Ex-student claims she was raped.
'Red Guard' head says encounter was totally consensual.

By Megan Hansen

Nisqually Valley News.
Friday, November 2, 2007.

One woman's claim during Saturday's public meeting that she was raped by a Ramtha School of Enlightenment em­ployee prompted a quick re­sponse from the school.

Karri Konga, who attended RSE for 19 years, took the stage at Yelm Middle School as a speaker and claimed that she was raped after a wine ceremony in 1997. The alleged rape resulted in a pregnancy that she later terminated, Konga said.

Konga did not name the alleged rapist. In a posting on an online support community for former students, however, she has described in detail what she said happened, and claims her assailant was a member of the "Red Guard," a security force at RSE events charged with keeping women and chil­dren safe.

"It took everything I had to get up and speak," Konga said after speaking to the audience. "I almost ran out when I saw all the RSE employees." It has only been five months since Konga left RSE, but she said she is constantly reminded of Ramtha and the teachings.

"Feeling the wind on my face reminds me of Ramtha," Konga said. "I was always told 'I am Ramtha, lord of the wind.'"

Though she didn't name the alleged rapist, the man she accused issued a statement to the Nisqually Valley News Monday via e-mail.

Steve Handlan, leader of the Red Guard, said in a written statement that he did have sex with Konga in 1997, but main­tains it was consensual. "Looking back, I know it was an inappropriate time and place for such activities, despite the fact that it was after hours and consensual between us," he wrote.

RSE property manager James Flick said the school was not aware of the alleged incident until recently, and when they got wind of it, Flick sat down and talked to Handlan and others who had heard about it.

However, since the school sees it as a consensual act and it happened ten years ago, there wasn't really anything we could do, Flick said. "We don't condone any acts like that on the ranch at all."

On Saturday, Konga said she is a lesbian who had never had sex with a man before the alleged rape, and never wanted to.

In his written statement, . Handlan disputes that claim.
After they had sex, Handlan said, "I later learned from anoth­er individual that Karri had told her on Saturday morning that, although she had been a lesbian all her life, she had been curious about what sex with a man was like, and that was why she had done it the night before."

In response, Konga said Monday that Handlan's version of events is untrue.

Deirdre Marshall, a current student, contacted the Nisqually Valley News on Monday at Handlan's request to corroborate his story.

"The following morning (Konga) came up to me and said she spent the night with Steve Handlan," the woman said. "I asked if they had sex and she said, 'yes-'"

"I was surprised because she was a lesbian."

Konga said the conversation with Marshall never happened — that she never spoke with anyone about the incident—and that she was surprised to learn about Marshall's statement.

The two women used to be friends, Konga said.

"They all still belong to that group, so they're going to band together," Konga said.

It wasn't until March of this year, after leaving the group, that Konga said she really under­stood that she was raped.

"At that time, I didn't realize it was rape," Konga said. "I was told I created this on the plane of bliss."

Konga and RSE said they contacted the Thurston County Sheriff’s office report the allegations, but the statute of limitations has run out.

A wine ceremony, according I to some former students, is a sacred ceremony in which par­ticipants drink several glasses of wine at a time and get increas­ingly drunk. The objective is to open one's mind.

Jaime Leal-Anaya, historian and research writer for RSE said wine ceremonies date back to Greek mystery schools, as well as the Christian Eucharist.

"At RSE, Ramtha would lead the participants in a toast or prayer of intent. Usually, one or two toasts were done at the beginning of a teaching," Leal-Anaya said. "Participation with wine was always voluntary."

"Yes, some people used wine ceremonies as an excuse to get drunk. They missed the point and did not participate in the teachings being presented.


Nisqually Valley News.

link.. http://yelmonline.com/

Greg Simmons' remarks about Catholics - how does that go over with the non-RSE Christians in Yelm?! He's not only blindfolded, but is gagging on his own foot stuck inside of his mouth. Why single out only one aspect of Christianity? We have fundamentalist Christian views which have become so involved in politics here - that what is the litmus test for a supreme court justice nominee during the past 8-12 years?

I think LARSE should give Greg the microphone more often, for it exposes the truth within him - and that right now, doesn't appear to be a very "loving" picture.
(was Mike wearing his blue and white hair/"neuronets?")

One other thing I feel ought be brought to attention - the fact that "R" claims to be the "Great Ram of the Hindis people" - expose this to the entire country of India, Nepal (which is a "Hindu kingdom," and all Hindu/Jain/Sikh temples throughout the US, at least. Maybe we should begin emailing the New Delhi Times!

Just my opinions.

The NVNews reported, "Jaime Leal-Anaya, historian and research writer for RSE said wine ceremonies date back to Greek mystery schools, as well as the Christian Eucharist.

"At RSE, Ramtha would lead the participants in a toast or prayer of intent. Usually, one or two toasts were done at the beginning of a teaching," Leal-Anaya said. "Participation with wine was always voluntary."

"Yes, some people used wine ceremonies as an excuse to get drunk. They missed the point and did not participate in the teachings being presented."

I disagree that this is a truthful statement coming from RSE.

STudents were TOLD they HAD TO drink (or leave) as much wine as Ramtha said they must. It usually was 1 - 2 BOTTLES, whereby each student's "partner" had to view the cups of one another.

How far back wine ceremonies date, is irrelevant to the abuse of drinking, to the point of total drunkeness, vomiting, fights, orgies, was ongoing at RSE.

For once, can those mouthpieces for RSE tell the WHOLE truth !???

Oh my. I had no idea that they were encouraged to drink that much wine. However, I can see the alcohol dependency in my realtive whom I a trying to help. Also in her so-called common-law husband. Naturally alcohol can create a temporary euphoria but side effects can be devastating.

As a matter of fact, it was common practice at the beginning of wine ceremonies for the staff to pass out large, plastic VOMIT bags to each student. Hello?

Does that sound like a glass or two of wine with the Big GuyGal ? NOT.

They were pressured greatly, into drinking at least 1 - 2 BOTTLES of wine for each wine ceremony, as common practice.

There were even some children drinking it, and some who even smoked.

A Letter to the Editor of the NVNews stating these things as a rebuttal to the untruths told, would be in order.

I can relate to Angrydaughter's post as I suppose I am also an angry relative. As I learn more about what actually happens at this so-called ranch I begin to understand why many of these posts are so emotionally charged. I have to hold myself back from going on a rant about the Ramtha hypocrisy and this business about the wine and the vommit bags merely builds upon the madness.

1) I was very very angry when the reporter from the NVN had told me Steve Handlan had written to the NVN and finally, for the first time, admitted to the "incident."
and from Steve's view, RSE then took up the same view: it was consensual and over ten years ago. No biggie.
2) the Ranch then dug up a former single mother friend of mine, who I had confided to during the time I found out I was pregnant and was thoroughly distraught about the whole situation.
(She was the one who coached me that I had "created this whole thing on the Plane of Bliss.")
For RSE to get her to write to the NVN that I welcomed the whole idea and I had been thinking and planning it and totally loved it was BEYOND my scope imagination.
Talk about betrayal!!!!
And this was a "friend".
3) Yes, many posts are emotionally charged because what comes out of RSE's mouthpieces are highly minimized snipets of what they call "truth".
Field work might be just an afternoon stroll, in the eyes of RSE, but how about 12 forced hours on the field??? For 1000 people.
A simple "wine ceremony"...is simply not just sipping wine and listening to some "god realized". It is 1-2 bottles, and that after several years of this, produces a group of alcoholics.
A day in the tank is minized to " a great initiation", when in reality, between 5-10 hours, through a forest, through nests of ants, hornets, mud to your shin high,broken legs, without water....
I think you can start to see the disparity of what really goes on vs what is publicized by RSE.
and these are just 3 examples.

ps.
in regards to that fromer single mother friend of mine.
She is an uncodumented illegal alien
(she never had enough money to get a green card) living in US gov't sponsored housing.
Now how is THAT for a reputable source?