Society

Peace prize a political farce

By Xia Dongmei (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-11 07:53

Decision to honor a convicted criminal who tried to subvert State power betrays Alfred Nobel's respected principles

On Friday, the Norwegian Nobel Committee held a "recipient-absent" ceremony in Oslo to award the so-called "peace prize" to Liu Xiaobo, a convicted criminal serving prison sentence for instigating subversion of state power. The whole event has become an out-and-out political farce.

[Li Min/China Daily]

Liu Xiaobo, the choice of the Nobel Committee, claimed more than 20 years ago that the Chinese people were totally impotent, both physically and spiritually. He said that "it took 100 years of colonial rule for Hong Kong to become what it is today. And it will surely take 300 years of colonial rule for China, which is so big, to be like today's Hong Kong. I even doubt whether 300 years would be enough." Over the years, he has been instigating subversion of China's state power and social system by writing and openly posting online subversive articles and organizing and coaxing signatures of others. In 2009, he was sentenced to prison for violation of Article 105 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China.

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One can certainly imagine the reaction of the Chinese people to the decision of giving this year's peace prize to such a person. According to the opinion poll conducted by China's Global Times on Oct 18, 77.1% of the respondents did not know who Liu Xiaobo was; nearly 75% of the respondents believed that the Nobel Committee "was pressurizing China and trying to make China accept the Western political system." The result of the poll must come as a surprise to some people in the West.

What must also come as a surprise to them is that despite the claim that this year's decision to give the prize to Liu Xiaobo was made on the basis of their standard of "universal values", those so-called "universal values" they preach are in fact not universally recognized. People with vision and insight in the international community have criticized the Committee's decision. Over 100 media organizations from more than 50 countries, including some from Norway, have published articles to express different opinions. This shows that deception and lies cannot blind people's eyes.

It must come as an even bigger surprise to them that, despite their attempts of deception, blackmail and threat, over 100 countries and major international organizations have supported China's position. This constitutes a large majority of countries and international organizations in the world. Over 20 countries that have permanent missions in Norway have refused to attend the ceremony. Of the countries and organizations that attended the ceremony, some were only represented by low-ranking officials. This is unprecedented. It fully proves that the Nobel Committee is biased and its claim for "universal values" is false.

How come there are so many surprises? Shouldn't the few people on the Nobel Committee and their supporters behind the scene think it over?

More than a hundred years ago, Alfred Nobel made his will to grant his wealth to those who "shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, or the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses." However, the Nobel Committee today has time and again betrayed Nobel's principles. It has completely tarnished the Peace Prize and the very word of "peace".

Some people also claimed that this year's choice is a "political decision" and that the "China issue" must be dealt with. They have indeed spoken out their mind. As early as 21 years ago, the Nobel Committee gave the Peace Prize to the Dalai Lama, a separatist bent on splitting China. Their dream was that China would fall apart and take to the Western path. We are already in 2010, and the Nobel Committee is still day-dreaming. The world cannot but wonder how the Committee can have a dream for as long as over 20 years.

The world today is undergoing profound and tremendous changes. The vast number of developing countries, historically bullied and humiliated, are now growing stronger. The days when world affairs were monopolized by a handful of countries are getting farther and farther away from us. The call for peace, development and cooperation of the billions of people in developing countries is the truly universal call of the times. Against the backdrop of this historic trend, the 1.3 billion Chinese people are working hard to maintain stability and development at home and promote the building of a harmonious world. Hundreds of millions of Chinese have been lifted out of poverty in one generation's time, and profound changes have taken place in the country and people's lives. China is a staunch force for world peace and stability. The contribution it has made to world peace and development is significant. If some people want to discuss "universal values", why wouldn't they listen to the voice of the people of developing countries? Why wouldn't they recognize the real changes taking place in China and go with the trend of development in the world?

There are always some who cling to the Cold-War or even colonial mentality, even in this 21st century. They regard themselves as the judge, the teacher, even though they have never been selected by the people of developing countries. They have never experienced the real life in developing countries, but they tend to act like the Savior wherever they go. They assume that they can forever distort the fact and block the truth by using political maneuvers. This is a downright mistake against the trend of time. It is wrong in nature no matter how pretty its outfit may be.

For the just cause, support is abundant; for the unjust, little. Those who support justice know for themselves what is right and what is wrong. This year's Nobel Peace Prize has become a rigged political tool and is destined to fail. And those who have clamored support for this year's award will certainly end up in disappointment and frustration. "Despite apes' screak on both riverbanks, the boat has swiftly sailed past ten thousand mountains." The step forward of the Chinese people will not be held back. Nor will the trend of progress in the world. Any prejudice, arrogance or hypocrisy will be cleared with the advance of time.