USA/FILE: Campaign to free Liu Xiaobo launches in New York

Record ID: 346761

  • Title: USA/FILE: Campaign to free Liu Xiaobo launches in New York
  • Date: 9th December 2012
  • Summary: WEBSITE WHERE SUPPORTERS CAN SIGN A PETITION FOR LIU'S RELEASE
  • Embargoed: 24th December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Norway
  • Country: Norway
  • Topics: Crime,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7ALAMHZZCBXL5AM6H1GVLQVZW
  • Story Text: Dozens of supporters and activists gather in New York to launch the "Friends of Liu Xiaobo" campaign, as part of a global movement to prompt the release of Liu Xiaobo, his wife Liu Xia and political prisoners in China.
    A small group of Liu Xiaobo's supporters gathered in New York on Saturday (December 8) to launch a global campaign for the release of the Chinese dissident and Nobel Prize-winner, and his wife, who has been under house arrest.
    "Friends of Liu Xiaobo" aims to raise awareness about a case that has drawn attention to China's human rights record, even though China says Liu is a criminal and decries such criticism as unwarranted interference in its internal affairs.
    "This campaign is long overdue, but not just long overdue by us, but by the Western democracies. And the Western democracies not carrying its responsibility to pressing China is supporting the Chinese regime," said Wuer Kixi, a member of the campaign who helped launch the program in New York.
    "Now the Nobel Peace laureate's in prison for his words and then his wife is under house arrest because she is his wife. When all these things happened during the daylight, it is time for Western democracies to take responsibility."
    Liu, a veteran dissident involved in 1989 pro-democracy protests crushed by the Chinese army, won the prize in 2010. He had been jailed the year before and is serving an 11-year sentence. His wife Liu Xia is under house arrest.
    A group of 134 Nobel laureates including the Dalai Lama, wrote to Chinese Communist Party chief and president-in-waiting Xi Jinping urging him to release Liu, who won the prize two years ago. They also want Xi to free Liu's wife.
    "We appeal, please now, release him," the Dalai Lama said in a pre-recorded speech for the "Friends of Liu Xiaobo" campaign launch.
    "I would like to express that. This time also I would like to repeat, please now release him. And I think his noble idea, vision, I think in the long run, it means help to the People's Republic of China."
    Yu Jie, who authored Liu Xiaobo's biography, expressed concern for Liu and his wife's safety.
    "From what we have learned, he has been kept in a prison in Northern China, Jinzhou, where his treatment is poor. His access to books were strictly limited, but what worries us more is the fact that he is wife has been kept under house arrest," Yu told Reuters.
    "And her health, both on the physical and mental stage, very problematic now."
    Kunga Tashi from the Office of Tibet added that his case should be a concern for all nations.
    "As Tibetans and as human beings, we have a responsibility to support one freedom fighter, especially the Nobel Peace Prize-winner in Chinese prison," Kunga said.
    An online petition created by Desmond Tutu is gathering thousands of signatures, including those of the 134 Nobel laureates, appealing to Chinese leader Xi Jinping to release Liu Xiaobo and his wife Liu Xia.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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