing to her declining mental health,[21]. She had developed schizophrenia while a member of the group.[22][23]

Hamilton denied any wrongdoing, saying: "We are not responsible for Cornelia's condition ... we are not a cult. It's a witch-hunt." The sister and family of Cornelia Rau, as well as several members of Kenja present at the time formed a different opinion while observing Rau's involvement in the group.[21][24] Hamilton also claimed, retrospectively, Rau was "scattered, disassociated" as a member of the group, and that she was asked to leave because she needed help and the group "couldn't help her".[25] However, witnesses quoted in the media say she was humiliated and expelled.[23][26] The claim has been made that Cornelia Rau was driven to the airport on the night of the Melbourne Eistedfod and put on an airplane to Sydney and she was told never to return to the group. Three days later she was picked up by NSW Police driving on the wrong side of the road.

Cornelia was incarcerated in the German psychiatric system following a trip on 'medication vacation' in October 2008. In February 2009 Cornelia was arrested in imprisoned in Jordan after behaving erratically and refusing to pay bills.

Richard Leape

In a similar case to Cornelia Rau's, a man named Richard Leape who was being treated for schizophrenia disappeared while a member of Kenja and has not been seen since around 1993. His sister, Annette, says she found him in the street "totally paranoid and irrational, saying Nazis were going to get him". She was concerned that many other people had "developed very serious mental illnesses" from time in Kenja, and said she was "appalled" to know Kenja still exists.[21]

Michael Beaver

A young man who was a Kenja member of 2 years, Michael Beaver, was also diagnosed with and hospitalised for chronic schizophrenia. He blamed Kenja, and said he had heard of four other people who had severe problems since leaving Kenja. Beaver later killed himself, writing that Kenja was "partly to blame" in his suicide note.[5]

Peter Faragher

Long term member Peter Faragher committed suicide sometime after being expelled by the group.

Department of Defence

Channell Ten News has reported a Defence Department spokesperson making the following statement in relation to the yearly advertisments placed in the Fairfax Press newspapers. "The Army will contact Kenja Communications shortly to issue a notice to cease and desist using the Army's Rising Sun Badge".

Returned Service League (RSL) Australia

David McLaughlin, President of the RSL, has described the use of the Rising Sun badge in the yearly advertisment as an 'insult' to the logo, or symbol.

Beyond our Ken

Beyond Our Ken – directed by Luke Walker and Melissa Maclean.

A film exploring the Kenja group nominated for Best Documentary 2008 by the Australian Film Institute and Film Critics Circle Australia.

"Beyond Our Ken" was voted 3rd most popular documentary at Melbourne International Film Festival.

The international premiere of "Beyond Our Ken" at Toronto's Hot Docs Film Festival generated controversy when Kenja flew from Australia to protest at the screenings.

Reviews and articles

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Media Watch:

  • Media Watch: Television footage 6 August 2007 [10]
  • Media Watch: Television footage 17 August 2009 [11]

Compass:

The Spirit of Things:

Commentators and Interviewees

  • Tim Elliott: Article written: Sydney Morning Herald Fighting dirty against cult Busters [12]
  • Bevin Hudson Interviewed on Spirit of Things [13]
  • Annette Stevens Interviewed on Beyond our Ken
  • Alex Tibbets: Sydney Morning Herald: Interview with Jan Dyers: Campaign to clear cult Leader [14]
    Alex Tibbets: Sydney Morning Herald: Interview with Jan Dyers and former executive: Abuse Case: Staff asked to Lie [15]
  • Cornelia Rau Interviewed on Channel Nine: Sixty Minutes How Dare They [16]
  • Robert Manne: The Monthly: The unknown story of Cornelia Rau [17]
  • Christine Rau: The Daily Telegraph: Cult linked to Cornelia
  • Annette Leape: Interviewed by the Daily Telegraph This is the face behind a Cult;Beyond our Ken
  • David Milikan Interviewed Beyond our Ken; Sydney Morning Herald: Dedicated followers left rudderless in a sceptical World [18]
  • Wendy Beaver Interviewed Beyond our Ken
  • Suzanne Mostyn MPs told of cult leader's sexual and mental abuse Sydney Morning Herald 27 April 1993 p. 6
  • Robert Wainright:Sydney Morning Herald: Tributes and Accusations.[19] & interview with Jan Dyers:Dance photos reminder of a troubled Trainee [20]
  • Cindy Jones Sun Herald
  • Danielle Teutsch: The Age Cult leader 'wont face Justice' [21]
  • Suzanne Mostyn Sydney Morning Herald
  • Nick Papadopoulos Sydney Morning Herald Founder of Kenja to seek no-bill after partial acquittal on sex charges
  • Brad Clifton News Limited Secrets of sect in sex Case
  • Lisa Davies News Limited The humiliation of Cornelia Rau
  • Cindy Jones Sun Herald Kenja group 'destructive' and 'sinister' claims MP
  • Kevin Naughton Sunday Mail
  • Peter Mac The Guardian
  • Tamara McLean Sydney Morning Herald
  • Vera Devari News Limited
  • Les Kennedy Sydney Morning Herald
  • Vira Goldner News Limited
  • Brad Clifton News Limited
  • Leonie Lamont Sydney Morning Herald
  • Dianne Kopae Sydney Morning Herald
  • Linda Morris Sydney Morning Herald Evil forces drove husband to Suicide - Widow
  • Katrina Gligorijevic News Limited
  • Byron kaye: News Limited: Womans fake beard was Bogus [22]
  • Adrian Norman Beyond our Ken
  • Melissa McLean Beyond our Ken: Spirit of Things [23]
  • Rachael Kohn Australia Broadcasting Casting Spirit of Things [24]
  • Michael Pels Sydney Morning Herald; Beyond our Ken; ABC Media Watch [25]
  • Alison Pels Media Watch [26] Sydney Morning Herald Cult leader warned off after 'bizarre' audition ploy[27]
  • Mariannea Papadakis: St George leader Cult strikes back at Dyers Documentary[28]
  • Peter Overton: Channel Nine: Sixty Minutes: How dare They [29]
  • Belinda Kontominas: Sydney Morning Herald: Cult leader warned off after bizarre audition Ploy [30]
  • Joe Hildebrand: News Limited: Sex cults final Outrage [31]
  • Monica Attard Australian Broadcasting Corporation Media Watch: Paying to clear a Name [32]
  • Jonathon Holmes Australian broadcasting Corporation: Media watch: Paying to clear a name - Again [33]
  • Jenny Hodges Beyond our Ken
  • Steven Mutch: NSW State Parliament: Cult activity in NSW [34]
  • Mike Willisee Channel Nine
  • Luke Walker Beyond our Ken

