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Aum Shinrikyo:
The horror...
 Brandon
Watson - 2002
On March 20, 1995, members
of the Aum Shinrikyo cult executed a Sarin nerve gas attack in the
Tokyo Subways, which killed 12 people and injured more than 3,000
(another 1,500 psychological injuries were documented on top of
this number). In the following months, four more attacks were executed,
though these with no casualties. The cult leader, Shoko Asahara,
was implementing part of his 'divine plan', which seemingly entailed
murderous strikes in retaliation for illusory police aggression
against the cult. Seven years later it might be expected that such
a notorious organization had been safely reduced in capability to
a point in which they are mostly ineffective. Unfortunately, this
is not the case. Aum remains motivated and effective. Aum Shinrikyo
(now named 'Aleph') effect their apocalyptic visions through what
remains one of the best-funded and organized cult/criminal groups
in the history of the world, leaving them high on the list of the
world's most dangerous organizations.
History
The Aum Shinrikyo was founded in 1987 by Shoko Asahara, a forty-year
old, legally blind, former yoga teacher. Asahara was born into a
poor family, receiving a sub-par education at a lower-class school
for blind children. Stricken with infantile glaucoma, Asahara was
unable to integrate himself into society, ultimately ending up as
a poor outcast with radical religious ideas. As history has demonstrated,
this often can be a template for the most dangerous of individuals.
In 1977, Asahara began
the study of yoga. In 1984 he formed a company called the Aum Shinsen-no
kai (a yoga school and publishing house), an ideal platform from
which to launch his personal religion. In 1987 he changed the name
of his yoga group into Aum Shinrikyo, a Sanskrit derivative translating
loosely into 'Supreme Truth'.
In August 1989, the government
in Tokyo granted Aum official "Religious Corporation"
status. This law provides various privileges including, but not
limited to, massive tax breaks and immunity from official oversight
and prosecution. This remains the single most relevant political
event in the history of Aum, allowing the group to operate virtually
unchecked. (It is ironic that the religious policies of the Tokyo
government were a direct result of the US government's insistence,
immediately after WWII, that the Japanese allow greater political
and religious freedom.)
After a failed and embarrassing
foray into Japanese politics in 1990 (1), Asahara withdrew his group
completely from the greater Japanese culture and began plotting
his actions against society as a whole. The cult began manufacturing
volatile chemicals and biological agents in Aum owned-and-operated
laboratories, including Sarin, VX gas, and anthrax. This was managed
using the more than $1 billion of accumulated capital that the group
controlled. In March 1995, Asahara's plans came to fruition, in
a manner of speaking; we can count ourselves fortunate that the
gas attack was seemingly bungled in conception and execution. Had
the organization of the Sarin gas attack been fully realized, tens
of thousands of Japanese could have been killed in one day. Had
large quantities of VX gas been used in a coordinated aerosol attack,
realistic single-day estimates of casualties could have easily reached
anywhere between 200,000 - 500,000 lives. (Depending on scale
of release, this number could have been even higher. Strikes against
US or Israeli targets can be forecasted similarly. There is an odd
discrepancy in the capabilities of Aum and the results of their
attack. Some information seems to indicate that the attack was planned
to be purposefully botched (2). The question posed by this seems
unanswerable with currently available intelligence information.)
The international pressure
on the Japanese government led them to declare Aum officially bankrupt,
seizing part of Aum's assets and destroying its main chemical weapons
facility near Fuji. Since then, Aum has changed its name to 'Aleph'
and has been working feverishly to clear up its image, persuading
influential government figures to vouch for them. Opinions are split,
with some government officials supporting them, and others pointing
to them as a clear and malicious threat to world peace. This is
to be expected due to the deep infiltration that Aum had into Japanese
politics. The dissenting officials cite Aleph's continued secrecy
and political meddling as signs that there is something to cover
up. Regardless of the political purge that resulted in the arrest
of hundreds of Aum followers, the cult continues according to its
apocalyptic vision. To all intents and purposes, only Aum's name
has changed, despite the pacifistic language used in their official
public releases (3).
