Adjudication No. 942 (September 1997) [1997] APC 43

ADJUDICATION NO. 942 (September 1997)

The Australian Press Council has dismissed complaints by the Sukyo Mahikari organisation relating to a series of articles about it in the Canberra Times between March and May 1997.

After the first two articles were published the newspaper published a substantial balancing article by Dr Andris Tebecis, the Australian Regional Director of Sukyo Mahikari based in Canberra.

That publication, adequately and with commendable speed and prominence, fulfilled the Press Council's requirements for balance and fairness.

On 8 March and on 11 May, the Canberra Times printed two more news reports about the organisation. The first reported that the Australian Federal Police were investigating complaints by former members of the sect that it posed a security risk. The second referred to a report of a Belgian commission which had been investigating it.

The Press Council believes the newspaper was entitled to print the news reports and has no reasons to believe that the reports were not accurate.