Imprisoned China's Dissident Liu Xiaobo Wins Nobel Peace Prize

China’s dissident Liu Xiaobo has won the Nobel peace prize, the Norwegian Nobel committee has announced today (October 8th) in Norway’s capital, Oslo.

Liu Xiaobo

Credit: The Norwegian Nobel Committee

He was awarded the prize for “his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China”.

China’s best-known dissident is actually serving 11 years in prison for incitement to subvert state power. As the news was announced, transmission of both BBC news and CNN television channels was interrupted in China.

The 54-year-old author and critic has been held since December 2008, when police seized him at his home in Beijing. One year later, a court sentenced him  for being one of the leading authors behind Charter 08, a manifesto released on the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights calling for greater freedom of expression, human rights, and for free elections.

For over two decades, Liu Xiaobo has been a strong spokesman for the application of fundamental human rights and has been detained, arrested, and sentenced repeatedly for his peaceful political activities. He was first jailed for his role in the Tiananmen protests in 1989 and served three years in a labour camp in the 90s. Since 2003 has also served as President of the Independent Chinese PEN Center, the worldwide association of writers. 

According to the Norwegian Nobel committee China’s new status as the world’s second largest economy “must entail increased responsibility”. China is in breach of several international agreements and does not comply with Article 35 of its own constitution that lays down that “Citizens of the People’s Republic of China enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration”. In practice, says the committee, these freedoms “have proved to be distinctly curtailed for China’s citizens”.

A foreign ministry spokeswoman said last week that awarding Liu the prize would contradict the aims of the award and a senior Chinese official warned that Sino-Norwegian relations would be damaged if Liu won. However, several Chinese dissidents took the step of signing a letter supporting his nomination.

Given his detention, it is unclear how Mr. Liu would take possession of the prize, which includes a gold medal, a diploma and 10 million Swedish kronor (SEK).

Source: The Norwegian Nobel Committee