Alain Vivien
Encyclopedia
Alain Vivien is a French
Socialist Party
(PS) politician
, best known for chairing (from 1998 to 2002) the French Mission Interministérielle pour la Lutte contre les Sectes, MILS, a ministerial organism
designed to observe the activities of various religious organizations defined as "Sectes" (cult
s).
of Combs-la-Ville
in 1977-1983 and 1989-1992. In 1983 he was elected to the French National Assembly
for Seine-et-Marne
as a PS candidate. The author of a report on cults requested by Prime Minister
Pierre Mauroy
in 1982, he was Secretary of State
under Edith Cresson
in 1991-1992.
In 1998 Vivien was nominated chairman of the MILS, which had been formed to coordinate government monitoring of sectes (name given to cults in France). In February 1998, MILS released its annual report on the monitoring of sects.
. Alain Ostmont, the general secretary of MILS, stated in response to these allegations in an interview that Vivien did not travel much for MILS, but that he undertook travels for humanitarian organizations
which he chaired at the same time, and that this had been confused by some reports. He specifically added that Vivien was sent to the Beijing
conference by the government as representative of the French state, not by MILS .
CESNUR
writes that, during his tenure as president of MILS, Alain Vivien attended together with anti-cultist organizations such as the French CCMM
and the European Federation of anti-cult movements FECRIS
a colloquium organized by the Chinese government on the topic of cults , and interprets this as assisting the Chinese government in repressing religious minorities. Countering the allegation, FECRIS states that it had been invited but did not take part, and that the co-organiser United Nations Development Programme
confirms that CCMM did not offer any support to the repression of Falun Gong
.
During the FECRIS application for NGO
-status, the matter was also investigated by the Council of Europe
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights. The rapporteur
, the Swiss
Councillor
Dick Marty
, noted that the symposium had been co-organized by the United Nations
, and had also been attended by representatives of numerous other states - including the United States - and concluded that:
Marty's report was adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
on March 18, 2005 http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=http://assembly.coe.int/committee/SC/2005/PER033E.pdf.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Socialist Party
Socialist Party (France)
The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in France and the largest party of the French centre-left. It is one of the two major contemporary political parties in France, along with the center-right Union for a Popular Movement...
(PS) politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, best known for chairing (from 1998 to 2002) the French Mission Interministérielle pour la Lutte contre les Sectes, MILS, a ministerial organism
French government ministers
The Cabinet of France is a body of top administration members of the Prime Minister's Cabinet. In French, the word gouvernement generally refers to the "Administration", but in a narrower sense to the Cabinet.The Council is responsible to the French National Assembly...
designed to observe the activities of various religious organizations defined as "Sectes" (cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
s).
Early career
He was mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Combs-la-Ville
Combs-la-Ville
Combs-la-Ville is a commune in the south-eastern suburbs of Paris, in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France in north-central France...
in 1977-1983 and 1989-1992. In 1983 he was elected to the French National Assembly
French National Assembly
The French National Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of France under the Fifth Republic. The upper house is the Senate ....
for Seine-et-Marne
Seine-et-Marne
Seine-et-Marne is a French department, named after the Seine and Marne rivers, and located in the Île-de-France region.- History:Seine-et-Marne is one of the original 83 departments, created on March 4, 1790 during the French Revolution in application of the law of December 22, 1789...
as a PS candidate. The author of a report on cults requested by Prime Minister
Prime Minister of France
The Prime Minister of France in the Fifth Republic is the head of government and of the Council of Ministers of France. The head of state is the President of the French Republic...
Pierre Mauroy
Pierre Mauroy
Pierre Mauroy is a French Socialist politician and former Prime Minister under François Mitterrand . Mauroy also served as Mayor of Lille from 1973 to 2001. Mauroy is currently emeritus mayor of Lille.-Biography:...
in 1982, he was Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
under Edith Cresson
Édith Cresson
Édith Cresson is a French politician. She was the first and so far only woman to have held the office of Prime Minister of France.- French Prime Minister :Cresson was appointed to the prime ministerial post by President François Mitterrand on 15 May 1991...
in 1991-1992.
