08 Oct 10 | Index Index, minipost
Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo has been awarded the 2010 Nobel peace prize. He was praised by the Nobel committee for his “non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights”. Currently serving an 11-year prison sentence on charges of subversion, Liu was co-author of Charter 08, calling for democratic reforms in China. It was feared last month that pressure from the Chinese government might affect the committee’s decision, and as the award was announced, BBC news and CNN broadcasts were blocked in China.
28 Sep 10 | Index Index, minipost
The Chinese government is putting pressure on the Nobel committee not to award the peace prize to Liu Xiaobo. The activist is currently serving an 11-year sentence for subversion. According to the director of the Nobel Institute, Geir Lundestad, deputy foreign secretary Fu Ying said giving the prize to Liu would damage relations between China and Norway. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Liu’s actions are “diametrically opposed to the aims of the Nobel prize”. The winner of the 2010 Nobel peace prize is due to be announced in Oslo on 8 October.
09 Feb 10 | Index Index
A court in Myanmar is scheduled to announce a verdict on imprisoned dissident Nyi Nyi Aung (Kyaw Zaw Lwin) on Wednesday. Aung spent years campaigning for Burmese democracy in exile before obtaining American citizenship. Upon a return visit, he was imprisoned and is charged with forgery, possession of undeclared foreign currency and failure to renounce his Myanmar citizenship. In December, 53 members of Congress sent a letter to Myanmar’s leader, Than Shwe, seeking Aung’s immediate release and calling his detention and trial “inconsistent with both Burmese and international law.”
Aung could face 12 years in prison. “Activists are frustrated by the lack of noise from the U.S. government when he is a U.S. citizen,” said Elaine Pearson, the deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
20 May 09 | Resources
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