Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Nobel jury tries to abate Chinese fury at peace pick
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Nobel jury tries to abate Chinese fury at peace pick
AFP - 2 hours 53 minutes ago
Send
IM Story
Print
Nobel jury tries to abate Chinese fury at peace pick
OSLO (AFP) - – Nobel organisers tried Thursday to dampen growing anger in Beijing on the eve of a controversial peace prize ceremony for jailed dissident Liu Xiaobo, insisting the honour was not targeted against China.
"This is not a prize against China. This is a prize honouring people in China," Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland insisted at a press conference in Oslo, traditionally held by the laureate on the day before the annual peace prize ceremony.
He did however say he believed the prize to Liu, who remains stuck in a Chinese prison and will not be able to attend Friday's ceremony, would change things in Beijing.
"I think the prize and why the prize came will be spreading in the Chinese society. In today's world it is impossible to close a country," he said in a packed Nobel Institute, decked out for the Christmas season with wreaths and red bows and flowers.
List of nations boycotting the Nobel award ceremony
China has kept up a barrage of criticism of the award to Liu who will be unable to attend the ceremony, insisting the vast majority of countries oppose the decision to hand the prize to a man it considers a criminal.
"Those people at the Nobel committee have to admit they are in the minority," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters in Beijing.
"The Chinese people and the overwhelming majority of people in the world oppose what they do."
Reax: Nobel Peace chief 'pleased' with support for Liu
Liu, 54, was jailed in December 2009 for 11 years on subversion charges after co-authoring Charter 08, a bold petition calling for reform in Communist-ruled China.
Jagland acknowledged that he and the rest of the five-member Nobel Committee "had expected harsh reactions from the Chinese authorities," but said he felt it was important to convey a message to Beijing: "With power comes responsibility."
China, which has soared to become the world's second largest economic power, "should get used to being debated and criticised," in the same way the United States is, he said.
"Further economic development in China must be combined with political reforms," Jagland insisted, pointing out that this was a matter of international concern since "the fate of China will be the fate of the world."
Speaking of the empty chair that will represent this year's absent prize winner, he said "it is a very strong symbol (that) shows how appropriate this prize was."
China has threatened "consequences" for countries that show their support for this year's laureate, but Nobel Institute director Geir Lundestad pointed out that 45 embassies had accepted invitations to the event.
Besides China, 18 countries have declined to attend: Afghanistan, Algeria, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tunisia, Venezuela and Vietnam.
China, which blasted US lawmakers Thursday as "arrogant" for passing a vote of support for Liu and calling for his release, has meanwhile stepped up a crackdown on activists at home.
Focus: China blocks foreign media websites
Scores of dissidents have been placed under house arrest, surveillance, or made subject to other restrictions on their movements or communications with the outside world since Liu's prize was announced in October.
Amnesty International meanwhile gathered around 100 protesters in front of the Chinese embassy in Oslo Thursday afternoon and attempted to hand over a petition in support of Liu.
However the large metal gate around the mission building remained closed and the windows were shuttered.
The head of Amnesty's Norway chapter, John Peder Egenaes, told AFP that around 100,000 people, mainly from Europe and the United States, had signed the petition.
Unable to hand over the petition, activists stacked the petition outside the embassy building to demonstrate the strength of support for Liu.
Amnesty and the Nobel Institute have both accused Beijing of pressuring people of Chinese origin living in Oslo to protest against Liu.
Friday will mark only the second time in the more than 100-year history of the prize that neither the laureate nor a representative will be able to come to accept the award.
