The Chinese Embassy already demanded last week that Swedish PEN should withdraw the prize to the Swedish-Chinese publisher who published regime-critical works and subsequently imprisoned by Chinese authorities. Following the threats from the embassy, Svenska PEN raises security during the evening's awards ceremony.
In a new interview with Sweden's radio, Ambassador Gui Congyou goes further and threatens the consequences for both the Swedish government and "some people".
- I assume that I am one of them, because I chair the organization that awards the prize. I'm not surprised they react, but I'm surprised they react so strongly. They have responded before, but not with direct threats, ”Jesper Bengtsson tells SVT News.
"A cloud that is surely conscious"Swedish PEN has awarded the Tucholsky Prize to persecuted or threatened writers or publishers since 1985, but Jesper Bengtsson does not know that governments or ambassadors have reacted in this way in the past. A translation of Sweden's radio interview on the Chinese Embassy's website states that "some people should not feel calm after hurting the feelings of the Chinese people". In the recorded interview at SR, you can hear how the Chinese translator says that "some should not expect everything to continue as usual".
- It would be interesting to hear what they mean. There is some ambiguity in the threats that is certainly conscious, but it makes it uncomfortable, says Jesper Bengtsson.
He has not personally been in direct contact with the Chinese Embassy. The organization is adamant that tonight's award ceremony will take place.
- It is important to focus on the ball here, that is freedom of speech. We will respond to the threats by handing out the prize.