SVT manager: "No self-censorship against China"

SVT Nyheter's Foreign Minister Pia Bernhardsson has been called as a witness in the notable trial that begins on March 19. Former Beijing Ambassador Anna Lindstedt is charged with having unanimously negotiated with foreign power, which may have resulted in damage to the security of the kingdom.

Pia Bernhardsson is called to report on his contacts with the Chinese Embassy and its protests following the broadcast of Swedish news. The satire program included an incident with Chinese tourists, which aroused strong reactions in China.

SVT Nyheter's division manager Anne Lagercrantz has in a letter on 19 December questioned whether it is relevant. She believes that journalists' access to interviewers and data can be harmed by such participation and has requested that the hearing be revoked.

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Hans Ihrman, rejects SVT's request for a review. He says in a comment in DN that the testimony may have significance in the case against Anna Lindstedt since Foreign Minister Pia Bernhardsson had his own contacts with the Chinese embassy about the satire program. The prosecutor wants to show that the Chinese embassy acted similarly in the pressures against Anna Lindstedt.

SVT has sought the prosecutor, who has not been reached. He tells DN that he wants to ask questions about a meeting between Anna Lindstedt and Pia Bernhardsson. However, during questioning, Bernhardsson has referred to source protection and does not want to confirm or resign a meeting.

Source protection is regulated in the Constitution and means that journalists are obliged to protect their data providers. It is a criminal offense to disclose the source and also to request a source.

- There should be grounded shootings between journalism and the judiciary. A journalist should work for the public and not be part of the justice system. We have different views but must respect the prosecutor's decision and Pia will appear for questioning, says Anne Lagercrantz.

The court may consider whether the source protection applies in this case, and if the court considers that the source protection does not apply, Pia Bernhardsson must state what she knows under oath.

She says she obviously won't answer any questions that could jeopardize source protection.

Isn't the obligation to testify in a trial before?

- There may be different interests. The job of the journalist is to safeguard a foundation in our profession and that is the source protection. People need to feel safe talking to journalists. But of course the testimony applies to journalists as well, says Anne Lagercrantz.

The prosecutor says in DN that he is worried that this is an expression of SVT's self-censorship of China?

- It's stupidity, insinuating and misleading. We have proven in rows of publications and reviews that we are not the least bit worried about reactions from China. We have participated in international excavation projects on detention camps and have done our own research on the extensive pressures from China towards Swedish media. We have also examined how Nordic Huawei executives defend China's policy.

Will Pia Bernhardsson also talk about her conversations with Anna Lindstedt?

- It's a hypothetical question. She is called to testify about the Chinese Embassy's reactions after the satire program.

Is your letter to the Prosecutor not just a signal or marker because SVT will still testify?

- I question if it's relevant. It is important to keep journalism and justice apart, says Anne Lagercrantz.