- Jailed Chinese political activist Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, for his efforts over two decades, to promote democratic rights in China.
- The Chinese Foreign Ministry hit out at the decision, warning that the award would adversely effect ties between China and Norway. It said "Liu Xiaobo is a criminal who has been sentenced by Chinese judicial departments for violating Chinese law,"
A supporter of democracy
Mr. Liu (54), a political activist, is the author of a controversial document, Charter 08, which called for "the rapid establishment of a free, democratic, and constitutional country" and an end to one-party rule.
Mr. Liu was also a student leader during the Tiananmen Square student protests in 1989. Over the past two decades, he has spent several years in jail and in re-education camps. He was released in 1999, but sentenced again, in December last year, to 11 years in prison for "subverting State power" by releasing Charter 08.
Nobel broadcast blocked in China
While his efforts have brought him international attention, Mr. Liu is little known in China, rarely finding mention in the State media. The award, however, is certain to bring him more recognition here, with hundreds of bloggers and many websites reporting the news on Friday.
The live broadcast of the announcement on Friday was blocked in China, with international news channels, including BBC and CNN, being temporarily blacked out. Newspapers and some news websites in China were told to not report the announcement, journalists at several news organisations.
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