A group of Hong Kong lawmakers will attend a ceremony in Oslo awarding the Nobel peace prize to jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo (劉曉波), Hong Kong media reported yesterday.
At least four legislators from Hong Kong will travel to the Norwegian capital for the Dec. 10 ceremony, the reports said, as Beijing warned European and other governments that there would be “consequences” for showing support to the veteran activist.
Hong Kong’s Democratic Party Chairman Albert Ho (何俊仁) said that he and a trio of other legislators “must attend and show support,” the daily South China Morning Post reported.
“The recognition by the civilized world of Liu Xiaobo’s peaceful fight for human rights and democracy is a big international event,” Ho was quoted as saying.
“Human rights have no national boundaries and everyone has a duty to be concerned about the human rights situation in their own countries,” Ho added.
Diplomatic sources said on Friday that China has warned other countries against attending the ceremony, in the latest sign of Beijing’s irritation at the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s pick this year.
Liu, 54, was jailed in December last year for 11 years on subversion charges after co-authoring “Charter 08,” a petition calling for sweeping political reform that has been circulated online and signed by thousands.
China has said the Nobel honor was tantamount to “encouraging crime”.
The Hong Kong lawmakers were invited to the ceremony by the dissident’s wife, Liu Xia (劉霞), who is under house arrest, the Post said.
Last week, Hong Kong’s legislative council voted down a motion calling for Liu’s release, as pro-government lawmakers allied to Beijing — who make up about two-thirds of the chamber — warned against interfering in China’s domestic affairs.
Meanwhile. Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, in Japan for a visit that will likely overlap with Chinese President Hu Jintao’s (胡錦濤) attendance at a regional summit, repeated on Saturday his support for Liu Xiaobo.
“In his movement, [Liu Xiaobo] not toppling the government, but trying to bring more openness, more accountability,” the Dalai Lama told reporters in Narita, near Tokyo.
“China remaining a secretive society is very very harmful for making significant contributions regarding world affairs ... China, sooner or later, you have to open, it’s the only way,” the 75-year-old said.
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan has said last month that it would be “desirable” for China to free Liu Xiaobo, but has stopped short of an explicit call for his release.
The Dalai Lama, who has called for Liu Xiaobo to be freed, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, the same year as the Tiananmen Square crackdown on pro-democracy protesters by Chinese authorities.
He is set to take part in a Nov. 12 to Nov. 14 meeting of Nobel Peace laureates in Hiroshima, western Japan. US President Barack Obama, who won the prize last year, is unlikely to attend.
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