A CHINESE primary school teacher and a beautician have filed a suit against CNN in New York over remarks they say insulted the Chinese people and are seeking US$1.3 billion in compensation — US$1 per person in China.

The case against the Atlanta-based cable channel, its parent company Turner Broadcasting and Jack Cafferty, the offending commentator, comes after 14 lawyers launched a similar suit in Beijing last week.

Cafferty said the United States imported Chinese-made “junk with lead paint on them and poisoned pet food” and added: “They’re basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they’ve been for the last 50 years.”

In New York, Liang Shubing, the beautician, and Li Lilan, a Beijing-based elementary school instructor, claimed Cafferty’s words insulted all Chinese people.

Asked if China supported the action against CNN, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu characterized it as “spontaneous activity by Chinese civilians.”

“We will wait and see CNN’s response,” Jiang told a news conference, referring to the Foreign Ministry’s request for a full apology. “We hope CNN will take this seriously.”

The 14 lawyers who launched the case told Hong Kong’s Wen Wei Po that they asked for 100 yuan (US$14.31) in damages.

(SD-Agencies)