In 1998 Vivien was nominated chairman of the MILS, which had been formed to coordinate government monitoring of sectes (name given to cults in France). In February 1998, MILS released its annual report on the monitoring of sects.
Corruption allegations
Vivien was criticized for allegedly using more than half the MILS budget for foreign travel, including to the People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. Alain Ostmont, the general secretary of MILS, stated in response to these allegations in an interview that Vivien did not travel much for MILS, but that he undertook travels for humanitarian organizations
Humanitarianism
In its most general form, humanitarianism is an ethic of kindness, benevolence and sympathy extended universally and impartially to all human beings. Humanitarianism has been an evolving concept historically but universality is a common element in its evolution...
which he chaired at the same time, and that this had been confused by some reports. He specifically added that Vivien was sent to the Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
conference by the government as representative of the French state, not by MILS .
CESNUR
CESNUR
CESNUR , is an organization based in Turin, Italy. It was established in 1988 by a group of religious scholars from universities in Europe and the Americas, working in the field of new religious movements. Its director is the Italian sociologist and attorney Massimo Introvigne...
writes that, during his tenure as president of MILS, Alain Vivien attended together with anti-cultist organizations such as the French CCMM
Centre contre les manipulations mentales
The Centre contre les manipulations mentales , widely named CCMM or Center Ikor Roger, is a French anti-cult association....
and the European Federation of anti-cult movements FECRIS
FECRIS
FECRIS - European Federation of Centres of Research and Information on Sectarianism - is a non-profit association that serves as an umbrella organization for groups which investigate the activities of cults or cult-like organizations in...
a colloquium organized by the Chinese government on the topic of cults , and interprets this as assisting the Chinese government in repressing religious minorities. Countering the allegation, FECRIS states that it had been invited but did not take part, and that the co-organiser United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
confirms that CCMM did not offer any support to the repression of Falun Gong
Falun Gong
Falun Gong is a spiritual discipline first introduced in China in 1992 by its founder, Li Hongzhi, through public lectures. It combines the practice of meditation and slow-moving qigong exercises with the moral philosophy...
.
During the FECRIS application for NGO
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
-status, the matter was also investigated by the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights. The rapporteur
Rapporteur
Rapporteur is used in international and European legal and political contexts to refer to a person appointed by a deliberative body to investigate an issue or a situation....
, the Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
Councillor
Swiss Council of States
The Council of States of Switzerland is the smaller chamber of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland, and is considered the Assembly's upper house. There are 46 Councillors....
Dick Marty
Dick Marty
Dick Marty is a Swiss politician and former state prosecutor of the canton of Ticino. He is a member of the Swiss Council of States , and a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.-Education:Marty holds a doctorate in law from the University of Neuchâtel with the thesis:...
, noted that the symposium had been co-organized by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, and had also been attended by representatives of numerous other states - including the United States - and concluded that:
- "The CESNUR report misrepresents the contents of the Regards sur newsletterNewsletterA newsletter is a regularly distributed publication generally about one main topic that is of interest to its subscribers. Newspapers and leaflets are types of newsletters. Additionally, newsletters delivered electronically via email have gained rapid acceptance for the same reasons email in...
: taking everything into accounts, there is insufficient credible evidence for the allegations to be made out."
Marty's report was adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe , which held its first session in Strasbourg on 10 August 1949, can be considered the oldest international parliamentary assembly with a pluralistic composition of democratically elected members of parliament established on the basis of an...
on March 18, 2005 http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=http://assembly.coe.int/committee/SC/2005/PER033E.pdf.
See also
- About-Picard lawAbout-Picard lawThe 2001 About-Picard law [abu pika:r] , a piece of French legislation, broadly speaking, makes it possible to act against organisations when such organisations have become involved in certain crimes...
- Status of religious freedom in FranceStatus of religious freedom in FranceFreedom of religion in France is guaranteed by the constitutional rights set forth in the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen....
- List of anti-cult organizations and individuals