Nov 20, 2019 15:00:00

Swedish Prime Minister dismisses threat of Chinese government `` Do not give free prize to detained writers ''

By

TheDigitalArtist

A Swedish cultural organization has awarded a prize for freedom of speech to a writer, Gui Min Hai , detained in China. The Chinese embassy in Sweden protested the award as a 'grave mistake,' but the Swedish PM replied, 'I will not succumb to this kind of threat.'

PEN International — Sweden: Tucholsky Award fitting tribute to…
https://pen-international.org/news/sweden-tucholsky-award-fitting-tribute-to-gui-minhai

Swedish PM hits back at China over literature prize threat-The Local
https://www.thelocal.se/20191115/china-threatens-sweden-over-prize-to-dissident-author

China threatens Sweden over support for jailed book publisher | News | DW | 16.11.2019
https://www.dw.com/en/china-threatens-sweden-over-support-for-jailed-book-publisher/a-51276420

China threatens Sweden after Gui Minhai wins free speech award | Books | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/nov/18/china-threatens-sweden-after-gui-minhai-wins-free-speech-award

Minami Katsura is a Swedish writer born in China. In addition to writing about 200 books on Chinese politics and politicians in 10 years, Gui Min Gui runs a bookstore called Causeway Bay Books, which sells books banned in China in Hong Kong. was doing.

In 2015, five officials at Causeway Bay Bookstore, including Mr. Guiminhai, reportedly disappeared mysteriously in China and Hong Kong, and those who went missing eight months later were detained by Chinese authorities. It turned out that it was. In response to this incident, Hong Kong protested against unjust detention by the Chinese authorities, which caused great ripples.

In Pictures: Over 1,000 protesters chant 'no to authority' in support of returned bookseller | Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/06/18/1000-protesters-chant-no-authority-support-returned-bookseller/

Mr. Guiminhai was released on October 17, 2017, but was detained again on January 19, 2018. As of November 2019, Chinese authorities continue to be in custody.

In November 2019, the Swedish branch of the

International Pen Club awarded Mr. Minami Katsura the Tudorsky Prize for freedom of speech. The Tuholsky Prize is named after Kurt Tuholski , a Jewish writer who fled to Sweden from Nazi Germany, and is for those who have been persecuted or forced to asylum.

In response to the prize being awarded to Guimin Gui, the Chinese embassy in Sweden described the 'grave mistake' as saying, 'Guinmin Hai is known for spreading falsehood. The Swedish Pen Club Has decided to award this prize to Guiminhai based on political intent and hostility and prejudice against China, giving the creator of this farce a breakthrough from self-righteous narcissism and an award for Guiminhai. Call for withdrawal of the award. '

Chinese Embassy Spokesperson: Awarding a Criminal is a Sheer Farce
http://www.chinaembassy.se/eng/mtfw/sgfyryw/t1713886.htm

Despite the Chinese opposition, the Swedish Pen Club held an award ceremony. The award ceremony was attended by Minister of Culture and Democracy Amanda Lind, while “vacant seats” were provided for Mr. Guiminhai detained in China. At the award ceremony, Minister Lind gave a speech, stating, 'Mr. Katsumi should be released. In Sweden, his actions are subject to freedom of expression.'

'I do not intend to succumb to this kind of intimidation. Sweden has freedom of expression,' said Swedish Prime Minister Stephen Robane on the conflict with China. In response to an interview with a Swedish radio station, Chinese Ambassador Katsura Chunyu in Sweden responded, 'I strongly oppose Swedish government representatives to attend such events. We will take the ''.