Liu Xiaobo Wins Nobel Peace Prize

Liu Xiaobo (刘晓波), the prominent independent intellectual and long-time democracy advocate, was awarded the Nobel peace prize today for his “long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China.” In its citation, the Nobel Committee noted that despite China’s economic advances, “China’s new status must entail greater responsibility,” and pointed to China’s breach of international agreements and its own constitutional guarantee of fundamental rights and freedoms.

“This award comes at a critical historical crossroads in China and constitutes a powerful affirmation for the voices calling for change,” said Sharon Hom, Executive Director of Human Rights in China. “As Liu Xiaobo and other Chinese advocates for change have pointed out, the only sustainable road ahead for China in one towards greater openness and political reform. This has most recently even been publicly stated by senior Chinese officials.” 

HRIC urges that Chinese authorities immediately release Liu Xiaobo and all of the other political prisoners who are currently incarcerated for exercising their right to freedom of expression.

In December 2009, Liu was convicted of “inciting subversion of state power” and sentenced to eleven years in prison for his role in drafting the Charter 08, a public appeal for sweeping political reform, and for articles which he previously had published online. (Human Rights in China translated six of his articles and documents related to his case in the 2010 no. 1 issue of China Rights Forum – see below for links.)

For English translations of Liu Xiaobo’s articles and documents relating to his case, see “Freedom of Expression on Trial in China”:

“Inciting Subversion of State Power”?: Six Essays by Liu Xiaobo and Charter 08

• About Liu Xiaobo
• Liu Xiaobo: A Chronology of Activism
• The CPC’s Dictatorial Patriotism
• The Many Aspects of CPC Dictatorship
• Can It Be that the Chinese People Deserve Only “Party-Led Democracy”? 
• Changing the Regime by Changing Society
• The Negative Effects of the Rise of Dictatorship on World Democratization
• Further Questions about Child Slavery in China’s Kilns
• Charter 08

Freedom of Expression on Trial: Liu Xiaobo Legal Case Documents

• Relevant Chinese Law
• Indictment
• Defense Statement of the First Instance
• “My Self-Defense” by Liu Xiaobo, First Instance Trial
• “I Have No Enemies: My Final Statement” by Liu Xiaobo, First Instance Trial
• Criminal Verdict, First Instance Trial
• Defense Statement of the Second Instance
• Appeal Decision

Freedom of Expression across Borders

• Relevant International Human Rights Law
• Václav Havel on Liu Xiaobo, Charter 08, and the Struggle for Democratic Reform: HRIC Interview
• Letter from Liao Yiwu to German Chancellor Angela Merkel
• Letter from Liu Xiaobo to Liao Yiwu
• “To My German Readers” Letter by Liao Yiwu

For more information about Liu Xiaobo, see:

• “Court Affirms 11-Year Sentence for Liu Xiaobo against International Appeal for His Release,” February 11, 2010
• “Liu Xiaobo Appeal Charges Court with Abuse of Public Power,” January 29, 2010
• “Václav Havel, in HRIC Interview, Sends Message of Solidarity to Liu Xiaobo and Family,” January 27, 2010
• “International Community Speaks Out on Liu Xiaobo Verdict,” December 30, 2009
• “Liu Xiaobo’s Guilty Verdict and 11-Year Sentence Send Message of Zero Tolerance for Universal Human Rights,” December 25, 2009
• “What Constitutes Liu Xiaobo’s ‘Incitement to Subvert State Power’?,” December 23, 2009
• Ding Zilin, “The Dirtiest of Political Trials,” December 23, 2009
• “Ding Zilin Urges Charter 08 Signers to ‘Join’ Liu Xiaobo’s Trial,” December 18, 2009
• “HRIC Strongly Condemns the Formal Arrest of Liu Xiaobo by Chinese Authorities,” June 24, 2009
• “Chinese Authorities Continue to Suppress Charter 08; Number of Signers Exceeds 7,200,” January 9, 2009
• “Independent Scholars Detained: Start of 2009 Crackdown?,” December 9, 2008
• “Rights Crackdown Intensifies a Month before the Games,” July 8, 2008
• “Chinese Scholars and Activists Demand Equality for Migrant Workers in China,” February 14, 2008