Freedom for Liu Xiaobao

Appeal of NSZZ „Solidarność” to release Liu Xiaobao the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Winner

This year Nobel Committee decided that Peace Nobel Prize will be awarded to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. It will be presented on 10 December 2010 in Oslo.

Liu Xiaobo was born on 28 December 1955 in Changchun, a city in the north-eastern part of China. He is a writer and specialist in literature by profession.

Liu Xiaobo, a well-known defender of human rights and co-author and signatory of Charter 08 (petition calling for constitutional reform, democratization and protection of human rights, signed by more than ten thousand Chinese citizens), was arrested in 2009, and then charged with “inciting subversion of state power” and sentenced to eleven years of imprisonment. The government of People’s Republic of China sentenced Liu Xiaobo on the basis of his role in preparing and organizing signing of Charter 08 and six essays criticizing Chinese government. This sentence was met with widespread criticism from Chinese bloggers, international civil society groups and governments of other countries.

Liu Xiaobo was previously imprisoned among others for “counter-revolutionary propaganda and incitement”, and also for participation in students’ protests on Tiananmen Square in 1989 which were brutally pacified and hundreds of protesters were killed.

NSZZ “Solidarność” is urging the Chinese Government for immediate and unconditional release of Liu Xiaobo, sympathizing with his non-violent protests and initiatives for democratic reforms and protection of human rights.

In view of the fact that China has rejected all recommendations of UN member states concerning freedom of speech, freedom of association, independence of judiciary system, guarantees for lawyers, protection of human rights activists, rights of ethnical minorities, abolishment of death penalty, abolishment of re-education through work camps, torture ban, freedom of the press and effective prevention of discrimination and taking into consideration the fact that China does not abide by ILO international standards, continually violates human and trade union rights and victimizes and persecutes their defenders, NSZZ “Solidarność” urges Chinese authorities to guarantee respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including trade union freedoms, and calls for ratification of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and all core ILO conventions.

Bogdan Biś
Vice-President
National Commission
NSZZ „Solidarnosc”