Former South African
Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former Czech president Vaclav Havel have
appealed to Chinese authorities to set the Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo
free "without conditions" before the awarding, next Friday, of the Nobel
Prize for Peace 2010.
The appeal was published yesterday by Britain's The Observer. Tutu and Havel are honorary co-chairmen of the association Freedom Now, that represents Liu in international bodies.
The detention of the dissident, Havel and Tutu write,
is "sadly emblematic of intolerance by the Chinese government in front
of individual expression."
Now, they continue, China has "the unique opportunity to chart a new course" as a world leader, embracing its obligations to promote and protect human rights.
Now, they continue, China has "the unique opportunity to chart a new course" as a world leader, embracing its obligations to promote and protect human rights.
Now, reads in the appeal, "such an approach must begin
with the observance by China of its obligations in accordance with its
Constitution and international agreements. The first step must be the
unconditional release of Liu Xiaobo and his wife, Liu Xia, before the
Nobel peace prize award ceremony on Friday."
SIC: AN/INT'L