The only other time was when German journalist and pacifist Carl von Ossietzky, who was locked up in a Nazi concentration camp, could not travel to Oslo for his prize ceremony in 1936.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Nobel head: Liu's prize based on "universal values" Reuters - 35 minutes ago
Nobel jury tries to abate Chinese fury at peace pick AFP - 2 hours 53 minutes ago
China on climate charm offensive AFP - Friday, December 10
UN rights chief urges China to free Nobel laureate AFP - Friday, December 10
Experts link 'stress' to Bengal tigers getting smaller AFP - Friday, December 10
News Search
Top Stories
In blow to Obama, allies reject tax deal
Parmalat boss gets 18 years for 'Europe's Enron'
Climate talks make progress as Bolivia calls for more
Israeli forest fire sign of climate change: study
EU official urges easing in Greek repayment schedule
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Retired French electrician says heir to second Picasso trove
Europe freezes as fresh snow causes travel chaos
Elizabeth Edwards dies of cancer
NASA, SpaceX giddy over historic orbit launch
Private space capsule splash lands in Pacific: NASA
More Most Viewed »
NASA finds new form of life... on Earth
World leaders scramble for funds to save the tiger
US, S.Korea plan war games after N.Korean attack
Defiant Obama defends tax cuts, eyes 2012
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Friday, 10 December 2010 Arctic blast causes European travel chaos
Prince Charles' car attacked by London protesters
|
Parmalat boss gets 18 years for 'Europe's Enron'
British government in narrow victory on university fees
Israeli forest fire sign of climate change: study
In blow to Obama, allies reject tax deal
Kremlin hi-tech hub to partner with Nokia-Siemens
EU official urges easing in Greek repayment schedule
Berlusconi, rivals dig in ahead of crucial vote
|
Analysis: Nokia vs Android: Requiem?
African Union suspends Ivory Coast
Take that, inflation! ECB gets down with the kids
US-TECH Summary
Nobel jury tries to abate Chinese fury at peace pick
Nobel head: Liu's prize based on "universal values"
China on climate charm offensive
Google's Android closing gap on Nokia's Symbian
UN rights chief urges China to free Nobel laureate
Experts link 'stress' to Bengal tigers getting smaller
Police crack down on China activists ahead of Nobel
Pentagon chief to visit China next month: US Admiral
Chinese group awards its own 'peace prize'
Nobel award 'not a prize against China': chairman
Analysis: Nokia vs Android: Requiem?
|
Sprint users replacing notebooks with tablets
|
Despite Obama election, US far from color-blind: study
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
WikiLeaks shows reach and limits of Internet speech
|
Wesley Snipes reports to Pennsylvanian prison for sentence
China's auto sales accelerate in November
Caviar: the ultimate delicacy, from a farm near you?
Dell CEO says transformation is underway
|
Angry winegrowers break with Bordeaux council
Tata Nano gets 'happiness guarantee' to boost sales
Exclusive: Final bids due for Nortel patents: sources
|
Iraq zooms ahead with new driving permits
A Minute With: Angelina Jolie, femme fatale and busy Mom
LG Display may appeal EU fine over LCD cartel
Iran blogger gets prison leave on bail: rights group
|
Wesley Snipes reports to Pennsylvanian prison for sentence
|
US-TECH Summary
Amazon weathers attack by pro-WikiLeaks hackers
Sprint users replacing notebooks with tablets
Florida pardons Doors rocker Jim Morrison
|
Exclusive: Final bids due for Nortel patents: sources
Russia's Putin raps U.S. over leaked cables
Dell offers nearly $1 billion to buy Compellent
eBay wins preliminary EU court backing in L'Oreal fight
U.N. rights boss concerned at targeting of WikiLeaks
India eyes Internet revolution to reach rural areas
Supporters await news of Iran stoning woman
Rioters attack Prince Charles' car in anti-fees demo
China faces trial by West in Nobel farce, media says
|
Exclusive: Dell's CEO transformation is on the way
Rights groups report Iran stoning woman released
Protesters attack Prince Charles' car in anti-fees demo
Ireland plans super-tax for bankers' bonuses
WikiLeaks cables: Pfizer took aim at Nigeria AG
Clashes as UK parliament votes for student fee rise
|
Obama 'disappointed' by military gay ban vote
Arctic blast causes European travel chaos
Sakineh photos emerge in Iran without release confirmation
Iran blogger gets prison leave on bail-rights group
Rights groups report Iran stoning woman released
|
Xbox 360 leads rebound in US videogame sales: NPD
State torture of citizens 'endemic' across world: report
Climate talks make progress as Bolivia calls for more
U.N. talks on knife edge, Mexico urges agreement
|
ElBaradei calls for Egypt presidential vote boycott
China made example of Nobel winner Liu: Wikileaks
Haiti announces vote tally recheck to stem unrest
|
FCC member questions easy net rules for wireless
NATO service member killed in southern Afghanistan
Mexican drug lord suspected killed in clashes
|
Geek was chic in online search for 2010
U.S. suspends aid group in Pakistan fraud probe
|
Netflix, three others to join the S&P 500
Cuban dissidents jeered ahead of Human Rights Day
|
WikiLeaks backers threaten more cyber attacks
Over 100 held for prostitution at Venetian in Macau
Venezuela seeks to regulate Internet with media bill
|
Eight percent of online Americans use Twitter: Pew
Senior US envoy meets with Myanmar's Suu Kyi
Xbox 360 leads rebound in US videogame sales: NPD
"The Hasselhoffs" pulled after two episodes
Shanghai halts sale of suspected 'dyed' oranges: report
China tired of Myanmar reform 'foot-dragging': cables
China flash of fury at Australian military boost: cables
Mobile 'revolution' eases Pacific isolation, poverty
Indian guru asks climate talks to subsidize love
Apple suppliers point to new camera-toting iPad in 2011
|
State torture of citizens 'endemic': report
Flood-swept Czech town turns disaster into development
Argentine shepherds, farmers protect forests from soy
India offers olive branch at UN climate talks
WikiLeaks backers threaten more cyber attacks
|
"Narnia" film to trump "Tourist" at box office
Exclusive: Dell's CEO transformation is on the way
|
Porn film clinic ordered shut after HIV actor blast
Analysis: WikiLeaks battle a new amateur face of cyber war?
|
"The Hasselhoffs" pulled after two episodes
China social networking co hires banks for U.S. IPO
|
Analyst: Howard Stern's deal worth $400 million
Star salaries account for half of new film's tab
Ex-WikiLeaks staff to launch rival site: report
|
TSMC Nov sales fall from Oct, new gadgets eyed
|
James Cameron and Cirque du Soleil team up for movie
Young actress comes clean about "True Grit"
FCC member questions easy net rules for wireless
|
China's Sinopec to buy Occidental Argentina unit
Venezuela seeks to regulate Internet with media bill
|
China's exports, imports soar to record highs
Video game sales jump 8 percent in November
|
Seoul shares end weaker, auto sector weighs
Korea Hot Stocks
Pakistani c.bank to sell T-bills in 8-day repo
Largest US union fights South Korea trade deal
Asia Fuel Oil-S.Korea EWP buys 80,000T for Dec/Jan
Pakistan
Seoul shares end lower as auto sector weighs
China's property prices climb higher in November
Critics say Michael Jackson album better than feared
|
Narnia film to trump Tourist at box office
|
U.S. video game sales jump 8 percent in November
Florida pardons The Doors' Jim Morrison
|
James Cameron and Cirque du Soleil team up for movie
|
China social networking co hires banks for U.S. IPO
King? Queen? Helena Bonham Carter would rather be King!
|
Analyst: Howard Stern's deal worth $400 million
|
TSMC Nov sales fall from Oct, new gadgets eyed
The Hasselhoffs pulled after two episodes
|
Venezuela seeks to regulate Internet with media bill
Young actress comes clean about True Grit
|
Star salaries account for half of new film's tab
|
UK police under fire after protesters attack royals
Panasonic cautious on U.S., Europe holiday sales
OPEC lifts 2010 oil demand growth forecast
Activists target payment site, deny plotting harm
|
Reckless bond buying 'could damage' ECB
U.N. urges EU to ensure asylum seekers not shut out
|
Kremlin aide says Medvedev wants second term: sources
|
North Korea says forced to build nuclear might: sources
|
Iran says stoning woman still in jail, quashes rumor
|
Blast kills at least 11 in northwest Pakistan
|
N.Korea 'will rely on nuclear might for defence'
India's test of nuclear-capable missile fails
Gbagbo hints at possible talks in Ivorian poll row
|
Two S.Koreans held in Nepal over missing N.Korean
Myanmar's Suu Kyi, US official discuss sanctions
China's rivals welcome Nobel for Liu while allies question
Thai authority to lift emergency decree, and expire
Minimum wages in Thailand hiked but still lag target
Taiwan plans special property tax
Mekong panel wants 10-year freeze on dam building
India industrial output surges in October
Cult Apple store lurks in suburban California mall
|
PR firms prepare for Asean Econonic Community opportunities
Big wedding party next year for children of Thai elite
Panasonic cautious on U.S., Europe holiday sales
|
Lawyer insists exiled ex-Thai PM Thaksin would visit US
United Tech shares up after 2011 forecast
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights