January 29, 2008

By Hans Bengtsson/Epoch Times Sweden Staff

SWEDEN—The Chinese embassy in Sweden attempted last Friday to stop the Divine Performance Arts Chinese cultural show in the city of Linköping because the embassy has no influence over the program of the show, according to a report from the Swedish national television SVT on Sunday.

Johan Lundgren, chief of the Cultural and Recreational Board told SVT that he was indignant about incident because an official at the Chinese Embassy in Stockholm threatened him that relations between the City of Linköping and China could deteriorate if the show was not stopped.

“I am not surprised at the Chinese Embassy’s behaviour. They represent the largest dictatorship in the world. Anything that is not within their control—they will attack,” said Chinese expert Lilly Wang.

On Monday the Linköping Board of Municipality had a meeting to discuss the incident.

“This demand is astonishing but it is valueless. It is completely unthinkable that we stop the show. It doesn’t matter who ring us, we shall not be influenced,” said the Municipal Chairman Mr. Paul Lindvall to Corren the regional Swedish newspaper.

Björn Eriksson the county governor has had past experience with totalitarian regimes that mixed up state affairs and the free market practices.

“The Chinese demand will not achieve its goal. If anything it will be, on the contrary, even greater interest for the performance, said Björn Eriksson.

The Swedish national news media reported about the incident.

Mr. Leo Wijkman, program manager of the Arenabolaget, the company that operates the concert hall in Linköping said to the Corren that he had booked the show on grounds of its artistic merits.

Divine Performing Arts on Tour is at present on world tour with its highly acclaimed display of traditional Chinese dances, songs and music, and scheduled to perform at the Cirkus in Stockholm on March 24-26 and the Konsert & Kongress in Linköping on March 27.