Apprehended Violence Orders

Two Apprehended Violence Order related court cases involving senior Kenja members have come before the courts.

Wendy Tinkler

Senior members of Kenja Communication were cross-examined in a court case involving a father and his daughter who made serious charges of sexual molestation against Dyers.[27] Wendy Tinkler's claim to have been assaulted by the father was rejected by the court and the charges against the man were dropped.

Jan Hamilton: Jan Dyers

Jan Hamilton, (or Jan Dyers) was cross-examined in a court case involving an alleged attempt to threaten a young girl who had made serious sexual allegations against her husband, Kenneth Dyers, prior to him shooting himself.[28]

On 26 August 2008 the young lady, formerly a member of the Kenja group successfully secured an AVO against the co-founder of the group. Jan Hamilton was ordered not to stalk, harass or intimidate the woman as part of a two-year apprehended violence order.[29] The magistrate has forwarded details of the trial to the Attorney General requesting an investigation on criminal grounds for perverting the course of justice. Transcript of finding by Magistrate R Clisdel [35]

Ms Hamilton (or Dyers) indicated she would appeal the decision however no appeal was made to the AVO and Ms Hamilton was ordered to pay legal costs totaling $37,500 to the victim.

Notes

  1. ^ "Secrets of sect in sex case". The Daily Telegraph. 25 May 2006. p. 13. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  2. ^ "Dyers v The Queen (2002)". High Court of Australia. 9 October 2002. Retrieved 12 December 2006.
  3. ^ a b "Kenja Communication". Kenja Communication. Cite error: The named reference "kenja" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Robert Manne. "The Unknown Story of Cornelia Rau".
  5. ^ a b c d "Legislative Council Hansard". Parliament of New South Wales. 22 April 1993. Retrieved 22 January 2007.
  6. ^ "religionnewsblog.com archive of Kenja related media". Retrieved 8 February 2007.
  7. ^ http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/high_ct/2002/45.html
  8. ^ [1]
  9. ^ Ken Dyers biography
  10. ^ From a full-page memorial tribute to Dyers on the first anniversary of his death, containing an edited version of Jan Hamilton-Dyers' eulogy, The Age, 25 July 2008.
  11. ^ http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=8916510&I=1&SE=1
  12. ^ http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=8891613&I=1&SE=1
  13. ^ "Proceedings for discharge". Retrieved 14 October 2010. (full army record)
  14. ^ "Ken Dyers: Tributes and accusations". Sydney Morning Herald. 4 August 2007. Retrieved 11 September 2008.
  15. ^ "Suppressive persons and suppressive groups list". Church of Scientology, whyaretheydead.net. Retrieved 22 January 2007.
  16. ^ a b "Cult leader to stand trial on sex charges". ABC News and Current Affairs. 26 May 2006. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  17. ^ AAP (28 October 2005). "Cult leader says sex charges part of witch-hunt". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  18. ^ "Cult head's 'No means no' defence". The Daily Telegraph. 28 October 2005. p. 13. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  19. ^ Kennedy, Les (12 February 2005). "Cult boss impotent, says lawyer". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  20. ^ Kennedy, Les (25 July 2007). "Sydney cult leader found dead". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  21. ^ a b c Davies, Lisa (10 February 2005). "This is the face behind a cult". the Daily Telegraph (Australia). {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  22. ^ Davies, Lisa (8 February 2005). "Cult linked to Cornelia". Herald Sun. p. 7. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  23. ^ a b Naughton, Kevin (13 February 2005). "Rau angry at sister's visit – but family sees hopeful signs". The Sunday Mail. p. 8. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  24. ^ Daniel Ziffer (8 February 2005). "Rau's sister blames cult". Immigration features. Melbourne: The Age.
  25. ^ Wainwright, Robert (12 February 2005). "Dance photos reminder of a troubled trainee". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 4. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  26. ^ Davies, Lisa (11 February 2005). "The humiliation of Cornelia Rau". The Daily Telegraph. p. 9.
  27. ^ Davies, Lisa (6 December 2007). "Cult strikes back - Kenja critic assault a lie: court told". The Daily Telegraph. p. 35.
  28. ^ Kaye, Byron (26 June 2008). "Woman's fake beard was 'bogus'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 September 2008.
  29. ^ "Cult founder warned off after 'bizarre' audition ploy". Sydney Morning Herald. 27 August 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2008.

See also

References

  • Jones, Cindy. "Kenja group 'destructive' and 'sinister' claims MP." Sun-Herald 13 December 1992 p. 7
  • Mostyn, Suzanne. "MPs told of cult leader's sexual and mental abuse." Sydney Morning Herald 27 April 1993 p. 6
  • Papadopoulos, Nick. "Founder of Kenja to seek no-bill after partial acquittal on sex charges." Sydney Morning Herald 16 April 1996 p. 10
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