by Sally Scott, Manager at a not-for-profit service, Perth, Western Australia

I had travelled from Perth to be at the Universal Medicine event scheduled for Friday 12th October 2012. Once a month on a Friday night Serge Benhayon presents for about two hours on Esoteric Medicine. This has been happening since 2010 and anyone is welcome to attend these informative sessions.

On entering the hall I noticed Serge at the back of the hall talking with a man. They seemed deep in discussion. Serge spent all his time with this man before he got up to present to the group who had gathered for the evening, approximately 150 people.

Serge informed us that we had an unexpected guest with us, David Millikan, and that he was a Uniting Church Minister and an expert in cults and that he was writing a book and was open and interested in Universal Medicine. He had some questions for the student body. David then took the stage adding that he was a theologian and an expert in cults, having studied them for 30 years and was used by police to investigate groups.

Now initially when Serge took the stage, we were told that David was open to know more about Universal Medicine and that he would ask questions to the student body and we could have an honest and open discussion with him.

What transpired was anything but open and honest. The scene that played out in the Lennox Head Community Centre was disgraceful. All of a sudden there were a number of people in the audience who were filming David on stage and us as the audience, all of us, children included (David’s hidden camera people).

Students attempted to answer David’s questions and ask him questions back but David would not be engaged in a true dialogue. He was just ranting and throwing out accusations. Serge came back on stage very calmly, and questioned why David had completely changed his tune about Universal Medicine and why nothing that David was putting to the student body was what had been discussed with Serge.

As this continued heavy-duty cameras came to the entrance of the Community Centre and desperately tried to get additional footage of the people in attendance, along with shots of Serge and David. It was more than evident that this was a set up. At the same time students attempted to get the internal hand-held cameras to stop filming as permission had not been sought or given. It was like a circus with lots of things going on to draw our attention, to incite us into reaction, with David still on stage making up ridiculous questions or statements to try and invoke the student group into an emotional scene or outburst for the group to give the media something juicy they could use. I mean, let’s be honest, you only need a couple of 2-3 second scenes to cut and paste it into any story you want.

The absolute arrogance of the media, of this man David Millikan, was obvious to all. It was clearly all part of an elaborate plot to set up Universal Medicine and us as its students. Most people sat in disbelief. An honest open dialogue could have been most interesting, but it was impossible as it became more and more apparent that David had made his mind up and had an agenda. It was now about a push to get footage to fit his predetermined story. As David spoke he admitted when directly questioned by one of the students that yes, he was on the pay role for a well known television station.

Let’s face it, until David and his film crew hijacked our evening we had all entered a Community Hall in Lennox Head of our own free will looking forward to a presentation on Esoteric Medicine by Serge. Universal Medicine hired the venue, there is a $5 entry fee and the presentation was open to all. People are free to come and go as they please. Both long-term students of Universal Medicine and those who had never attended arrived, taking their seats and talking quietly or just sitting and waiting. Nothing sensational going on; very, very normal. However, the tone quickly changed once David claimed the stage after being introduced by Serge and the hidden cameras came on. It was immediately evident that David was not interested in true discussion, just sensational grabs for the story that he was attempting to manufacture. A disgraceful, absolutely disgraceful use of media power.

I witnessed the defiant and aggressive behaviour, I felt attacked for what is my most basic right, that is, the right to choose. I choose to be a student of Universal Medicine and I chose to attend this presentation. I chose to go and listen to Serge Benhayon speak. I have this right. Universal Medicine offered to refund everyone’s money as the scheduled Esoteric Medicine event had been disrupted. David Millikan hijacked the evening for personal gain and for a story. I feel it is David Millikan who should be refunding me my money.

From what he displayed David Millikan was not concerned about us as a group of people or interested in what we might have shared with him. He had calculated an attack against Universal Medicine, and against me as a student. David, and not Serge Benhayon, used the group for his own personal gain. It was masterminded and deceitful and David was the ‘cult leader’ of the whole show, yes, performance and show. He and the media in general seem to have brainwashed reporters, film crews, etc. to think that it is ok to lie, deceive, cheat, accuse, fabricate, twist the truth, edit responses to suit a desired outcome and to sensationalise. It seems they see themselves as above the law and above reproach. This behaviour is unacceptable.

So yes, the morning after I am still outraged by what I experienced at the hand of David Millikan. This form of intimidation should be seen as criminal. A crime, that I feel, David Millikan should be made responsible for!