New Details On Scientology’s Link In Norwegian Student Kaja Ballo’s Death
Wikinews.org has some additional details into the suicide of Norwegian student Kaja Bordevich Ballo’s death. Kaja’s father was a high level member of the Norwegian parliament and the family is still grieving the loss of their young daughter, but they come forward with details linking their daughter’s death to negative and damning results from a Scientology administered personality test Kaja took the day of her suicide.
With language as a barrier, most news sites reporting on this story were unclear as to the cause of Kaja’s death, but Wikinews.org seems to have some additional details as to what happened to Ms. Ballo.
The story begins on March 28, 2008 when Kaja took the Scientology personality test. Keja was a student at the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis located in Nice, France. A few hours later she reportedly killed herself by jumping from the window of her dormitory. Her friends and roommates claim she was in good spirits and showed no signs of a mental break down or depression prior to taking the test.
“The information about the Scientology test has been made public through the priest’s speech at the memorial service. I can confirm that. Due to the recency of her death, I don’t wish to elaborate on or comment on other matters now,” said Olav in a statement to the press.
The Church, which is located only meters from Kaja’s dormitory, states that the results had shown Kaja was “depressed, irresponsible, hyper-critical and lacking in harmony.” They also state that it is “unfair to blame Scientology” for Kaja’s death and that the test had nothing to do with it. Kaja left behind a note telling her family she was sorry for not “being good for anything.”
The incident has generated criticism against the Church from friends, family members and politicians. Inga Marte Thorkildsen one of the members of Norway’s Parliament, states that “everything points to Scientology having played a direct role in making Kaja choose to take her own life.”
The Church has since removed the test from its Norwegian website.
Ms. Ballo jumped to her death and left behind a suicide note for her family which indicated she felt worthless and of no use, and to corroborate this poor girl’s depressed mental state, the Church of Scientology “assisted,” with a personality run-down stating she was “depressed, irresponsible, hyper-critical and lacking in harmony.” There were likely more gems of “wisdom” in that so-called profile.
Unfortunately, this is NOT the first case of suicide linked to Scientology. I know of one. The father of this lovely, brave woman.
Here are others according to Factnet.org:
1994 Gunnarson, Vicktor death Vicktor Gunnarson died somewhere between the 3 and 7 of January of 1994. Vicktor was the individual aquitted in the assassination in Sweden of Olay Palme, the high ranking Swedish politician. They are tracking Gunnarson’s connection to Scientology. Detectives found a number of Scientology books at his place of residence. A reporter mentioned something about a $2 million offer to assassinate Palme being found or implicated or implied somewhere in his records.
1993 Argue, Michael psychosis In 1993, Michael Argue had two psychotic breaks. He became involved in Scientology in 1971. His first break was in the 1980s while doing OT levels at the LA Organization. He is living on Family Benefits (disability pension) for chronic depression. He is on Prozac for depression and valium and states that he looks forward to bodily death to escape his situation in life.
1992-3 Todd Hunter, Sue inducement to suicide Sue Todhunter was about 46. It happened around 1992-93. Her brother-in-law, George Ward is now out of Scientology and lives in LA. (suspected “end-of-cycle” auditing)
1992 Luell, Mickey negligence Mickey Luell, a Scientology course supervisor, died of a flu but was at the time involved in Scientology auditing and processes. FACT’s source is suspicious that Scientology prevented or discouraged his getting proper medication.
1992, Oct. Baker, (first name unknown) suicide A person with the last name of Baker committed suicide somewhere in Europe.
1992 name unknown attempted suicide FACT’s source described a young guy who tried to conunit suicide in early 1992 at the Gold Scientology Center. He was in his teens to early 20s. He was a jumor of a guy named Ulf who was a foreigner, maybe from Sweden. This guy was in the mixing group with the sound people. He had brown hair, puggy and boyish looking, obviously young. Something happened to cause him to attempt suicide at the Gold Center.
1991, May Simon, Karen suicide Karen Simon died by hanging herself in London England in May 1991, shortly after she refused to sign a Sea Organization contract. She was preparing a negative report on Scientology at the time of her death.
1990-2 name unknown death A young guy at the Gold Land base died while taking high doses of hydrogen peroxide as part of some brain research project. They had to get an ambulance out to the Scientology Gold Center to haul him away. There was quite a commotion to get his body out of there.
1990, Sept. names unknown suicide Reported by the October 21, 1991 “DER SPIEGEL” and reprinted in the Newkirk Herald Journal. The last two paragraphs report a drug therapist who knew of two addicts who committed suicide after leaving Narconon, where the purification rundown was done. They committed suicide just after they left the program.
1990, Sept. Keel, Pius suicide Reported in October 21, 1991 DER SPIEGEL Pius Keel, 22, Germany, threw himself under a tram after Scientology got all his money.
