Release of Jailed Nobel Peace Prize Winner

      Several hundred protesters marched in Hong Kong on Sunday to demand the release of jailed Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo before the prize ceremony in Oslo later this week.

 It was one of several events in support of the Chinese dissident being held around the world.

They also called for Liu’s wife, Liu Xia, to be released from house arrest. She has been confined to her home and subject to police escort since the award was announced in October.

 ”We Chinese people are very proud to get this prize. Why is the Chinese government being so autocratic that they won’t let him go get the award?” demonstrator Winnie Wong said. “We feel they are being unreasonable now, they’re being barbaric.”

The rally ended peacefully.

”Today we are demanding his release so he can go out to Norway and receive the Nobel Peace Prize,” said opposition legislator Lee Cheuk-yan. He said the prize affirmed the efforts of Chinese dissidents who have been “demanding peaceful changes for democracy and human rights.”  Protesters also plan marches to the Chinese consulates in Los Angeles and Vancouver.

 Public forums in New York and Toronto will discuss Liu’s detention and democracy and human rights in China, while in Boston supporters plan to hold a car rally around the city.

The demonstrators gathered in front of the Hong Kong government headquarters before marching, with a heavy police presence, to the Chinese government liaison office 1 1/2 miles (2 1/2 kilometers) away.  They protest to demand Release of jailed Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo.

Image via Wikipedia