Empty chair emphasizes Nobel schism

A vacant Chair is reserved Getty Images for Nobel Prize winners and dissident Liu Xiaobo in Oslo City Hall, on Dec. 10.

An empty chair on a stage in Oslo was Friday in a ceremony awarding the mark Nobel Peace Prize, Liu Xiaobo, a jailed Chinese dissidents in the middle of a Global Schism over China's human rights record.

Dignitaries in Norway celebrated this year's Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, the jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo with one empty chair. Jeremy page explains. Jon Hilsenrath also explains why the Fed new impetus failed efforts to lower long-term interest rates in the six weeks since the plan was officially started.

The Peace Prize medal and diploma - embossed with the initials LXB - were on the Chair is absent winner, 54-year-old former literature professor was sentenced in December 2009 to 11 years in prison for "State subversion".

One other empty chair represented his wife, Liu Xia, which took place under effective house arrest in Beijing since the award on October 8, announced triggering was angry protests by the Chinese Government.

China refused to let Mr. Liu or members of his family attend the ceremony – makes it the first time the award was not collected since 1936, when it went to Carl von Ossietzky, German pacifist in a Nazi concentration camp interned.

"We regret that the winner does not exist," said Thorbjørn Jagland, Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which awards the prize every year.

"He is in isolation in a prison in Northeast China." Still, it can award winner's wife, Liu Xia, or its closest relatives with us. No medal or diploma will be presented here today. "This fact alone shows that the award was necessary and appropriate."

How he congratulated Mr. Liu, an audience of about 1,000 people including foreign Ambassador Oslo-based and Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House of representatives responded by standing ovations - a rare occurrence at the normally staid event.

Was itself as the ceremony in progress, Declaration but China his resignation named "political theater," say it has the support of more than 100 other countries and international organisations.

"Facts of Norwegian Nobel Committee's decision represent the will of the majority of people in the world, especially in most developing countries, can show complete" Jiang Yu said spokeswoman in the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"One-sidedness and lies have to stand no footnote: cold war thinking not support."

The police increased patrols around sensitive areas such as Tiananmen Square and the apartment, where Liu Xia is held in Beijing on Friday.

There was no evidence of celebrations or protests in the capital or elsewhere. Mr. Liu had heard only a few in China until the State-run media started insult him was announced after the award.

Chinese authorities have their censorship of foreign media in the last two days, more multiple websites and reports on the ceremony on overseas block TV channels, including BBC and CNN.

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

Associated press

But Twitter but available is blocked in China through proxy server, to send photos of empty chairs in a gesture of support for Mr Liu used some Chinese Internet users.

In Oslo, Mr Jagland Mr. Liu other winners, their awards were hindered Polish trade unionists Lech Walesa compared with - Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov in 1975, 1983 and Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 1991. In any case, a family member collected the award.

"Many are wondering whether weakness for all the power that it is currently displayed, should China won't be a necessity, a man for 11 years for his views on ruled his country is manifested to imprison," said Mr Jagland.

"He has done something wrong." "He must be released."

Regret President Barack Obama, last year's winner was controversial, a fresh call for Mr. Liu's release and expressed that the dissident and his wife were not allowed to take part in the ceremony.

"Mr Liu Xiaobo is far more deserved this award, when I was there," he said. "The values they represent are universal, his fight is peaceful, and he should be released as soon as possible."

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.

A statement by Mr Liu Court, two days before he was sentenced in the ceremony read Norwegian actress Liv Ullmann. "I have no enemies, and no hatred," he said.

"I look forward to the day when my country is a country with freedom of expression." Where the speech are handled equally well by everyone. Where different values, ideas and politics can compete with each other and co-exist peacefully.... "Where everyone can express political views without fear."

China had countries to boycott the ceremony down: not attend at least 15 of the 65 Oslo-based ambassadors who were invited, said the Nobel Committee. They were Russia Kazakhstan Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Viet Nam, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Egypt, Sudan, Cuba, Morocco, China itself. Last year, ten countries were missing from the ceremony.

Serbia had said it would not attend the ceremony, but your opinion changed and attended. Some countries such as Argentina and Colombia, were represented by their ambassadors.

Chinese authorities had arrested before the ceremony or placed under the supervision of scores of dissidents and prevented dozens of others to leave the country if you participate in the ceremony. 143 Invited by Liu Xia, only it - was a US-based AIDS activist Wan Yanhai called.

-Erik Durhan contributed to this article.

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