Dharamsala, October 8: Exiled Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama Friday congratulated Mr Liu Xiaobo for being awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize and renewed his call on Beijing government to release him and other prisoners of conscience languishing in Chinese jails.
“I would like to take this opportunity to renew my call to the government of China to release Mr. Liu Xiaobo and other prisoners of conscience who have been imprisoned for exercising their freedom of expression,” the Dalai Lama said in his message.
In the message the Dalai Lama, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, the year of the Tiananmen Square crackdown by Chinese authorities on protesters, offered “heart-felt congratulations” to Mr. Liu for being awarded this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
Mr Liu on Friday became the first Chinese to ever win the most coveted peace prize.
Announcing the prize on Friday, the Norwegian Nobel committee praised Liu Xiaobo for his “long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China. The … committee has long believed that there is a close connection between human rights and peace.”
The announcement, however, reportedly provoked a furious reaction from Chinese authorities, who warned that the decision would hurt relations with Norway.
“Liu Xiaobo is a criminal who has been sentenced by Chinese judicial departments for violating Chinese law,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Awarding the peace prize to Liu “runs completely counter to the principle of the prize and is also a blasphemy to the peace prize”, the statement said.
The Dalai Lama said awarding the Peace Prize to Mr Liu signified “international community’s recognition of the increasing voices among the Chinese people in pushing China towards political, legal and constitutional reforms.”
“I believe in the years ahead, future generations of Chinese will be able to enjoy the fruits of the efforts that the current Chinese citizens are making towards responsible governance,” the revered Tibetan leader added.
In the congratulatory message, the Dalai Lama also took note of the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s recent calls for political reforms in China.
“I believe that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s recent comments on freedom of speech being indispensable for any country and people’s wish for democracy and freedom being irresistible are a reflection of the growing yearning for a more open China,” the Dalai Lama said.
“Such reforms can only lead to a harmonious, stable and prosperous China, which can contribute greatly to a more peaceful world,” His Holiness added.
