DHARAMSHALA: The President of Central Tibetan Administration Dr Lobsang Sangay today expressed concern over the deteriorating health of imprisoned Chinese Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo who has been diagnosed with late-stage cancer.
“I am saddened to learn of Chinese Nobel Peace Laureate Liu Xiaobo’s tragic cancer diagnosis, and at the same time relieved to learn of his release on medical parole,” Dr Sangay said.
“I urge the Chinese government to grant Liu Xiaobo and his family immediate permission on humanitarian grounds to travel abroad for medical treatment. I also join the global call and prayers for his recovery and sincerely hope that he gets to spend as much quality time as possible with his family,” he added.
“On a positive note, I am inspired by the growing number of true democrats like Liu Xiaobo in China. The tide of democracy is gradually touching the shores of China and I am optimistic that Liu Xiaobo‘s vision of a truly democratic China will be realised soon in the near future,” President Sangay expressed.
President Dr Lobsang Sangay has been a staunch advocate for the release of Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo since his arrest. He has consistently mentioned the case of Liu Xiaobo and urged the Chinese government for his swift release since 2013 in the official statements that he made on the anniversary marking the conferment of Nobel Peace prize on His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Besides President Dr Sangay, diplomats from the across the world including the US, Germany and the European Union have called upon China for Liu Xiaobo to be allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment. At least 154 Nobel laureates across the six Nobel disciplines have also urged Chinese President Xi Jinping in an open letter to allow Nobel peace prize laureate Liu Xiaobo and his wife Liu Xia to travel to the United States for medical treatment.
“The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Liu Xiaobo has been diagnosed with liver cancer. His wife, Liu Xia, who has been under house arrest for almost seven years, is also ill. They have the wish to leave the country so they can receive medical care. Time is running out. We urge the Chinese government on humanitarian grounds to grant Liu Xiaobo and Liu Xia’s wish to travel to the United States for medical treatment,” they have written in the letter.
The US House of Representatives also passed a resolution – introduced by Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Chris Smith – on 29 June calling on China to unconditionally release Liu Xiaobo and allow him to freely meet with family and seek medical treatment abroad, if necessary.
Today 154 Nobel laureates across the six Nobel disciplines urge Chinese president Xi Jinping to allow Nobel peace prize laureate Liu Xiaobo and his wife Liu Xia to travel to the united states for medical treatment.
Liu Xiaobo, 61, was arrested in 2008 after writing a pro-democracy manifesto called Charter 08, in which he called for an end to one-party rule and improvements in human rights. Following a year in detention and a two-hour trial, he was sentenced to 11 years in December 2009 for inciting subversion of state power.
On 26 June 2017, he was granted medical parole after being diagnosed with terminal liver cancer.