Yesterday, on the eve of Human Rights Day, a giant Nobel Peace Prize medal was delivered to the Chinese Embassy in London, to highlight the continued imprisonment of 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Liu Xiaobo, and thousands of other prisoners of conscience across China.As well as delivering the medal, Chinese, Uighur and Tibetan Solidarity UK (CUTS UK) sent a letter to the Chinese Ambassador, calling on the Chinese government to immediately release Liu Xiaobo, release all prisoners of conscience in China, Tibet and East Turkestan, and to uphold the rights and freedoms of its citizens as guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Fabian Hamilton, MP and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, added his support to the demands issued by CUTS UK, saying,
“On the eve of Human Rights Day and the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony I call upon the Chinese government to release Liu Xiaobo, a defender of human rights and promoter of democracy, and to release all prisoners of conscience. Over the past 20 years we have seen dramatic changes in China's economic development, much of which has been positive for both China and the rest of the world. Now it is time for the Chinese government to apply the same rigour and effort to improving its human rights record. I support the demands issued today by Chinese, Uighur Tibetan Solidarity UK and I also call on the British government to support processes in China which will bring about real democracy for all the citizens of China and freedoms for the people of China, Tibet and East Turkestan.”
A statement from CUTS UK was read out on the steps of the Chinese Embassy echoing Liu Xiaobo’s call for freedom and democracy in China, and urging the Chinese government to stop violating the human rights of those under its control.
Chinese, Uighur & Tibetan Solidarity UK statementTwo years ago, on 10 December 2008, a brave group of scholars and activists inside the People's Republic of China published Charter 08; a groundbreaking document demanding human rights and democracy. In response, the Chinese government detained, harassed or placed under house arrest the majority of the signatories.
On 10 December 2010, Liu Xiaobo, one of the key authors of Charter 08, will be awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. However, Liu will not receive his award in person as the Chinese government has sentenced him to 11 years imprisonment on charges of “inciting subversion of state power”. Liu Xiaobo’s ‘crime’ was his expression of his opinions and beliefs, freedoms which are guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Following the recent release of Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, China is now the only country to have a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate in detention.
Liu Xiaobo’s incarceration is part of the Chinese government’s wide-scale crackdown on human rights defenders, which has resulted in the arbitrary detention, disappearance and increased surveillance on thousands of dissidents and intellectuals across China, Tibet and East Turkestan.
Currently thousands of prisoners of conscience in the People’s Republic of China face torture and inhumane treatment on a daily basis simply for speaking out against occupation, oppression and human rights violations. Amongst them are Dhondup Wangchen, a Tibetan film-maker serving a six-year prison sentence for directing a documentary about the realities of life in Tibet; and Nurmemet Yasin, a Uighur writer serving a ten-year prison sentence for a short story that was interpreted as critical of China’s rule.
On 10 December 2010, Liu Xiaobo, one of the key authors of Charter 08, will be awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. However, Liu will not receive his award in person as the Chinese government has sentenced him to 11 years imprisonment on charges of “inciting subversion of state power”. Liu Xiaobo’s ‘crime’ was his expression of his opinions and beliefs, freedoms which are guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Following the recent release of Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, China is now the only country to have a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate in detention.
Liu Xiaobo’s incarceration is part of the Chinese government’s wide-scale crackdown on human rights defenders, which has resulted in the arbitrary detention, disappearance and increased surveillance on thousands of dissidents and intellectuals across China, Tibet and East Turkestan.
Currently thousands of prisoners of conscience in the People’s Republic of China face torture and inhumane treatment on a daily basis simply for speaking out against occupation, oppression and human rights violations. Amongst them are Dhondup Wangchen, a Tibetan film-maker serving a six-year prison sentence for directing a documentary about the realities of life in Tibet; and Nurmemet Yasin, a Uighur writer serving a ten-year prison sentence for a short story that was interpreted as critical of China’s rule.
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