Hong Kong Catholics call for Nobel Prize winner’s release

(October 11, 2010) Human rights groups have begun a campaign for the release of Chinese democracy activist and 2010 Nobel Peace prize laureate Liu Xiaobo. The Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) of Hong Kong diocese was joined by other groups in a petition demanding Liu’s freedom. They protested outside the office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China on Friday, the same time the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s name was announced in Norway. Chinese dissident Liu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China. “Awarding Liu the peace prize inspires those who fight for democracy in mainland China,” said Patrick Poon, executive secretary of the Hong Kong-based Chinese Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group. Poon, a Catholic, believed Liu’s articles on democracy and the Charter 08 will be widely read again and would let many people know how the Chinese government suppressed peaceful democracy fighters. Protesters also expressed their disapproval over deputy foreign minister Fu Ying’s earlier attempts to exert pressure on the Norwegian Nobel committee. JPC project officer Or Yan-yan deplored the Chinese government’s efforts to curb freedom of speech and its use of economic power to suppress others.