FRANCE: Reporters Without Borders says China's boycott of the Nobel Prize is counter-productive

Record ID: 742619

  • Title: FRANCE: Reporters Without Borders says China's boycott of the Nobel Prize is counter-productive
  • Date: 11th December 2010
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF GILLES LORDET AT DESK WATCHING NOBEL PRIZE CEREMONY ON COMPUTER SCREEN COMPUTER SCREEN SHOWING CEREMONY
  • Embargoed: 26th December 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France, France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA14871SAA4FTSWOYWQ6S9B1KXQ
  • Story Text: Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday (December 10) during a ceremony in Oslo, Norway, without being present.
    Democracy campaigner Liu, who was jailed late last year for 11 years for subversion, was represented at the award ceremony in the Norwegian capital by an empty chair after China prevented friends and family from attending.
    In Paris, Reporters Without Borders, the most famous activist organisation fighting in favour of journalists' free speech and rights expressed concern over the absence of Lui or his family.
    Gilles Lordet, head of research at Reporters Without Borders, said that such events could even reinforce the role of NGOs in countries where there is a strong censorship.
    "We still have links with organisations, journalists and defenders of human rights in China and it is really encouraging for them to know that they are supported by the Nobel Prize Committee, by a part of the international community. And that reinforces the dialogue perhaps and the possibilities to improve the situation in China. I think it will be difficult for one to discuss with the Chinese government directly but we will see the process after a while, once the tension decreases," he said.
    The absence of the laureate was symbolised at the ceremony by an empty chair and a large portrait of Liu, bespectacled and smiling.
    China called the award a "political farce" that did not represent developing nations or much of the rest of the world.
    Nineteen countries out of the 65 invited decided to boycott the ceremony, among them China, Serbia, and four other countries along Europe's borders.
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