1990s Petschek, Cladia suicide A women named Cladia Petschek committed suicide. She was a mission staff member, and she committed suicide in Canada within the last 4 years. She was still active in Scientology.
1990 (last name unknown), Bob suicide Bob was a real estate agent who lived around the Utica, Michigan area. He committed suicide in 1990 while receiving Scientology services.
1990 Mooney, Ed negligence Ed Mooney or Money, C 16 and OT8, died at age 37 of aneurysm about 3 weeks after completing OT8 at Flag m the fall of 1990. He was a very good FSM in LA. Scientology and family postulated he’d get better. He was in a hospital - but not a really good one. His wife, Patty Mooney, remarried about 6 months later in LA.
1989 Wakefield, Margery attempted suicide 9 April 1989, Margery had started in treatment with a counselor at Northside Center, and was being seen by Dr. Dagon for medication. However, her functioning on the unit continued to deteriorate to the point that her relationships with her peers disintegrated and at one point she became totally unable to work on the unit and left work early. On this occasion, she apparently made a suicide gesture and was subsequently hospitalized. Her suicide attempts are directly related to past Scientology auditing.
1989 or 90 name unknown coverup of death An older Sea Organization member died. FACT’s source heard OSA agents talking about keeping it quiet. The death of this individual occured between November ‘89 and April ‘90.
1988-90 Kugler, Ryan attempted suicide Ryan Kugler is an adolescent (age 10) who tried to commit suicide at Delphi, Oregon by hanging himself. He had been kicked out of school but was admitted to LA Delphi about 1986 and Oregon Delphi about 1988-1990. He is still in Scientology now.
late 1980’s. three names: Jane Winkler, Gene Trout, and David Sandieweis suicides? No locations reported.
1987 Argue, Michael attempted suicide In 1987, Michael Argue attempted suicide after his marriage break-up. His wife was in Scientology too.
1986-7 Filmsky, Betty cancer The first Solo NOTS completion (what Scientology calls honest) was Betty Filinsky. She was also highly trained. She died of lung cancer around 1986 or 7. She was the ex-wife of John Filinsky.
????? Filmsky, Betty cancer John Filinsky’s first wife, Betty Filinsky, was first Solo NOTS completion and died of lung cancer, I think right after her “world tour” as the latest great success of NOTS auditing.
1986-8 Moro (Klinger), Cat psychosis Between 1986 and 88 Cat Moro (Klinger) became psychotic while on auditing and was taken to the home of wealthy Scientologist, Marshall Goldblatt, and kept there for months while she was psychotic. Her husband, Jim Moro, and she were both in the OSA/GO. Jim was in charge for tax task force which helped get them their IRS tax exemption.
Apparently, after 3 or 4 months at Goldblatt’s Cat was transferred back to where she could be watched all the time and became a folder administrator at AOLA. These incidents all occurred between 1986 and 88. Maggie Butterworth is the person who supervised the situation with Cat Moro, the security risk who became psychotic.
1986 Rimando, Rodney CORRECTION suicide Rodney Rimondo jumped out a window at either the Celebrity Center or the LA Organization. Irene was the mother who allegedly got no settlement from Scientology. IN FACT’S JANUARY MAILING THIS NAME WAS INCORRECTLY SPELLED “RAMANDO.”
1986 name unknown psychotic A young man m his 20’s jumped from the Manor m Hollywood, though the report does not say that he died. He was a new recruit. There was a shore story alleging that he was a CIA operative sent to discredit Scientology by killing himself.
1985 Johnstone, Lee suicide Lee Johnstone was baby watched. He was a member of the Guardian’s Office Staff m 1985 before he flipped out and committed suicide.
1984-? name unknown suicide Hawaiian mission holder was physically thrown out of his mission by three or four missionaires. Shortly thereafter he committed suicide.
1984-5 (last name unknown), Jean-Marc suicide In New York; some connection with Celebrity Center; involved with a girl who had joined the Sea Organization. He had pockets full of Scientology promo when he died.
1984 Baker, David. suicide Technical Secretary David Baker of St. Hill was an OT 3 in 1984. Committed suicide.
I apologize to Factnet.org for borrowing so much, I graciously thank you.
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Maybe it isn’t immediately obvious: the “personality tests” are a recruitment tool of Scientology. They are designed to fail. Recruiters are trained to use this to force the person to try Scientology as “the only way to help.” In other words, the test is an act of malice, and Scientology is directly responsible for this and other deaths.
Comment by Anonymous — April 16, 2008 @ 5:25 am
I think that Factnet.org won’t mind if you take their whole site.
Comment by What is Scientology — April 16, 2008 @ 9:39 am
A person commits suicide. This is not good and is sad and the person’s family, friends and associates might question themselves because we don’t like to lose our friends. But especially we don’t like to lose our friends to suicide.
