SHENYANG, CHINA (AFP) – China’s Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo died on Thursday (July 13) after losing his battle with terminal cancer, remaining in custody under guard in hospital until his last breath as Beijing faced a wave of criticism over its treatment of the Tiananmen Square protest veteran..
SHENYANG, CHINA (AFP) – China’s Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo died on Thursday (July 13) after losing his battle with terminal cancer, remaining in custody under guard in hospital until his last breath as Beijing faced a wave of criticism over its treatment of the Tiananmen Square protest veteran.
China bears a „heavy responsibility“ for the death of Mr Liu, the Nobel Committee said, less than two months after the 61-year-old was transferred to hospital from prison.
German Chancellor Angel Merkel hailed Mr Liu as a „courageous fighter for human rights“, while British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said it was „wrong“ China did not allow Mr Liu to travel overseas for treatment.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on China to free Mr Liu’s widow, who has been under house arrest since 2010 but was allowed to be at the hospital as he said his final goodbye.
Mr Liu’s death puts China in dubious company as he became the first Nobel Peace laureate to die in custody since German pacifist Carl von Ossietzky in 1938, who had been held by the Nazis.
The Nobel Committee said in a statement: „We find it deeply disturbing that Liu Xiaobo was not transferred to a facility where he could receive adequate medical treatment before he became terminally ill.“ It added: „The Chinese government bears a heavy responsibility for his premature death.“
However, even as Germany called him a „hero“ of democracy and voiced „regret“ that China brushed off its offer to host Mr Liu, US President Donald Trump and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron offered praise for China’s President Xi Jinping at a press conference on Thursday in Paris, avoiding comment over the activist’s death.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was „deeply saddened“ but refrained from criticising China for refusing to allow the Nobel laureate to receive treatment abroad.
