Job Discussion Forums

[Kornan DeKobb]

The Nobel Peace Prize 2010


Liu Xiaobo

[btsmrtfan]

Hasn't China previously threatened other nations for interfering in what it describes as internal matters?

I could swear I recall hearing of this before........

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Actually they have threatened Norway, not Sweden. Although the latest news is that China is aggressively pushing back on-line and in the media. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao made a statement saying that "democracy is irresistable for Chinese" and that "the great strides in economic development that arrived with the economic reforms could be lost without political reforms."

Another thing Premier Wen mentioned was regarding censorship. He said he supported freedom of speech, and that the Chinese people should have the right to criticize their leadership, as it will encourage leaders to change or work harder for the people.

These statements were broadcast during an interview with CNN, and subsequently blocked in China. Ordinary Chinese do not know Premier Wen's full interview.

In the last few days, aggressive articles in China's state-run media outlets have called the Nobel Prize a "western attack on China" and have said "anyone who supports the 2010 Peace Prize award, supports awarding criminals."

What has been often mentioned, although not in the Chinese state-run media, is that Mandela and King were both 'criminals'. Yet they are hardly demonized to the extent that Liu Xiaobo has been.

Interesting developments.

[Dedicated]

China's petulant response to the award of the Nobel Peace Prize today to dissident Liu Xiaobo speaks volumes about its continuing contempt for human rights. Liu Xiaobo is serving an 11 year prison sentence for subversion.

China has responded to the Nobel committee's choice by preventing its citizens from travelling to the ceremony, by blocking Western media and by pressuring dozens of nations not to attend. Around a third of the 50 countries invited are staying away, including Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Venezuela and Cuba.

It is not clear what China hopes to achieve by such heavy-handed tactics, beyond simply preventing its citizens from knowing the truth. The Chinese leaders have once again simply shown the rest of the world their exteme sensitivity to any criticism and inability to tolerate any democratic protest. Nothing could better make the case for Liu Xiaobo's courage and importance.

[chaiplz]