France condemns 'sinister' arrest of Polanski
Foreign minister demands answers from US as Hollywood stars plead for release of director held over sex with 13-year-old
Digg
del.icio.us
Facebook
Reddit
Google
Stumble Upon
Fark
Newsvine
YahooBuzz
Bebo
Twitter
Independent Minds
AP
Roman Polanski delivering a speech during the Closing Ceremony of the 61st Cannes International Film Festival last year
enlarge
The fate of the Franco-Polish film director Roman Polanski became an international cause célèbre yesterday as Paris, Warsaw and an extensive cast of figures from world cinema demanded his immediate release from a Swiss jail.
The French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, protested formally to both the US and Swiss authorities against Mr Polanski's arrest in Zurich on Saturday for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in California in 1977. Mr Kouchner described the circumstances of the arrest, on an American warrant, as "a little sinister".
The French and Polish foreign ministers later appealed in writing to the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, to intervene and called for Mr Polanski's release on bail. The 76-year-old film director's lawyer, Herve Temime, said that he would fight extradition in the Swiss courts – something that might take up to six months. He added that his client, despite being "stunned" by the arrest, was "in fighting mood and determined to defend himself".
Petitions from leading film directors and other cinema figures, including one signed by the celebrated Polish director, Andrzej Wajda, focused most of their anger on the Swiss authorities. The fact that the Polish-born Mr Polanski was arrested as he arrived to receive a lifetime achievement award at the Zurich film festival was, they said, "a provocation".
A leading French director, Bertrand Tavernier, said: "The Swiss are extraordinary. Here is a law which is supposed to combat drug-trafficking and tax evasion and the first victim they pick on is an artist."
The Swiss Economy Minister, Doris Leuthard, rejected suggestions that the arrest was intended to ease strained relations between Switzerland and the US. An extradition treaty between Washington and Berne obliged Switzerland to act, without question, on any arrest warrant issued by the US authorities, she said. The international outcry on Mr Polanski's behalf implied that there should be a law for ordinary people and another for celebrated film directors, she suggested.
"The Americans strongly believe that the arrest of Mr Polanski is necessary," she said. "That's for them to decide. Switzerland is simply a state where the police functions and where we treat all people in the same way."
Mr Polanski – the award-winning director of Rosemary's Baby, Cul-de-Sac, Chinatown and The Pianist – fled the US in 1978. He had admitted having sex with a 13-year-old at the home of the actor Jack Nicholson but insisted that the girl had consented.
After accepting a plea bargain for a short sentence of "time already served", Mr Polanski became convinced that the court and prosecution in Los Angeles was about to renege on the deal. He fled to France where he has lived ever since. His victim, Samantha Geimer, who reached a civil settlement with Mr Polanski for an undisclosed sum, called last year for the case to be dropped.
The French and Polish governments jointly appealed yesterday for Mr Polanski to be released on bail. The Swiss justice ministry said that this possibility was "not entirely excluded" so long as Mr Polanski promised to remain within Switzerland.
In a radio interview, the French Foreign Minister, Mr Kouchner, said that the Californian and Swiss authorities had acted unreasonably. "It's a little sinister, this business, to be quite frank," Mr Kouchner said. "A man of such talent, recognised throughout the world ... All this is not nice."
The jury of the Zurich film festival – accused of failing to react strongly enough at the weekend – accused the Swiss government of "philistine collusion" with the US.
The jury's president, the American actress Debra Winger, said: "[The arrest] is based on a three-decade-old case that is all but dead but for minor technicalities."
View all comments that have been posted about this article.
Offensive or abusive comments will be removed and your IP logged and may be used to prevent further submission. In submitting a comment to the site, you agree to be bound by the Independent Minds Terms of Service.
- Print Article
- Email Article
-
Click here for copyright permissions
Copyright 2009 Independent News and Media Limited
Comments
i'm in no way agreeing with what he did but......
at the time of the offence sex was legal at 12yrs in 14 states of the usa
funny old world
.