Structure
 Aum
was directed and organized by Asahara, who also acted as the supreme
deity of the cult. Active membership of the cult, at its peak in
1995, was 65,000 individuals. Membership in Russia totaled around
35,000 - 40,000 people(4) . It is abundantly clear that Aum's infiltration
into Russia was nothing short of complete(5) . Aum also acquired
properties in the United States, Australia, Israel, Taiwan, Germany,
and Yugoslavia. (The Banjawarn complex in Australia exists as a
rather complicated puzzle. Evidence of substantial, secret, nuclear,
and chemical research was found at this facility. It appears that
whatever Aum was using the facility for, the Australian government
successfully interdicted and prevented Aum from completing their
work).
Under the supreme leader
are seven ranks of 'enlightenment', from the lowest level up to
the final stage attainable by a 'mortal'. It was not uncommon for
the supreme leader to order the murder of Aum's opponents, and the
Japanese police were befuddled in their attempts to investigate
and prosecute such illegal activities. Public outcry was not widely
present in Japan due to strong efforts by Aum's public relations
ministry. Occasional political opponents became seen as enemies
by Asahara, and such enemies often disappeared.
The executive membership
of the cult consisted of an inner circle, which included five chief-ministers.
These ministers were responsible for various realms anywhere from
technology development to legal administration to construction administration.
The ministers were among the best and brightest minds in Japan,
each being outstanding and respected scholars in their respective
fields. Many of these were arrested and convicted after the gas
attacks, but new leaders have been appointed to fill their shoes
and Aum/Aleph continues to exist today, ever pursuant of their goals.
(Currently available information seems to suggest that the organization
has actually increased in efficiency, and that the executive arm
is now entirely sealed from the outside, minimizing the chances
of police/political action against them. It must also be noted that
the current leader of Aleph was one of the arrested chief ministers,
having been released in 2000.)
The facilities owned by Aum were some of the finest in the country,
with the laboratories and research centers surpassing military-grade
installations. In addition, Aum had its own military, with hundreds
of recruits subverted directly from elite Japanese and Russian military
units. Aum possessed the highest of military technology (based off
of stolen technical data), and it is speculated that the technology
developed under their chief scientists surpasses that of the best
known currently-deployed military hardware, anywhere (6). This technology
was nowhere to be found when the Japanese government cracked down
on Aum; Aleph disavows any knowledge of this technology or related
programs.
Aleph still has approximately 50 facilities operating in Japan and
an unknown number in Russia (overseas facilities have been shut
down by the respective governments, for the most part). They range
from enclosed compounds that lodge the cult members, to factories
and labs that are used for computer technology production/assembly.
These facilities do not openly participate in continuing research,
and it is possible that research operations have either been moved
underground or to Russia. The latter possibility is more likely
due to the fact that Aleph's current leader was the minister who
directed the Russian contingent of followers. (Following the
gas attacks in 1995, the Japanese government confiscated plans detailing
a man-portable laser weapon which had been stolen and subsequently
developed, based off of US military technology. References to plans
for particle and seismic weapons were also found, though the plans
themselves remain undiscovered.)
The organization of the
cult mirrored that of the Japanese government itself, with 24 'minister'
offices designed to administrate the cult membership. It is speculated
that, while known capital in 1995 exceeded $1 billion, actual Aleph
holdings are not too far from that, due to secret or hidden capital
and gold reserves that had been hoarded, untouched by the government.
In fact, the government only seized a portion of Aum's original
holdings, leaving much of the accumulated wealth intact.
Many Aleph members are
middle to high-ranking employees of cutting-edge electronics and
chemical firms. Keeping membership secret has become more important
than ever and the continuation of such secret membership is without
question. Infiltration by the cult extends into local and national
civil service positions, as well as the military and police forces.
The cult's Intelligence Ministry actively spies on the Japanese
government and Japanese corporations with extraordinary success.
In addition, the Aum organization actively spied on United States
military research centers with varying degrees of success. It is
likely that Aleph continues to do so, though no evidence of such
activity exists. Espionage operations against the Russian Federation
continue, though their extent is unknown.
