U.N. rights chief Zeid in talks with Chinese officials on Liu

Record ID: 898037

  • Title: U.N. rights chief Zeid in talks with Chinese officials on Liu
  • Date: 4th July 2017
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (JULY 4, 2017) (REUTERS) UNITED NATIONS BUILDING U.N. BRIEFING ONGOING JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS AGENCY SPOKESWOMAN ELIZABETH THROSSELL SAYING: "Last week, after the very sad news emerged that he is gravely ill with liver cancer, the high commissioner sent a letter to the government of China, requesting a meeting to discuss the situation of Liu Xiaobo, and of his wife, Liu Xia, and her access to him. That meeting took place on Friday, the 30th of June, and we are hoping to continue this dialogue over the coming days and weeks." U.N. SYMBOL (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS AGENCY SPOKESWOMAN ELIZABETH THROSSELL SAYING: "As you know, we don't normally discuss the content of bilateral meetings, but we will let you know if there is any significant developments on this. What I can say at this point is that our thoughts are with Liu Xiaobo and Liu Xia, at this really difficult time for them." UNITED NATIONS BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 18th July 2017 12:02
  • Keywords: Liu Xiaobo Liu Xia cancer China Nobel Peace Prize
  • Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND AND BEIJING, CHINA
  • City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND AND BEIJING, CHINA
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Fundamental Rights/Civil Liberties,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016OAYG5J
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein has met Chinese officials regarding Nobel Peace Prize winning activist Liu Xiaobo, who has late stage cancer, and discuss access for his wife Liu Xia, a U.N. spokeswoman said on Tuesday.
    Liu Xiaobo's "time is limited" due to a fluid build up around his stomach caused by liver scarring, a family member said, after authorities said Liu could not be moved abroad due to his illness.
    Now 61, he was jailed for 11 years in 2009 for "inciting subversion of state power" after he helped write a petition known as "Charter 08" calling for sweeping political reforms.
    His wife, Liu Xia, has been under effective house arrest since her husband won the peace prize in 2010 for his human rights activism.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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