And it most likely was not legal to drug and force yourself upon someone
Is everyone forgetting....Polanski, a 44 year old man, CONFESSED to the RAPE (oral, vaginal and sodomy) of a 13 year old child, after coaxing and intimidating her in to getting drunk (on Champagne) and giving her drugs (half a tablet of Qualude). These are not allegations, he has confessed to them. He then was not man enough to face punishment but fled like a common criminal. A 44 yr old Paedophile who intoxicates and sodomizes a 13 yr old child....everyone rising to his defense should have their heads examined.
I hold no brief for Polanski, but weren't a couple of revolutions fought against imprisonment on a government's simple say-so? And here I thought the Swiss guarded their freedom and neutrality so zealously. Shows how much I know.
Is it a good idea to release him again when he can then cross the border to France?>
Harvey Weinstein: Polanski has served his time and must be freed.
has he? must he?
the bloke's a nonce - end of!
if by serving his time you mean living in the lap of luxury of in one of the worlds most liberal nations, as a runaway paedophile then yay - his debt has been paid in full! way to go harvey!!
wouldn't let you, or him, near my kids that's for sure.
this bloke used alcohol and drugs to subdue a minor, stuck it every orifice possible, then legged it to evade justice.
which bit of this story are people having trouble with understanding?
i can only commend the swiss for being on the ball - its not often your hear of justice catching up with people.
as for those who wish to support him and trivialise the matter "cause he's an artist", shame on you.
somewhere in the world, theres an adult woman who has to listen to your BS - i am sure she has a completely different take on it to you "luvvies".
Personally I think this nonce should be fed his own genitalia...
It is time for this pederast to face justice. He had his chance for leniency when a plea bargain was negotiated. He could not face even a reduced sentence, the coward that he is. The time for compromise and leniency has passed. Now it is time for swift and harsh justice.
May he spend the remaining years of his wretched life in a California State Penitentiary. In fact, I hope he is sent up to Corcoran State Prison, and placed in the cell adjacent to Charles Manson.
WELL, THANKFULLY THERE ARE DECENT LAWS AGAINST CHILD ABUSE AND THIS MAN IS A CHILD ABUSER.
FAMOUS OR NOT, HE STANDS ACCUSED OF A FOUL CRIME AND DESERVES TO BE VIEWED AS A PAEDOPHILE AND A CRIMINAL. I HAVE NO SYMPATHY FOR HIM. HE KNEW HE WAS BREAKING THE LEGAL LAW AND MORAL LAW TOO BUT DIDNT CARE FOR ANYTHING BUT HIS OWN GRATIFICATION. HOW THOSE IN THE INDUSTRY CAN SUPPORT HIM IS BEYOND ME. PERHAPS THEY ARE FU**ING WEIRD TOO.
ON TOP OF HIS HIDEOUS CRIME, HE ALSO RAN AWAY. WELL DONE AMERICA AND WELL DONE SWITZERLAND. I DO WONDER WHY THIS ARREST WASNT EXERCISED YEARS AGO THOUGH.
This is the second time I've submitted this... hope it goes through this time!
He drugged her
He had oral sex with a 13 yr old
he sodomised a 13 yr old
He had a trial
He pleaded guilty
He skipped bail
BUT....now here's the rub...he made a couple of good movies.
Ergo...let him off.
Gary Glitter must be kicking himself that he chose Vietnam and not France to set up house.
Labeling him this way may be seen as defamation and incitement to hatred. I believe other terms are more appropriate and accurate.
She did not consent, she was drugged, raped, and buggered, how this cannot be perceived as anything BUT deviant I do not now or these "eminant" experts have given a unforeseen loophole to all and sundry,
Your argument almost sounds very much the same arguement of Peter Tatchell and his cronies advocatin Man-Boy sex as acceptable...