But I feel it is irresponsible reporting to imply that a one hour test and 5 minutes looking at the result, caused the suicide.
The test results have few labels, the results are by no means absolute and a person’s results might vary, one day to the next. It indicates areas of potential concern for a person. Areas where a little attention, a little education might be helpful. No part of it is an absolute declaration.
Comment by Terryeo — April 16, 2008 @ 5:01 pm
Holy shit, snowball fight in Hell everyone. TO and I agree on something, sort of.
Terryeo, I’ll give you that the test in and of itself could not drive someone to suicide. You can’t take a happy, normal person, expose them to scientology and have them kill themself in a day. (That shit at least usually takes a couple years)
However, and this is where you and I differ, running a psychological test on someone who is already mentally disturbed and depressed, offering them the test as a form of “help” and then telling them they suck at life could very much push someone over the edge.
Scientologists aren’t trained medical professionals trained to deal with mental disorders (regardless of what you choose to believe). They should not be running “personality” tests on people who are not well mentally. And they definitely shouldn’t be telling depressed/mentally disturbed people where they fail in life and trying to sell them Scientology courses to “aid” them.
Telling seriously depressed people where they suck in life is absolutely the last thing that should be done, and this is where Scientology failed.
She MAY have committed suicide even if she never set foot in a scientology centre but you guys felt the need to give her that little extra push (out a window)
Comment by David — April 16, 2008 @ 7:25 pm
Excuse me but have either of you ever had someone commit suicide on you? you don’t know what you are talking about I think. You have no IDEA what it is like to have someone you LOVE commit suicide. I know it. If you did you wouldn’t toss judgement around so nonchalantly. SO NONCHALANTLY. If you are nonchalant, then you do not know, so seriously, don’t pretend like you have experience in such matters. Terreyo, I feel sorry for you. One day you might end up like my father~ so completely fucking wigged out on scientology paranioa that you hang yourself. Here is a clue: get one.
Comment by JM Boucher — April 17, 2008 @ 12:00 am
To #5. Who are you referring to as “either of you”? Obviously one is Terryeo, who is the other considering there’s 3 other comments and an entire article above you?
Assuming it’s me (that would be the logical choice since I’m directly above you and responding to Terryeo), yes.
My Aunt killed herself (OD on painkillers). All three of my siblings attempted suicide, the youngest one less then a year ago (OD, OD, OD & slashed wrists if you’re curious). Also, my mother died of cancer when I was 12, my father was an alcoholic and I was homeless for 6 months. Oh and I also suffer from a rare genetic disease that causes huge amounts of pain and possible psychological breaks which could cause me to try and kill myself and not even remember it.
Do I get to be nonchalant as you put it about suicide now that I’ve established the appropriate suffering street cred?
You and I made the exact same point, that Scientology can cause people to kill themselves. Whether through teaching, brainwashing or in this case a poorly trained employee telling a mentally disturbed person that they’re a failure. So what’s the issue?
Comment by David — April 17, 2008 @ 9:09 am
@5
honestly, I was a bit drunk when I wrote that and read your comment, David. And I only read about the first sentence before commenting. Let that be a lesson to you all! Drunk commenting will only cause you to insert your entire leg into your mouth. If I could edit it, I would.
Comment by JM Boucher — April 17, 2008 @ 10:11 am
^^^ No worries. Onward, to getting rid of a cult!!
Comment by David — April 17, 2008 @ 11:10 am
Terryeo above should be extremely sad to try to pass the scientology viewpoint after such a drama. Scientology makes people shameless, cretinized, brainless, and heartless. Why? Because it’s full of lies and it practices brainwashing.
Yes indeed, if Kaja had’nt met some idiotized scientologist of no competence in the matter of human psychology, she would be alive to-day. Yes indeed, if scientology was’nt pretending that everything in psychology and psychiatry and pharmacy and even, most of medicine and religions are bad or worse, Kaja would still be alive.
Yes indeed, the cult uses a perverted/twisted tool called “OCA test” to make people in. Yes indeed, the cult has been criminally convicted many times in France and in many other countries, after deaths or other horrible results. Yes indeed, deaths linked to scientology are before the courts in other countries than France.
And yes, the cult should cease both its recruiting fraudulous tests - moreover so to sell then other fraudulous (and already convicted) products to its victims.
Comment by roger gonnet — April 20, 2008 @ 4:12 am
Important Tip: The cult would have had Kaja watch the “Orientation” film as it is required viewing for new-comers. It tells you to either join Scientology or kill yourself by jumping off a bridge or blow your brains out. Maybe this creepy film had an adverse effect on her causing her to jump. Cult requires everyone sign a paper after watching the film, would proof she watched it.
“Orientation” is up on Youtube.
Comment by Suze — May 14, 2008 @ 2:32 pm