Aum members were (and
Aleph members are) recruited from various walks of life, and are
all attracted to the pseudo-Buddhist philosophy of the cult. In
addition, membership in a group such as this is appealing in the
sense that it is a 'shadow-group', a secret Illuminati style organization
which appeals to the pursuit of adventure and secrecy that permeates
the bored Japanese and Russian societies. Progression into leadership
positions is only attainable by those individuals with proven professional
and practical skills, and it is nearly impossible for members to
rise from the lowest ranks into the highest echelons. The group
is very open to new members in the low ranks, and members at the
lower levels come and go with general ease. Once one progresses
into the political machinations of Aum/Aleph, however, it is nearly
impossible to leave alive.
Most members are encouraged
to not only adhere to the religious beliefs, but also to act productively
towards the perpetuation of the financial strength of the cult as
it seeks to grow towards its end goal. Cult members live mostly
in their respective homes around Japan and Russia, though some members
live in cult-run compounds. (Most of the 'compound' members are
involved in the cult's clandestine activities.)
Participation in religious
rituals is mostly done through 'learning' from higher-ranked members
in various centers around the country. The treatment of men and
women mirrors that of Japanese culture, with men given clear preferential
treatment over women. Women do not attain leadership positions.
Beliefs and Practices
Aleph is loosely based
off of a combination of Buddhist teachings and the teachings of
Nostradamus. Asahara teaches that there are various 'levels' that
one can attain, various stages of consciousness one can reach. These
levels are attained through learning the teachings of 'His Holiness',
Asahara himself. The teachings indicate that only Asahara can attain
the highest level, the level of Nirvana, and that others can strive
towards learning as much as they can from him while they are alive.
Tibetan elements such as clairvoyance and extrasensory perception
exist in a prominent place within the cult, with Asahara claiming
to have the abilities to fly and see through solid objects. The
only evidence of such abilities are pictures that show Asahara 'levitating'.
(This is done by using a quick-shutter lens catching him in mid-bounce
from a trampoline device.)
Members are taught that
wholeness comes through self-realization, which is of course directed
through Asahara's teachings on how to live life. The life philosophy
is generally about realization of self through participation in
Aleph's political machinations.
Aleph is fixated with
the Hindu god, Shiva, the god of destruction. This explains the
obsession Aum had with death and destruction, as well as Aum's horrific
goal of Armageddon. Salvation comes at the end of Armageddon, and
only to those who have adopted the Aum faith. This Armageddon comes
through a war between Japan and the United States, prophesied to
be in 1997. To that end, Aum had been preparing militarily in development
of technology, training, and structuring of elite military formations
which would have participated in Armageddon. (It is overwhelmingly
likely that Aleph continues clandestine action in pursuit of this
vision.)
After coming under intense
international scrutiny following the 1995 attacks, Aleph has reduced
much of its efforts in these areas, at least as much as can be seen
on the surface. Secret preparations are still underway, despite
the fact that Armageddon did not occur in 1997. Fortunately, the
scrutiny Aum came under has severely limited what the cult can do
openly, both financially and politically. (Aleph continues its actions
on a global scale through advocates and attorneys.)
Aum was maniacally anti-Semitic,
with a severe hatred of the Jews. Aleph has toned this down publicly
due to the high profile of such beliefs. Asahara adhered to many
beliefs of Hitler, and saw the Jews as a 'hidden enemy' which intends
to prevent Aum from seeking out its divine destiny. Asahara claims
that the Jews are seeking to eliminate 3/4ths of the world's population,
rebuilding the world in their own image. Of course, this would stand
in the way of Asahara's personal goal, which is of course similar
in nature and conception: the destruction of Japan, Israel and the
United States, through Armageddon, and an eventual rebuilding of
Japan (and the world) into a glorious kingdom, led and directed
by Aum. Realizing this vision is the only path to salvation, according
to Asahara's teachings. (Many of the cult's members choose to
only cursorily subscribe to the religious beliefs of Asahara. Many
are members because of the political activist nature of the group.
Which is more worrisome is debatable.)
Recently, Aleph has tried to revive its image by paying 4 billion
yen out to the families of the victims of the gas attacks. Yet,
politically and technologically, the group continues to develop
its power-base, ensuring that they have not made their last appearance
on the international stage, a dangerous threat that looms hidden
in a political arena dominated by Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein.
