Anger over Nobel Prize is increasing in China

BEIJING - China blocks access to several foreign media, a crackdown on political activists intensified and a fresh Salvo fired criticism of US on the eve of a ceremony Friday marking the award of the Nobel Peace Prize, Liu Xiaobo, a jailed Chinese dissident.

A hastily established Chinese organization to present a rival ceremony also held Thursday the inaugural "Confucius Prize" to a Taiwanese politician - although he was not present and his Office said he had no plan to accept the award.

A handful of Mr. of Liu's overseas-based supporters began in the meantime, arriving in Oslo for a ceremony that has triggered a global schism between most Western democracies on the one hand, and China and a variety of mainly authoritarian governments on the other.

China has refused Mr. Liu release or allow, his family and friends participate in the ceremony. It has also other countries to boycott the event under pressure. The 65 Oslo-based ambassadors who were invited 20 at least are absent – twice as many as last year.

Beijing expresses anger over global calls for release of imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Liu Xiaobo, you set to one day before he has to receive the award. Video courtesy of Reuters.

But the Nobel Committee and Mr. of Liu's followers seem equally determined gathered international attention to the ceremony – the first of which is the award existed since 1936, when Carl von Ossietzky, German pacifist in a Nazi concentration camp interned.

Mr. Liu - a former literature professor and 11 years in prison for "State subversion" in December last year - convicted will be represented by an empty chair with his photo on it, said Geir Lundestad, Secretary of the Nobel Committee.

Some words of Mr. of Liu's by a Norwegian actress Liv Ullmann, be read Mr Lundestad said, adding that the Committee use Chinese accusations no U.S. actor for fear of the refuelling, the award from the United States and its allies was masterminded wanted.

Among the musicians who is Lynn Chang, Chinese-born violinist, teaches at the Conservatory of Boston. Mr. Chang nor family in China with concern, that be at the ceremony to prevent can visit him or Chinese students create even problems for some its mainland Chinese authorities command prompt.

A children's choir will sing accordingly at the end of the ceremony a personal request from Mr. Liu he made when he was allowed a brief discussion with his wife, Liu Xia, after the award was announced in October.

"The short-term backlash from China is expected, but nobody can be sure what the long-term effects will be," said Mr Lundestad.

See advocates of political change, received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Associated press

Chinese authorities Mr. Liu reinforced their campaign Thursday by blocking many reports of satellite TV channels and websites of several Western news organizations, including the BBC and CNN.

Authorities routinely block broadcast segments on sensitive or politically loaded events and did this, around the time of the announcement Mr. of Liu's award on the channels that are mainly available in upscale hotels or housing connections but less frequent reports in the interim period was it was allowed, without interference from air. Thursday, an error message revealed attempts to access the websites of BBC, CNN or the Norwegian broadcaster NRK appears.

Police intensified a crackdown on political activists around the country, not to many leave their homes or assume part's celebrate award, according to rights groups warning label Mr. Liu.

Liu Xia was limited since the award was announced in October, and dozens of other dissidents also had their movements or communication under effective house arrest.

Reuters workers prepare the Nobel Peace Prize laureate exhibition 'I have no enemies' to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo on the Center Nobel of peace in Oslo.

The Chinese Government said Mr. Liu is a criminal and rejected international criticism of his imprisonment as an attempt to undermine China. On Thursday, Beijing launched a fresh spate of criticism this time to the U.S. House of representatives, which matched Wednesday 402 to one have to congratulate Mr. Liu and again call for his immediate release addressed.

The House resolution "Facts ignored, confused right and wrong, and rough mixes in China's internal affairs", said Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Jiang Yu a regular news briefing. "We urge the U.S. legislature... to change their arrogant and inappropriate attitude and respect to show if you have for the Chinese people and China's judicial sovereignty."

The global times, a tabloid newspaper published by Communist Party voice of the people's daily, said this year's peace prize had "caused the world confusion and divisions."

"All the applause has come from the West and the citizens of the third world countries are now all China's allies," said in an editorial.

The global times had three weeks ago proposed that China is a "Confucius peace prize" the Nobel rivals should build. A group, even a not governmental organization has only that done, a ceremony keep award Thursday at the cost of symbolic to Lien Chan, a former Vice President of Taiwan, which has promoted reconciliation with mainland China.

"We believe, would deny that Mr CHAN with his lien know would and political wisdom, not peace, and he would not deny the price," said who the new price is the main organizer Tan Changliu, academics.

But Mr lien not to and $ 15,000-cash prize instead compiled by a young girl where organizers could not identify.

Mr lien had no plan to accept the award, because "we notified by anyone who was not yet", Ting Yuan Chao, a spokesman for his Office said. "We don't know which Department and who is treatment."

He said organizers had nothing to do with the Government price although an invitation to the awards ceremony had proposed participation amongst China's Ministry of Culture Department. She said officials had never heard the price.

-RAM POON contributed to this article.

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