Freedom fighters worldwide can express delight. After His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Aung San Suu Kyi, we can add Liu Xiaobo, a jailed Chinese dissident, to the list of worldly recognized freedom fighters. The Nobel Peace Prize 2010 is awarded to Liu Xiaobo, “for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China”. He participated in the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. Ever since then the renowned literary critic, writer and political activist has been detained, arrested and sentenced repeatedly for his non-violent political activities. Since 2008 Mr. Liu is serving an 11-year sentence for campaigning for political freedom. He wrote a manifesto calling for political change in the communist ruled China. Human Rights Watch called Liu Xiaobo’s trail “a travesty of justice.”
Beijing was enraged when the Dalai Lama won the Peace Prize in 1989, right after the Tiananmen Square crackdown on protesters. In the eve of the award China insisted that Liu Xiaobo is a criminal who violated the Chinese law and that the award could damage relations between China and Norway. The Norwegian Nobel Committee (based in Norway) has always insisted to be independent and ignores pressure to influence its decisions. With this bold decision it has stand by the principals of the prize, preached by the committee.
Worldwide activists face persecution and oppression when advocating freedom and equality.
I believe the power is in the people to make a strong opposition to those who violate our rights and that of others. Noble Peace Prize winner or not, the true victory is when Liu Xiaobo is free from jail and free from any further persecution. From every corner of the world we should fight for our freedom fighters as they have and still are fighting for our brothers and sisters in the struggle. Please let your voice be heard.