Aum's leadership has been replaced by individuals who have learned
from the mistakes of their founders, individuals who have been tested
and hardened, keeping Aum together despite tremendous international
pressures. Aum was one of the most dangerous organizations in the
world, and it is beyond doubt that Aleph continues this tradition.
It is uncertain whether the anti-terror initiatives (7) (directed
by the United States) will in any way derail the global Armageddon
being sought by Aleph and its high-rank leaders.
Footnotes
1)Asahara formed his
own political party, "The Shinrito", and ran 25 cult members
(including Asahara himself) against his opponents for seats in the
Japanese parliament. Asahara and his followers were soundly defeated,
taking so few votes that it was clear that not even his own followers
were voting for him. The only true platform that this new party
pushed was opposition to a proposed sales tax. It was clear, however,
that they also believed in a very imperialistic future for Japan,
and their policies would lean towards this.
2)It seems strange that
Aum would make the ridiculously careless errors that led to the
unsuccessful conclusion of the attacks. The cult's chemical weapons
experts were some of the finest in the world, and the training and
expertise of the attackers was unquestionable. While it is perfectly
possible that the attacks failed simply due to chance or error,
this seems unlikely. When trained experts execute no less than four
chemical attacks that all similarly fail one must question if it
is truly failure at all; it is possible that the outcome of the
attacks was irrelevant, and that simply by attacking, Aum's goal
was accomplished. It is difficult to draw conjecture-free conclusions
based off of this, though the political and military maneuvering
of Aum leaves a great deal of possibilities open to exploration.
3)While it is cursorily
possible that the entire organization has been purged of violent
goals, this remains as unrealistic as an expectation that Nazi ideals
would die with Hitler. Gathering valid evidence that points to either
possibility has been difficult, indicating that secrecy is still
fundamental in Aleph's policy. Oddly enough, the name 'Aleph' appears
in two suspicious global contexts. Firstly, it is the name of the
first letter of the Hebrew Alphabet. Secondly, it is an acronym
for 'Apparatus for Low Energy Particle Physics', which Aum researchers
were involved with. Both roots raise interesting questions, admittedly
quite circumstantial in nature.
4)Currently, Aleph acknowledges
2,000 members, most of which work towards perpetuating the financial
security of the cult without pay. It is interesting to note that
they have reestablished contact with Aum followers in Russia, not
included in the admitted 2,000 members. Aleph acknowledges that
they are currently working together with the Russian followers,
though it is not clear what their goal is at this time.
5)After being investigated
by Russian, Japanese, and American authorities, it was discovered
that Russia's intelligence services assisted Aum with infiltration
into Russian government and society. The implications of this are
devastating. The chief of the Russian Security Council was bribed
by Aum with up to $100million. Aum had placed employees in positions
at Russian nuclear research facilities, as well as establishing
'working relationships' with Russian politicians and intelligence
agents. Efforts to acquire nuclear technologies are documented,
though the results of these efforts are thoroughly buried.
6)Aum was deeply involved
in attempting to acquire various advanced technologies from around
the world. Documented attempts to acquire technology are as follows:
technology used in the measuring and refining of uranium ore, technology
used in molecular engineering, technology used to infiltrate sensitive
data networks around the world, laser technologies, seismic technologies,
chemical technologies, biological technologies, and nuclear technologies.
Aum was additionally very interested in particle physics, focusing
on the work of Nikola Tesla and his seismic/particle weapons experiments.
Evidence exists to suggest that Aum made its own advances in particle
physics, specifically in weapons applications such as particle accelerators
(commonly known in literature and publications as rail-guns).
7)Current efforts to counter Aleph's plots are conducted mostly
by the Japanese government and civilian watch-groups. Infiltration
into Aleph's structure is generally non-existent, as Aleph tests
its members in ways that weed out intruders. Aleph has not escaped
the attention of governments such as the United States, Russia,
and China. The Russian government, especially, is reversing the
aid that it gave to Aum and now has an open Aleph case file. The
US government, though dedicated to pursuing organizations such as
Al'Qaeda, has not forgotten Aleph. Current efforts by the Chinese
government are mostly unknown, though it is likely that Aleph is
closely watched along similar lines as the other governments. Whether
these surveillance and counter-proliferation efforts will lead to
curtailing Aleph's global plans has yet to be seen.
Author: Brandon Watson
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