(Screenshot of the video)
Stockholm (People’s Daily) - Swedish television station SVT on Tuesday published an article on its official website responding to a news program that was recently slammed for insulting China and its people – acknowledging that the program’s overall message was lost, but still offered no apology for the racial discrimination.
SVT interviewed Thomas Hall, the entertainment manager of SVT, in the article after the complaints of racism escalated. The interview proposed questions including some criticism from China, such as using a map of China that had Taiwan and Tibet removed.
Hall said the message the show tried to deliver was lost and that the segment was meant to point out the anti-Chinese issue in Sweden, which is an issue not commonly known in the country. He said the show was meant to highlight a recent incident involving Chinese tourists who were treated poorly in Stockholm.
Hall said the statement will be the editorial department’s only declaration to the public because its staff is working on producing the next episode of the Swedish News.
Hall said their intention of uploading the video to Youku was to get China to react to the anti-Chinese issue in Sweden. Hall said he understands that the content may be upsetting to some and that they feel sorry for it.
Hall also noted that the entire segment has been uploaded to YouTube with English subtitles, so people that can watch the whole show and see their stand on fighting racism.
Yet Hall did not respond to the use of the incorrect Chinese map and derogatory terms. According to multiple interviews, this angered Chinese communities and many have lodged complaints against the station to secure an apology. The interviewees said if the negotiations are fruitless, they will consider seeking legal help.
According to Swedish criminal law, if a program’s content is identified as racial discrimination, the program leader and related parties may face jail time, one local resident said during an interview.
(Compiled by Terry Guanlin Li.)