KABUL (SW) – Demolition of the historic Cinema Park in downtown Kabul by the government has sparked widespread protest among the Afghan artist circles.
The female head of the Afghan Film Corporation Sahra Karimi and legendary musician Farhad Darya are among those who raised their voices against the move.
In this connection, Salam Watandar spoke exclusively to Homayoun Payez, one of the country’s leading cinematographers. Payez is a well-known Afghan filmmaker and director. Cinematographers and cultural figures consider him to have a good philosophical and cinematic understanding. The film “Beyond the Silence Line” is one of his exemplary works
Salam Watandar: You have been working for the cinema for many years, is the government’s decision to demolish Cinema Park a prudent and sensible one?
Homayoun Payez: I cannot call this decision as a thoughtfully taken one. I believe that terrorists and forces of destruction grow in the absence of cultural activities, and start killing and destroying. If our governments paid attention to the nurturing of culture, we would have not been in the grip of a monster called the Taliban and so many other terrorists today. Instead of demolishing the Cinema Park, the government should have renovated it and respected the culture of cinema.
Salam Watandar: The government, especially vice president Amrullah Saleh, considers the demolition of Cinema Park justifiable. Do you think that the demolition of Cinema Park, which was 70 years old, can be justified?
Homayoun Payez: There can be no justification for the destruction of cultural and historical assets. Authorities have demolished the Cinema Park for improving security. It is true that the destruction of a cinema might have a small effect on the psychological and physical security of the people, but we all know that this will not affect the security of the entire city. These justifications are not reasonable and acceptable. Cinema Park was an historical and cultural monument and should have been preserved.
Salam Watandar: What does the government gain by destroying Cinema Park?
Homayoun Payez: Officials say the Cinema Park was a den for drug addicts. But, the destruction of Cinema Park can in no way reduce the number of terrorists, the addicts or the thieves. The justification of the government is irrational.
Salam Watandar: Why didn’t the government renovate the Cinema Park instead of demolishing it? Was it not possible to renovate?
Homayoun Payez: It was one hundred percent possible, but only if the government had empathy for culture and cinema of the country, this building would have been renovated long ago. The government has promised to build a new place for educators and filmmakers instead of the cinema. If the government had such a plan in hand, there are dozens of vacant lots across the city that have turned into garbage dumps, those could have been utilized.
Many artists, filmmakers, photographers and writers offered to take charge of the Cinema Park and bring it back to life, but the government ignored it.
Salam Watandar: Where impacts would the destruction of Cinema Park now have on filmmakers?
Homayoun Payez: Nurturing culture has not been on the agenda for successive governments since the establishment of interim government in 2001 and till now. No attention is paid and no investment has been made in this regard since. In the past twenty years, we have only witnessed the erosion of culture in Afghanistan.
Salam Watandar: Do you think that the demolition of Cinema Park legitimizes the views of extremists and those who reject cinema?
Homayoun Payez: Extremists were and are enemies of culture, art, cinema and modernity, and this action of the government only strengthens the ranks of extremists.
Salam Watandar: Why did the government rejected repeated pleas of the notable filmmakers and cultural figures by going ahead to destroy the cinema?
Homayoun Payez: We can say that art and the artist are of no value to these statesmen, the proof of this is right in front of us. Many notable figures desperately asked the government not to destroy the Cinema Park, but the cinema was eventually destroyed.
Salam Watandar: What has the government done for the growth and globalization of Afghan cinema?
Homayoun Payez: I have always been critical of the government. Two things have caused a catastrophe in our country: unchecked freedom of expression and the free market economy. We have approached the government many times for film work, but have always been rejected.
Salam Watandar: What effect will the destruction of Cinema Park have on cinema and filmmakers in war-torn Afghanistan?
Homayoun Payez: Our hearts are bleeding. Instead of building a new facility for filmmakers, the government is demolishing our ruins. The reason we protested against the demolition of Cinema Park was that this historical and cultural place should not be destroyed. However, it will have no effect on the cinema and the filmmakers, we would continue to walk this path with full conviction.
Salam Watandar: What is the role of the Ministry of Information and Culture?
Homayoun Payez: In the past twenty years since I have been observing the situation, no ministry has had the authority to anything. Those who nominate the ministers decide on behalf of their ministries. There are also flatterers who try to stop the growth of culture, art and wish to stop people from critical thinking, and this is what is breeding terrorism in the country.
ENDS
