Archives

Crack down on violence

As could be seen there is a disconcerting rise in polls - related violence. Post-nomination incidents, we learn, have topped the 200 mark.

Although the incidents of this kind reported from Southern Sri Lanka are said to be of a relatively minor nature, the possibility is great that rising political antagonisms could result in grave tragedies. Already, however, the LTTE has indicated through two polls related killings, that it intends launching a full-scale terror campaign in an effort to influence the vote in the North-East.

Given these tendencies, it would be absurd in the extreme for anyone to assume that the Southern cup of sorrow on account of polls violence, would be less bitter than the Northern one.

In other words, nothing could be taken for granted on this score and all avenues must be explored to curb the violence.

As we have said on numerous occasions in the past, leaders of political parties and organisers should take it on themselves to discipline their rank-and-file political activists and exact maximum accountability from them for a violence-free poll. Unfortunately, these norms are observed more in the breach.

Occasions are numerous when political party big wigs take the law into their hands in the most brazen fashion over polls related incidents. Recently, some political heavy weights had reportedly stormed police stations with their goon squads to have offending party activists and supporters released from detention. Small wonder, then, that election-related violence is soaring.

How could we have stable law and order when the authority of the country's law-enforcers is questioned and violated by even senior politicians, who are expected to know better?

We call on campaigning politicians to refrain from, thus, sowing the seeds of anarchy and lawlessness. Not only must political parties rein-in indisciplined elements among them but establish codes of conduct for party activists to enable a culture of tolerance to take root. We hope the Presidential Advisory Counsel on Combatting Crime has taken cognizance of these problems and is forging ahead with the task of setting-up mechanisms for their defusion. We call on all sections of society to cooperate with this body in bringing about violence-free campaigning.

Meanwhile, the need is great to rein-in the trigger happy Tigers, who are beginning to be seen in some circles as a law unto themselves. However, the message needs to be drilled into them that nobody is above the law and that if they are interested in a negotiated settlement, they have to rigidly observe the norms of democracy.

International pressure on the Tigers in the wake of the most recent killings, we find, is inadequate. While the US has come out with a strong pronouncement against the LTTE on these incidents and Japan too has expressed concern over them, other sections of world opinion seem to be non-committal on these developments.

We hope, bodies such as the EU, would break their silence over these incidents and critically scrutinize the conduct of the Tigers. It just wouldn't do, as one interfering but feather brained Western official has done, to only call for fair elections here. The Tigers must also be recognised and condemned for who they are.

########

Hollywood reign challenged

Is America's dominance in the global film industry finally coming to an end ? This is the question being asked by industry pundits after a flock of New Zealanders walked away with practically every Oscar award on Sunday.

Oscars host Billy Crystal said it all when he quipped that "there's nobody left to thank in New Zealand" by the end of the show in which Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" scooped 11 awards.

The Kiwi creation featuring hobbits and orcs from J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy Rings trilogy, was enormously successful worldwide. Filmed in New Zealand over 16 months, the Rings movies proved that directors, artists and technicians from other countries could match, or even exceed, the standards set by Hollywood.

The foreign invasion of the Oscars did not end there. South Africa's Charlize Theron won her country's first Academy Award - a best actress trophy for the biopic "Monster". Another New Zealander came close - 13-year-old Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider), who lost the best actress statuette to Theron. In fact, only one American was nominated in the Best Actress category. Hollywood films regularly feature British and Down Under 'imports' including Sean Connery, Jude Law, Naomi Watts, Russel Crowe and Nicole Kidman.

Some of the best movies are now made outside tinseltown. Films from France, Iran, China, UK and Sweden have won rave reviews in recent years. These are not action flicks that Hollywood wants us to see, but more realistic films with moving storylines.

However, no other country has a film industry that comes close to Hollywood in terms of distribution strength and commercial appeal. Arthouse films appeal only to a limited audience and cinema owners prefer profitable box office hits. This is where Hollywood scores over other film industries.

Sri Lanka too has its claim to fame - the Bridge on the River Kwai and several other films were shot here. More efforts should be made to promote Sri Lanka as a film location. Our directors should also strive to make world-class movies that can compete with the best. A Sri Lankan film got quite close to Oscar nominations this year. We should hope for better luck, and perhaps Oscar glory, next time.

www.Pathmaconstruction.com

www.ceylincoproperties.com

www.ppilk.com

www.crescat.com

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries

Produced by Lake House
Copyright © 2003 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager