Censored: Chinese Gov’t Blocks News of Nobel Winner
- Posted on October 8, 2010 at 9:59pm by
Meredith Jessup
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The Nobel Committee honored Chinese literary critic, political essayist and democracy advocate Liu Xiaobo Friday with the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. In awarding the prize to Mr. Liu, the Nobel Committee not only recognizes his “long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights,” but also signals a rebuke of Chinese officials’ intolerance toward domestic dissent.
Liu, perhaps China’s most well-known dissident, has been repeatedly jailed for his activism. He is currently serving an 11-year term on subversion charges in a jail cell 300 miles from Beijing. The prize likely provides a significant boost in morale for China‘s reform movement and Liu’s fellow advocates who have been peacefully protesting the Chinese Communist Party for the last two decades.
But news of the award was blocked from Chinese citizens as government censors worked overtime in expunging Liu’s name from all media outlets. The country’s state-owned news station and papers not only blocked coverage of the award, but the country also blacked out commercial stations like CNN during their reports on Liu. The so-called “Great Firewall” of China also blocked Internet news sites and search engines such as Google which mentioned “Nobel Prize” of “Liu Xiaobo.”
Authorities also forced Liu’s wife, Liu Xia, from her home to keep her from the media.
As Liu’s name quickly became a trending topic on Twitter around the world, it was blocked in China. One Chinese citizen tweeted, “My SIM card just got de-activated, turning my iPhone into an iPod touch after I texted my dad about Liu Xiaobo winning the Nobel Peace Prize.” The message, however, was only visible to users outside of China.
In addition to its censorship efforts, the Chinese government also lashed out at the Norwegian Nobel Committee:
“Liu Xiabo is a criminal who violated Chinese law. Awarding the prize to Liu runs contrary to the principals of the Nobel Peace Prize,” foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in a statement.
“The fact that Nobel Committee awarded the peace prize to such a person also lowers the peace prize itself.”
But the Nobel Committee condemned the Chinese government ignoring its citizens’ basic rights guaranteed by the Chinese Constitution. “In practice, these freedoms have proved to be distinctly curtailed for China’s citizens,” committee members said, adding, “China’s new status must entail increased responsibility.”
President Barack Obama also weighed in on the debate Friday, calling on China to release Liu. Obama praised China’s “dramatic progress in economic reform and improving the lives of its people, lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty.” But, he added, “this award reminds us that political reform has not kept pace, and that the basic human rights of every man, woman and child must be respected.”
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Comments (50)
jimroc
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 12:53pmObamas’ next dream for his father should be in China.
Report Post »They are truly oppressing there people.
GoingBeck
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 12:04pmComming to America? Or, already here courtesy of the Left Stream Media.
Report Post »drbage
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 11:10amGlad to see that the USA isn’t the only country with the govt and media walking and talking hand in hand.
Report Post »DMD
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 11:05amThe what award?
Report Post »Never heard of it..
Cuba
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 9:30amHow long before the same happens here…?
Note the war on FOXNews, Tea Party and any how critic the empty suit.
Report Post »havanabrownsam
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 9:01amMaybe Bill Clinton will suddenly appear outside Liu Xiaobo’s cell to take him out of the country as he did in North Korea.
Then the Anointed one can have a beer in the back yard of the White House with his comrade…
Report Post »davejag
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 8:49amGotta disagree with the Chinese on this one… this award recipient couldn’t possibly lower the standard of the Nobel Peace Prize anymore than it has already been. It is nice to see it go to someone who actually seems to DO SOMETHING for the cause of peace and liberty, but the award itself is meaningless now. It won’t be long before they start handing them out inside a box of ******* Jacks.
Report Post »Bot
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 8:38amThe Nobel Committee has been blind-sided with Al Gore’s perfidy, Obama’s Marxism/Socialism, and Carter’s ineptness. But then, they always lean left to accommodate the views of big government accolytes.
Report Post »RichardSaunders
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 7:47amReminds me of the efforts of the current Administration to de-legitimize the Fox News organization. When government controls the news outlets, not all information is available to the Public. We must always be vigilant that we keep OUR “freedom of the Press” in the USA. It is not, and was not, an accident the Founders protected the right of a free press in the “Bill of Rights”. This is but a view of the future WITHOUT a vigilant society protecting ALL of our rights protected by our Constitution. ARE WE WATCHING and LISTENING?
Report Post »...............R..U..Kidding...Me
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 3:16amThat is strang. How is it that obama gore, carter with there socalist communist leanings got the nobel and someone fighting communism is being denied by china. Hummmm. Did the nobel commitee reconize just how fup they were last time when they gave the nobel useless prize to obama. Who really want the useless prize today….socialist, commies, and left leaning idoits.
Report Post »Okieflyover
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 2:08amHmmm. Obama wants to stop censorship in China, but he blocks pictures being taken of the Gulf Oil Spill, Calls FoxNews ‘dangerous’ and he has put in place complete ability to turn off and turn on the internet connections nationwide if he sees fit.
Me thinks he is just jealous because he can’t find a good reason to put Glenn Beck in jail.
Report Post »Veritas
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 1:43amI may be off base here, but is the Nobel committee trying to get his man killed? I mean if he is already in prison in China, is this not one more reason for the Chinese government to keep him in jail and if not worse, put him to death?
Report Post »whitaker
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 12:50am“improving the lives of its people, lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty.” obozo is still clueless majority of china still lives in poverity. This should be no susprise to older people who remember how a communist goverment operates lies,propaganda and censorship on anything the state dosent approve. What is suspriseing is westerners WANT this type of goverment thinking somehow the cival right abuses china is known for will not happen.
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 11:51pmAfter the ridiculous recipients jimmah carteh, gore & obama, perhaps the Nobel folks are trying to redeem themselves. Just sayin’
Report Post »KenInIL
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 1:15amYou’re right. I think they grew a pair. Now if we can get BHO to grow some.
Report Post »TOTAL FACT
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 11:49pmThis is exactly what the UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE DONE TO OBAMA AND HIS PRISE FOR NOTHING. The whole affair made the Nobel Peace prize a thing of laughable preportions. Obama still today hasn’t done anything to warrant a Peace Prize. This is an embarrassment to all Americans except the monkees in the Zoo.
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 12:11amI beg to differ with you Sir , even the monkeys are embarrassed .
Report Post »kiwi1
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 11:24pmHere you see Our Future unless we stop electing Progressives/Communists/Socialists/Marxists and get the ones that are in office Out For Good.
Report Post »MarineMom2010
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 11:05pmKeep in mind, the Chinese newspapers still report that Taiwan wants to ‘defect’. When my husband and I were there in 2005 to adopt our daughter, we were amazed at the unbelievable propaganda!
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 12:08amCongratulations on that , GOD Bless .
Report Post »vic138
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:48pmI was in tibet 2 years ago and while on a 3 day bus ride from kunming to llasa was talking to the vice chancellor to tibet university in llasa. He was about 30 and had 2 phd‘s and he had no idea that the chinese govt’ had destroyed buhddist temples. There is so much censorship over there you would not believe it.
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 11:01pmI believe it no surprise VIC we’ve seen a lot of stories like this .
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:17pmWake up America and see where you’re headed.
Report Post »N37BU6
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:16pmChina is creepy.
Hey, doesn’t Maurice Strong live there?
Report Post »drbage
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 1:57pmYes, he does and another Spooky Dude’s daughter, Ms. Soros, operates a teaching training(?) program in Tibet under the auspices of the Chinese govt.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:14pmits a shame that someone who obviously derserves the award is jailed and the government of china tries to prevent its citizens from knowing about the award…………while we at the same time have someone who so obviously doesnt deserve it running our country
Report Post »drbage
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 2:12pmHmm, wonder how they “control” their citizens who are living/working/studying outside of China from hearing the news? How does the herring-based Nobel Committee plan on getting the money to him? And, has anyone heard what the O did with his Nobel prize? Perhaps that is where Moochelle is getting the matching funds for her little donor web campaign.
Report Post »shotgun
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:13pmThat is what Obama and the socialist band wants for us.
Report Post »Ironmaan
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 7:12amChairman Obama just recently blocked a report by scientists regarding the actual severity of the BP spill.
Report Post »angrymob
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:10pmWhen the truth comes out about how much Chinese people have suffered under Communism American’s (those who care) will be disguisted when they realize we helped China become the powerhouse it’s become…can you say enabler.
Report Post »whitaker
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 12:43amChina has a long history of being a major financial power.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 8:38amYeah, but we have enabled them in spades buying their crap made with slave labor, and never once even thinking about putting a tariff on goods made with slave labor.
Report Post »FreedomOfSpeech
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:09pmI would expect nothing less. They have also banned facial tissues, as evidenced by the vast numbers of Chinese who push in one nostril and blow snot out the other instead of blowing their nose.
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 3:44amAt least we live in a country with free speech!! http://wp.me/pYLB7-cd
Report Post »M31Sailor
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 7:07pmUnless your a conservative on Huffpo
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:04pmWhat a surprise from a communist regime .
Report Post »M31Sailor
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:35pmWish I could have had someone to keep me from hearing that Barry O’bummwer, Al O’gore, and Jimmy O‘ Carter won there well deserved O’Nobel prizes.
Report Post »Vote in Nov
Sailor
RobertCA
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:42pm@ least the Chinese lashed out @ the Norwegian Nobel committee , we didn’t lash out @ the Norwegians when they gave Obama the Nobel Prize for his achievements in ………………………….NOTHING !!!!!!!!!
Report Post »MAULEMALL
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 11:17pmthe only surprise is that O didn’t win again…
I,m sure that if they think about it they would reconsider…
Or maybe they could dig up Arafat or Carter or Big Al…..
Hey dude … sorry your’e in jail and all but we have a bunch of guys over here that did just as much as they ever did to win theirs… Why didn’t they win again?
Report Post »TruthTalker
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 11:52pmnot a shocker.
Report Post »ILFarmer
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 1:33amWhich one? China or Obama?
at least I can agree with the second of Obama’s 2 quotes above. The first one……is too anti-colonial laced for me.
Report Post »snowleopard3200
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 2:29amThink on this the way President Obama and his Progressive Rat Pack are taking us is to a state called “State Capitalism” and guess what country is the sooo perfect example – CHINA!!!
How long til we all need to practice saying “Comrad” to each other.
http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm (mixed art)
Report Post »jzs
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 4:03amIt makes me sick that the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Americans who are liberal. I‘m really glad that the United States didn’t get the Olympics while Obama was President. Bush should have won the Peace Prize, but they shut him because of that WMD thing. Shows you how idiotic the Nobel Peace Prize is.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 7:14amWe are already seeing this form of censorship from the Obama administration. They did not tell us about the depth of the BP spill and reporters were not allowed to go out to the scene of the spill.
Welcome to the USA…sit down shut up and we will tell you what you need to know.
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 7:55amThat being said, this is the system our dear lead wants us to live under.
Report Post »