LINKOPING, Sweden—"We are in politics, so we are engaged in defending freedom of speech," Swedish MP Finn Bengtsson said after attending the Chinese Spectacular on Thursday night in Linkoping.
"So that's why we are here, to support. Also because of the nice art. But primarily, I must be honest and say, for freedom of speech," he said.
Mr. Bengtsson was impressed by the show, as was Ann-Cathrine Hjerdt, the Mayor of Linköping.
"It is very impressive, [with] very beautiful dresses. I have never been to China but you get a feeling of the culture through millenium and centuries. I think it's very wonderful to see," she said.
Mr. Bengtsson's comments come in response to attempts by the Chinese Embassy to pressure politicians into not attending the show because it contains two performances about Falun Gong, as well as Tibetan, Mongolian, and Korean dances. Falun Gong has been persecuted by the Chinese regime for the past eight years, and the Chinese Spectacular seeks to portray the resurgence of ancient Chinese culture.
Mr. Bengtsson said he was glad he was at the show and expressed his wish to support the performance "as much as we possibly can."
Earlier on Thursday, a very direct letter countering the Chinese regime's attempts to export censorship was published in a Swedish regional newspaper. It was written by local MP Andreas Norlen and co-signed by six other MPs, all of whom attended the opening show on Thursday night. Mr. Bengtsson was one of the signatories.
In the letter, the MPs invited the Chinese Ambassador to join them in seeing the Spectacular, believing openness and dialogue is necessary in building a better society.
"We're very happy that we are here because it is so important to give you all the credit that you can have for your efforts both for the arts and also what you stand for," said Mr. Bengtsson to local show organisers.
"The drums were very astonishing, but the dance is important because the three items ... the stature, the form and the third area you had was the technique, and if you mix that together you get an impressive expression of emotion as well as fine performing arts, he said.
"I was very much impressed by the Chinese dance. ... Actually it is more impressing than our ballet, I think."
"Also the possibility to express not only emotions but ideas, mental ideas, like freedom of speech is one example. Like the Falun Gong. I was very impressed. I am very happy to be here."
He said he thinks it is good that Divine Performing Arts have many performances in Scandinavia, including Finland.
"We hope [they] will come back next year."
In a resounding finale, as audience members rose to their feet in a standing ovation, organizers read aloud a letter from regional governor Bjorn Eriksson referring to how the Chinese embassy in Stockholm interfered in Swedish domestic affairs by trying to pressure local politicians not to attend or support the show.
For information about upcoming Divine Performing Arts shows, please visit: www.DivinePerformingArts.org.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Chinese Spectacular. For our complete coverage please visit: http://en.epochtimes.com/features/dpa2008/
Feeds