This year the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Liu Xiobo, a Chinese national who is currently serving an eleven year prison sentence for speaking out in support of democracy.
The presentation was held in Oslo where the chair that had been provided for Liu Xiobo remained empty since he was unable to attend. Nor were any members of his family able to receive the award on his behalf since the Chinese government had refused to issue them with exit permits. Further to this, twenty of his friends and supporters were detained prior to the event in order to prevent their attendance.
The whole episode has been a public relations disaster for China, and has generated Worldwide criticism of the Chinese government’s actions, as well as focusing renewed attention on their continuing abuse of human rights.
The situation was exacerbated by China’s attempts to pressurize other countries into not attending, claiming that the awarding of the prize had been politically motivated.
Fourteen countries declined to attend as a consequence, Russia and Saudi Arabia being amongst them./ TE
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