Liu Xiaobo, Chinese literary critic, writer, professor, activist and supporter of the Tibetan people, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China." Currently serving an 11-year prison sentence for "inciting subversion of state power," Liu Xiaobo is the first Chinese person to be awarded a Nobel Prize of any kind while residing in China.
Thousands of prisoners - Tibetan as well as Chinese - continue to be held behind bars, serving long sentences for speaking out and voicing their opinions. They include Dhondup Wangchen, a Tibetan film-maker; Migmar Dhondup, a Tibetan tour guide and writer ; Runggye Adak, a Tibetan nomad; and Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, a Tibetan religious and community leader.
The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, which the Chinese government is not allowing Liu or his family to attend, will be held on December 10, which is International Human Rights Day.
Please add your voice before December 10, 2010 by sending a message to President Obama to urge him to stand up to press China for the release of all political prisoners detained for exercising their right to free expression, and to implement the political and human rights reforms that multitudes of Chinese and Tibetan advocates risk their lives to promote.
Take action and send your message now!
Naturally this is a good initiative, but one might ask if Obama, who encourages a 'strong China' and greatly praises religions that seem to advocate violence, would stick his neck out for Liu Xiaob? Had it been in his nature to do so, surely he would have done something already.
ReplyDeleteIf one adds such a remark, it's also in the hope that it will be one more grain of sand to weigh in favour of the release of the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Liu Xiaob.
Rob, apropos of one of the “two quite obvious reasons” you didn’t mention: (from The Telegraph, Dec. 7, 2010)
ReplyDeleteNobel peace prize row: 18 countries turn down ceremony invitations
China lambasted supporters of this year's Nobel peace prize laureate Liu Xiaobo as "clowns" as the Nobel Institute revealed that 18 countries had turned down invitations to attend Friday's award ceremony.
The refusals, which included several key Chinese allies and trading partners such as Pakistan and Sudan, came after weeks of intense lobbying by China to stop countries showing support for Mr Liu, a Chinese pro-democracy activist serving an 11-year jail sentence.
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"I would like to say to those at the Nobel committee, they are orchestrating an anti-China farce by themselves," said a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman. "We are not changing because of interference by a few clowns and we will not change our path."