- »ªÊ¢¶ÙÓʱ¨¶ÁÕ߸úÌù¨D¨DChanting freedom, democracy and human right will fall on deaf earsposted on 04/17/2009
By Xia Liu
Thursday, April 16, 2009
BEIJING -- My husband, Liu Xiaobo, was one of the primary drafters of a document known as Charter 08. Modeled after the Charter 77 petition created in the former Czechoslovakia, Charter 08 calls for comprehensive political reforms in China, including the establishment of a democratic government and the protection of universally recognized human rights. It was signed and issued by more than 300 Chinese citizens on Dec. 10, 2008, the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to date it has been signed online by more than 8,000 others.
Charter 08 has clearly resonated with everyday Chinese people. Perhaps this is why my husband, who was arrested on Dec. 8 by Chinese police without an arrest warrant, was seen as such a threat to the regime that he remains in police custody today, even though no charges have been brought against him.
Despite the hardship that his involvement in the Charter 08 movement has caused him, I am sure that Xiaobo has no regrets. He is deeply committed to promoting and protecting the rights of all people, particularly those who do not enjoy the advantages that he has as an intellectual. Indeed, this was the fourth time that I have had to witness my husband being dragged from our home by Chinese police. He previously served half a year in prison for his participation in the 1989 pro-democracy demonstrations at Tiananmen Square. In 1996, he was taken away and sent to prison for three more years for promoting freedom and democracy in his writings. Then, in 2006, he was once again taken into custody and was interrogated for 12 hours before being released.
Although my husband and I were fully aware of the possible retaliation that his advocacy might inspire, his detention is still very painful for us both. We agreed long ago that we would not have a child, as it would be too cruel to subject him or her to the absence of an imprisoned father. Thus, we are both alone now. We write to each other constantly, knowing our letters will never reach each other. In the nearly four months since his abduction, authorities have allowed me only two visits with him. After being taken to an undisclosed location, I was permitted to talk with him as we shared a meal under the unremitting surveillance of prison guards. During our conversations, I learned that he has been confined alone to a small room lit by a single light bulb and that most of the more than 60 books I had brought him were confiscated by prison officials. It is difficult for me to bear the extent of his isolation.
Now I fear that the government is preparing to stage a show trial and convict my husband of "inciting the subversion of state power," a charge frequently leveled against political dissidents and one that typically carries a lengthy prison sentence. Police have summoned and investigated nearly all of the original signatories of Charter 08, as they gather "evidence" of my husband's "crime." In doing so, they are sending a clear signal to others in the democratic movement that dissent will not be tolerated.
I implore President Obama to intervene on my husband's behalf and to express to the Chinese government his wish that my husband be freed. My husband has done nothing wrong, and his imprisonment is a great tragedy not only for me but also for the countless people of my country who lack a voice but share his desire to see China become a free, democratic nation. Please, President Obama, stand in solidarity with Liu Xiaobo, and help me to be reunited with my husband.
The writer lives in Beijing. Her column was translated by the Laogai Research Foundation, a Washington group working to expose human rights violations in China.
Commentsskramsv wrote:
All I can do is express my sympathy to your plight. The US is not going to bite the hand (China) that feeds it's debt habit.
When the US joined the rest of the world and finally rallied to demanded the end of Apartheid and freedom for Mr Mandela, Desmond Tutu and the rest; South Africa gave in because they wanted access to US consumers and the rest of the world. China already has this and any US or world protests will be sadly ignored.
4/16/2009 6:03:28 PM
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hlp2 wrote:
While I sympathize with Liu Xiaobo and Liu Xia and understand their desperation, it is totally naive to believe that U.S. is the shining light of liberty and free speech. For years in the U.S., people and groups supporting unpopular causes (e.g. the Palestinians) have been prosecuted and imprisoned by the government. The Obama administration just recently reaffirmed their decision to deny habeas corpus to suspects held in U.S. Bagram prisons, which puts them in virtually the same (if not worse) situation as the Chinese dissidents like Liu Xiaobo.
It is also sad that Liu Xia's association with the much disreputable and discredited Laogai foundation in desperation will only taint the noble ideals and aspirations of people associated with Charter 08.
4/16/2009 5:06:04 PM
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AlongTheWatchTowers wrote:
People who equate the United States with the regime that has shackled Mrs. Liu's husband and others are flatly ignorant. It's pathetic and the idea of bringing it up is simply shameful. It's another symptom of cowardice in America as more and more people condemn their own country as an excuse to do nothing-- and in this case, instead of pressuring China to release these brave people. Apologies Mrs. Liu. Many Americans are too busy having a national self-pity party.
