Dunne congratulates and demands release of Nobel winner
14 October 2010

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne has extended his congratulations to Liu Xiaobo, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his pro-democratic activism in China.

 

“Mr Xiaobo has been a consistent advocate for human rights reform in China and a beacon for the Chinese pro-democracy movement.”

 

“He is an extremely worthy recipient of this award.”

 

Liu Xiaobo is currently serving an eleven year prison sentence for his pro-democracy stance and speaking out against human rights abuses in China.

 

“I am also aware that Mr Xiaobo’s wife has in recent days been placed under house arrest, most likely as a response to her husband’s award.”

 

“I find such actions totally reprehensible and in complete contradiction to the Chinese Government’s international propaganda on human rights reform within that country.”

 

“It is my hope that the New Zealand Government will use its close political and economic relationship with the Chinese Government to lobby it for the early release of Mr and Mrs Xiaobo and to commit it to implementing some of its rhetoric surrounding human rights reform,” said Mr Dunne.

 

ENDS

 

 

Hayden Cox

Ministerial Advisor to Hon Peter Dunne

Minister of Revenue | Associate Minister of Health | MP for Ohariu | UnitedFuture Leader

Tel: DDI 04 8176991 | Mobile: 021 917339