International Outrage over Liu Xiaobo's 11-Year Prison Sentence

Protesters demanded Liu's release yesterday in Hong-Kong
(EPA photo)

It's no wonder the international community is reacting with outrage over a sentence of 11 years in prison for Chinese human rights activist and cyberdissident Liu Xiaobo.

The European Union called the sentence handed down on Christmas Day "disproportionate" and "a further severe restriction on the scope of freedom of expression in China."

The US called it "uncharacteristic of a great country," making us all wonder whether the State Department is actually aware of what has been taking place in China for the past 70 years or so.

Liu's great sin was his courageous stand for democratic reforms and strong criticism of the Beijing regime's repressive ways.

UPI:

Just after Liu's arrest, a report by Washington-based Radio Free Asia said China's powerful Central Propaganda Department had verbally ordered a crackdown on Chinese media workers who had signed Charter 08. Also, media outlets were banned from interviewing anyone who had signed it.

However, Liu was officially charged only in June. At the time the Communist Party newspaper People's Daily reported that he was accused of "spreading of rumors and defaming of the government, aimed at subversion of the state and overthrowing the socialist system in recent years."

Liu was also one of the most prominent signers of Charter 08, a pro-democracy movement that has garnered the support of 10,000 dissidents, writers and intellectuals within and without China.

The Beijing bosses have scored another easy point against freedom and democracy. But how long can they contain this relentless push for a democratic China?