This Saturday and Sunday - 3rd and 4th July. Alexandra Palace - which is owned by Haringey Council will be taken over by the Elan Vital organisation for an event from which the media are banned.

Elan Vital is a registered Charity and as such gets over £250,000 in tax back each year under the gift aid scheme, yet it still feels able to acquire the use of a public building and deny any scrutiny of its activities by the press. This in the same week when even the Government's often toothless watchdog, the Charity Commission, was calling for greater transparency in what Charities do.

Elan Vital is often described by its critics as a cult which uses coercive thought reform tchniques to hold the allegiance of its supporters. Once known as Divine Light Mission, Elan Vital is led by multi millionaire Prem Pal Singh Rawat, a naturalised American. Prem Rawat flies around the world in a private jet, the $6 million annual costs for which are met in part from UK charity donations.

Described as having independent means, and as being a successful private investor, the truth behind Prem Rawat's business interests reveal a decidedly novel approach to 'gift aid'.

In a deal with the IRS in the mid seventies Rawat's tax avoidance lawyer negotiated a deal whereby millions of dollars that had been donated to 'promote world peace', were treated as personal gifts to Rawat, making him a millionaire overnight. This arrangement was not made public until revealed by disaffected insiders long after the event; for years the money continued to pour in from unsuspecting followers.

In the early 1980's Divine Light Mission set up a project called DECA, based in Florida this used what was effectively slave labour to refit a Boeing 707 for Prem Rawat's personal use. Despite having such luxuries as a gold plated toilet, Prem Rawat decided the 707 was not up to standard, however by deft legal moves DECA became a private company which was eventually sold for many millions of dollars, benefiting Prem Rawat amongst others. 25 years on, workers from the 707 project are still suffering from the effects of the poor Health and Safety practices that were part of the endemic exploitation of the DECA project.

Rawat's personal wealth has been boosted by two major business donations. He was given 100% of the shares in an American book buying operation called Amtext; this set up acquires academic publications and then exploits impoverished students by selling them second hand books at near publisher prices.

In addition to Amtext, Prem Rawat through a holding company called Onae Trust was given a major share holding, in Washington based Deltek Systems. Deltek produces accounting software specifically for US Government contractors, although it doesn't have military interests itself, a large proportion of Deltek's customers are 'defense related'. An especially ironic connection given that Elan Vital promotes Prem Rawat as 'bringing a message of peace'.

The UK Government is proposing changes to charity law. If the Elan Vital story bothers you contact your MP and let them know you want secretive and exploitative organisations excluded from getting tax breaks as charities.

Alexandra Palace is managed by a Trust, but Haringey Council still has a concern over the types of events held there. You can contact the Haringey Executive via its Democratic Services Manager: e mail  yuniea.semambo@haringey.gov.uk

Cults are oppressive, anti democratic and anti social. Don't tolerate them.