Morning Bell: Rally for Liu Xiaobo

Conn Carroll / December 09, 2010

The Norwegian Nobel Committee is set to award the Nobel Peace Prize this Friday to author and 1989 Tiananmen protest participant Liu Xiaobo. But Liu will not attend. He is currently serving an 11-year sentence for co-authoring the Charter 08 manifesto calling for protection of human rights, comprehensive political reforms, and a democratic government in China.

In the past, the Nobel Committee has presented the prize to family members of the award winner. But that is not possible this year. Liu’s wife and dozens of friends and colleagues have all been placed under house arrest by Chinese security forces to prevent them from attending the ceremony. That means this will be the first time that the prize ceremony will lack a presentation since 1935, when Nazi Germany barred pacifist Carl von Ossietzky from attending.

China’s communist dictatorship has not limited its campaign against Liu to the nation’s borders. They have orchestrated a global campaign against the ceremony, threatening economic and political retaliation against nations that attend the ceremony. Those that either share China’s authoritarian beliefs or have succumbed to economic pressure include Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, the Philippines Egypt, Sudan, and Cuba. And like the Soviets and Nazis, they have hastily established their own rival award –the “Confucius Peace Prize.” (more…)