4/16/2009 4:19:01 PM
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cgillard wrote:
It would be nice if we could help but when we have the power to detain anyone in our country without charges for terrorism and have been taking people off the street's around the world to secret torture chambers and have been stacking naked Iraqi prisoners in sexually humitiating heaps and Texas is executing lots of prisoners we don't have the voice we once had and in fact we have to be very careful what we say given the international assassin squads.
We even have to try and hide that we expropriated all the land we live on from the righful owners.
It would be nice if we set a better example for China to see, it doesn't excuse them of anything either but for a country to see themselves is much harder than seeing another. That is a world wide human trait.
4/16/2009 3:44:26 PM
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AlongTheWatchTowers wrote:
Ms Liu, my heart goes out to you and your husband.
And I am sad to admit that America is no longer the country it used to be. At this point in time, we cannot stand up for ourselves or our own self-interests, let alone the fate of your brave husband, and others who languish under the cruel heel of the Communist Chinese government.
I hope that somehow, we can muster the strength to set aside this cowardice which is so pervasive among many in America, particularly young men and women.
In the meantime, our prayers are with you-- and we wish you and your husband, and all the others, Godspeed.
4/16/2009 3:00:41 PM
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thmak wrote:
8000 signers is negligible in a population of 13 brillion. Advocating Charter 08 is equivalent to overthrowing of US Constitution, a crime punishable in US. It is absurd to claim that charter 08 resonates with everyday Chinese. Xiaobo is a political extremist and therefore must be confined. Xia Liu is so naive as to ask help from US. She must know that Dalai Lama and the Taiwan government have been asking US to help them without success. Chanting freedom, democracy and human right will fall on deaf ears since the advocate USA of these slogans is itself anti-freedom, anti-democracy and anti-human right.
4/16/2009 12:22:58 PM
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tncdel wrote:
Although I don't lack sympathy for the Chinese man, I think things need to be kept in perspective.
For there are many wrongfully imprisoned in our own country as well, who I think we need to help be released before we go meddling in the affairs of a foreign government.
It is fair that someone is helped simply because they had the benefit of media promo not given to a black man in the United States, such as this gentleman here:
http://freedarrellmckelvie.blogspot.com/
4/16/2009 12:10:18 PM
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kinsleybingham wrote:
American government is powerless at this point with regards to China.
The real power lies with the American consumer and other consumer nations to stop buying products made in China and support domestic businesses and jobs.
Force the Chinese middle-class to revolt against their government by weakening it - now that they've had a taste of capitalism and freedom.
4/16/2009 12:05:24 PM
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Frigistan wrote:
Your husband is a very brave man but I hope he didn't protest thinking the world would get him out of hot water. Appropriate statements I'm sure will be made but probably won't be enough. We are over the barrel with over a trillion in T-Bills being held by your government and our need for China's security council vote even though they only water down what needs to really be done in North Korea, Iran and Sudan.
4/16/2009 9:56:21 AM
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pakborg wrote:
It's my prayer that your husband will shortly be released.Unfortunately yes China has been infusing America with a lot of money, but no amount of money should allow a government to promote that kind of torture of another human being.Please take heart that there are many here who will continue to pray for you and your husband, and also encouraging our President to take a stand against these clear violations of human rights.Also we here would like to see China get out of Tibet.Please stay strong and know you do have supporters here.
4/16/2009 9:53:55 AM
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naahbob wrote:
We've seen how infuriated public opinion influenced the consciences of South Africans to release Nelson Mandela and turn from Apartheid; the U.S.A. ought to speak strongly against oriental injustice too.
4/16/2009 9:40:30 AM
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Tommytoons wrote:
I add my voice to yours Xia Liu on behalf of your husband Liu Xiaobo. I wish the Chinese government would wake up and smell the coffee. People want to be able to be free to express their ideas and their religion freely without fear of being imprisoned or worse, murdered for their belief's! I also urge our President to press this issue with the Chinese Government on the immediate release of this man and the thousands of other Chinese citizens who are being held for speaking their mind! And as long as I pushing the issue, China needs to allow the people of Tibet to be free as well!!!
4/16/2009 9:38:08 AM
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darling_ailie wrote:
I am so very sorry for you and your husband. However, you must not lose sight of the fact that the US owes millions to China. In other words, the US is now China's poodle. With that in mind you shouldn't expect any help from any president or political party.
4/16/2009 7:39:14 AM
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iacitizen wrote:
I feel for you and your husband. How hard it is to do the right thing and try to push back against an oppressive government. I hope President Obama can intervene in your husband's plight and end his isolation. Stay strong.
4/16/2009 6:54:59 AM
- Re: »ªÊ¢¶ÙÓʱ¨¶ÁÕ߸úÌù¨D¨DChanting freedom, democracy and human right will fall on deaf earsposted on 04/17/2009
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