Hello
Gentle Reader
The
widow of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Liu Xiaobo, Liu Xia, has been released from
her eight year house arrest conviction, and been granted access leave from
China. She has arrived in Berlin, where she was greeted by friends and
lobbyists who have been pressuring the totalitarian government of China, to
have her released from house arrest. China has officially stated that Liu Xia
is (or was) not under house arrest, and had all freedoms of rights to move
around.
Since
two-thousand and ten, Liu Xia has been detained and kept under house arrest, by
Chinese authorities, after her late husband, Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize. Xiaobo, was sentenced to eleven years in prison in two-thousand
and nine, after drafting the political reform manifesto Charter 08, which
called for free democratic elections and reforms in China. The Chinese
government tried and sentenced Xiaobo to eleven years in prison for subverting state
powers and authority. Last year (July thirteenth), Liu Xiaobo, died due to
liver cancer. China’s government faced global outrage due to Liu Xiaobo’s mock
trial (where he was not allowed to speak during his trial or read a statement,
and family and foreign diplomats were barred from observing the trial), as well
as his incarnation, and eventual death due to liver cancer; where it was
deemed, he suffered beyond a humane conditions, due to his incarceration.
After
Liu Xiaobo had received the Nobel Peace Prize, Liu Xia was sentenced to house
arrest, and for eight years suffered crippling depression, and other health
issues related to cardiovascular complications. Again, the Chinese government
remains firm that Liu Xia was never under house arrest and was free to leave at
any time.
Now
after eight years, thanks in large party to lobbyists and activists, as well as
notable public intellectuals, such as Nobel Laureate Herta Müller and dissident
Chinese writer and poet Liao Yiwu, and of course the tenacity of German
diplomats and Chancellor Angela Merkel, who are being considered the strong
arms who sought Liu Xia’s release and autonomy to leave China.
With
regards to her release, Chinese authorities and government officials have
merely stated she has left and gone abroad to seek medical assistance. No further
comment was offered. Yet, many believe it was free-trade deals, and the fact as
the anniversary of Liu Xiaobo’s death approaches, her continual and unlawful imprisonment
would only gain more global coverage, and the issue once again delay or thwart
diplomatic relations.
Now,
however, Liu Xia is fee, and can start rebuilding a normal life in Berlin. It is
stated that a living situation and assistance has been organized by Herta
Müller and Liao Yiwu, but the initial and main concern is her health. Afterwards,
Liu Xia can focus on rebuilding and reintegrating back into a society, after
eight years of isolation. With her new found freedom, Liu Xia can once again
write poetry and draw, after years of her work either being prohibited,
confiscated, and destroyed.
Concerns,
however, remain of Liu Xia’s brother who has been detained and tried by the
Chinese authorities. The official reason for his detention is: fraud; but
global authorities and watch dogs, believe it is a retaliating move against Liu
Xia and the late Liu Xiaobo. There have been international calls for Liu Hui to
be freed from his incarceration. There is no word as of yet on the fate of Liu
Hui.
For
now though Gentle Reader, the world rejoices, and for Liu Xia she can breathe a
sigh of relief; all the while the Chinese government grits their teeth
resentment.
It
should be noted: since her incarceration, Liu Xia’s poetry has gained global
appeal and circulation. It’ll be curious to see what her release will bring.
Thank-you
For Reading Gentle Reader
Take
Care
And
As Always
Stay
Well Read
M.
Mary
For
Further Reading, please see the following Aritcles from The Guardian and Deutsche
Welle.
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