Blog: 8 Life at the Base - 2008-12-30

8 Life at the Base December 30, 2008, Jonny Jacobsen, Infinite Complacency

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Former residents at Scientology's International Base recall a harsh regime where every aspect of life is tightly controlled.

"I worked for many years for Scientology. Some of it was good, some bad," said Jeff Hawkins. "Then I was transferred to the International Base in Hemet and it went downhill from there."

The International Base, a compound of 500 acres, lies at the base of a range of hills at the north end of the San Jacinto Valley, southern California, about 90 miles east of Los Angeles. It is the heart of Scientology's empire.