New York, December 11 – As the Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee placed the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize on an empty chair meant for Liu Xiaobo at a glittering ceremony in Oslo yesterday, supporters celebrated the “victory of truth” all over the world. In New York, Hollywood actor Richard Gere joined a coalition of Tibetan, Chinese, and international human rights organizations outside of the United Nations to celebrate Liu Xiaobo’s award.
“Liu Xiaobo’s empty seat at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony serves as a sad but extremely eloquent symbol of how far China’s leadership has yet to go to become a responsible member of the world community,” said Richard Gere, Board Chair, International Campaign for Tibet. “I’m deeply moved by Liu Xiaobo’s courage and commitment to human rights reform in China and hope that all people of goodwill proudly stand with him at this time as the Nobel Committee sends a clear message that no nation – no matter how powerful – is above the universal obligation to respect and protect the rights of its citizens.”
Students for a Free Tibet also joined the coalition that also demanded an immediate and unconditional release of Liu Xiaobo, currently serving an 11-year sentence for his role in writing and promoting ‘Charter 08’, which calls for democratic and human rights reform in China, is also a long-time supporter of the Tibetan people’s right to self-determination.
“Today’s awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to a man who has committed himself to truth, justice and democracy is a beacon of hope for Tibetans, Chinese, and all those suffering in the darkness of China’s authoritarian rule. I join Tibetans worldwide in congratulating Liu Xiaobo and thanking him for his courageous support of the Tibetan people,” said Tenzin Dorjee, Executive Director of Students for a Free Tibet.
“The Nobel Peace Prize for Liu Xiaobo is a great affirmation of the fundamental right to freedom of expression,” said Sharon Hom, Executive Director of Human Rights in China, an international NGO based in New York and Hong Kong. Liu Xiaobo himself had articulated this value more eloquently, said Hom, who recalled Liu as saying in the past that it is more dangerous to stop people’s mouths than to dam a river. “The tall prison walls cannot hold back free expression. A regime cannot establish its legitimacy by suppressing different political views, nor can it maintain lasting peace and stability through criminalizing speech, ” Hom read a quote by Liu himself.
