13.4.2008
The
50 minute documentary Min Datter Terroristen (my Daughter
the Terrorist) attempts to glorify the motivations of
two Black Tiger women. The documentary follows the training
and indoctrination of Dharsika and Puhalchudar (possibly
not the real names) for a suicide mission against the
Sri Lankan state. The main emphasis of the documentary
is to give some pseudo-justification to the act of suicide
terrorism by the LTTE. Sections of the documentary are
narrated by Maria (actor playing the role of Mother).
The
documentary has been produced/co-directed by two Norwegian
nationals Mr.Morten Daae and Ms. Beate Arnestad. Interestingly,
Ms Arnestad states that she used a false name Ms Smith
when she traveled to Sri Lanka to make the film. Ms. Arnestad
has blatantly breached Sri Lankan immigration regulations
and also media guidelines for visiting journalists as
prescribed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The camera
crew was led by Norwegian Frank Alvegg. The Production
Company is Snitt Film Production based in Oslo , Norway
.
The
international rights for the documentary is managed by
TV2 World ( Denmark ), Rugaardsvej 25, 5100 Odense , Denmark
. As at December 2006, the broadcasting rights to the
documentary have been purchased by Radio-Canada Television
( Canada ), TV2 ( Denmark ), Al-Arabia (Satellite Television
covering the Middle East), NHK-BS1 ( Japan ) and TV2 (
Norway ).
Financial
support for the making of the documentary was provided
by two institutions, one a NGO operating in Norway named
Freedom of Expression Foundation (Institusjonen Fritt
Ord), Uranienborgveien 2, 0258 Oslo . According to the
annual report of Freedom of Expression Foundation, financial
support of one Million Norwegian Kroner (NOK 1,000,000)
was provided. In addition the Norwegian Film Fund, which
is a government institution enacted by the Norwegian Parliament
in 2001 and functioning under the purview of the Norwegian
Ministry of Culture provided 250,000 Norwegian Kroner
(NOK 250,00) for the making of the documentary.
The
fact that a Norwegian government institution provided
funding for the production of a documentary that glorifies
suicide terrorism against the State of Sri Lanka is in
contempt of the friendly relations between the two countries.
Furthermore Norwegian government funding was provided
to a film Director that used a false identity to operate
in Sri Lanka is a serious matter.
Courtesy - Asian
Tribune