HRF announces its membership in the International Committee to Support Liu Xiaobo

NEW YORK (December 9, 2011) — On the eve of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, the Human Rights Foundation announces its membership in the International Committee to Support Liu Xiaobo. Consisting of intellectuals, artists, experts on China, and human rights activists—including five Nobel Peace Prize Laureates— the International Committee will inform, defend, and advocate for the release of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Liu Xiaobo and his wife Liu Xia, both detained in China. HRF here distributes the media advisory regarding the existence of the committee:

Nobel Peace Prize Laureates and personalities launch the Committee of Support to Liu Xiaobo

December 2011

Two days before the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, five Nobel Peace Prize Winners and human rights personalities have launched together an International Committee of Support to Liu Xiaobo, the prominent intellectual rewarded in 2010 by the Nobel Committee “for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China.”

The international community seems to have forgotten that a year after the award ceremony, Liu Xiaobo remains in prison in China and in harsh conditions. He is today the only Nobel Laureate in prison.

The Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Shirin Ebadi, Jody Williams, Mairead Maguire, Betty Williams and Arch. Desmond Tutu agreed to join the efforts of this independent committee to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Liu Xiaobo. The Nobel Winners are also mindful of the fate of his family, including his wife Liu Xia who has been under house arrest for over a year in Beijing, without trial or administrative decision.

After an international wave of intimidation, the Beijing authorities are focusing their pressure on the family and friends of Liu Xiaobo in order to reduce them to silence. Unfortunately, the sentencing to 11 years in prison seems to be forgotten slowly but steadily outside China.

The International Support Committee, composed of intellectuals, artists, experts on China and human rights activists, is aiming to inform, to defend and advocate for the release of the first Chinese winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Its actions are addressed to governments, international organizations and the world’s public opinion. The Committee calls on all those committed to freedom of thought and opinion to join the Committee in its efforts to obtain the release of Liu Xiaobo.

Signatories:

Dr. Shirin Ebadi, 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Ms. Jody Williams, 1997 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Arch. Desmond Tutu, 1984 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Ms. Mairead Maguire, 1976 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Ms. Betty Williams, 1976 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Mr. Vaclav Havel, Author, former President of the Czech Republic

Jared Genser, International Law Counselor to Liu Xiaobo, Founder of Freedom Now

Jianli Yang, President, Initiatives for China

Souhayr Belhassen, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

Pierre Tartakowsky, Human Rights League (LDH)

Jean-François Julliard, Reporters without Borders (RSF)

Pierre Bergé, Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent Foundation

Raphaël Chenuil-Hazan, Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM)

François Walter, Action of Christians Against Torture (ACAT)

Marie Holzman, Solidarity Chine

Marie–Françoise Lamberti, Act for Human Rights (ADH)

Jean-Paul Ribes, président du Comité de soutien au peuple tibétain (CSPT)

Vincent Metten, International Campaign for Tibet (ICT)

Thor Halvorssen , President, Human Rights Foundation, Founder of Oslo Freedom Forum

Jean-Luc Bennahmias, MP at the European Parliament

Jean-Philippe Béja, Research Director at CNRS, Translator of Liu Xiaobo

Alain Bouc, Human Rights League (LDH)

Dominique Guibert, Human Rights League (LDH)

Emmanouil Athanasiou, human rights lawyer

Liu Xiaobo was sentenced on 25 December 2009, to 11 years imprisonment for “power subversion.” He is currently detained at the Jinzhou prison - Liaoning province.

Contact: comiteliuxiaobo@gmail.com

You are invited to join the Committee on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Comité-de-soutien-à-Liu-Xiaobo/252118718183180

Contact: Human Rights Foundation, (212) 246.8486, info@thehrf.org