Liu Xiabo , Chinese poet and dissident, was awarded the Nobel Peace prize for 'his for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China' Jagland went on to state, 'The Norwegian Nobel Committee has long believed that there is a close connection between human rights and peace. Such rights are a prerequisite for the "fraternity between nations" of which Alfred Nobel wrote in his will.' Thorbjørn Jagland also noted in the presentation speech, ' The human rights activists in China are defenders of the international order '.
Xiabo was one of the 350 signatories of Charter 08 which outlines the freedoms and rights they would like to see in China(see link below) Xiabo's chair remained empty as Xiabo is currently imprisoned in China serving at least 11years. No relatives were allowed to leave China to attend and collect the prize on his behalf. Instead the prize was placed on his empty chair drawing much attention by his absence. Ironically the attempts by China to silence Xiabo have only drawn far greater world attention to him and the human rights abuses in China.
- Read the following articles and consider if Liu Xiabo is an upstander, or foolish. Should he have spoken up, drawn attention to oppressive actions in China or remained silent?
BBC:
Guardian: A Chair and a Photo Stand in for Liu Xiabo at Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony
"I have no enemies and no hatred... ...for hatred is corrosive of a person's wisdom and conscience; the mentality of enmity can poison a nation's spirit, instigate brutal life and death struggles, destroy a society's tolerance and humanity, and block a nation's progress to freedom and democracy. I hope therefore to be able to transcend my personal vicissitudes in understanding the development of the state and changes in society, to counter the hostility of the regime with the best of intentions, and defuse hate with love." Liu Xiabo
Nobel Peace Prize Presentation Speech
New York Review of Books: China's Charter 08
Read Liu Xiabo's poetry translated by Jeffrey Yang for PEN:
A Small Rat in Prison
for Little Xia
a small rat passes through the iron bars
paces back and forth on the window ledge
the peeling walls are watching him
the blood-filled mosquitoes are watching him
he even draws the moon from the sky, silver
shadow casts down
beauty, as if in flight
a very gentryman the rat tonight
doesn't eat nor drink nor grind his teeth
as he stares with his sly bright eyes
strolling in the moonlight
5. 26. 1999
Daybreak
for Xia
over the tall ashen wall, between
the sound of vegetables being chopped
daybreak's bound, severed,
dissipated by a paralysis of spirit
what is the difference
between the light and the darkness
that seems to surface through my eyes'
apertures, from my seat of rust
I can't tell if it's the glint of chains
in the cell, or the god of nature
behind the wall
daily dissidence
makes the arrogant
sun stunned to no end
daybreak a vast emptiness
you in a far place
with nights of love stored away
References:
http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/go/news/liu-xiaobo-one-letter-is-enough-longing-to-escape-a-small-rat-in-prison-and-daybreak
Copyright © 2009 by Liu Xiaobo. English translation copyright © 2009 by Jeffery Yang. All rights reserved.
