Liu Xiaobo's wife under house arrest | World news | guardian.co.uk

Liu Xiaobo's wife under house arrest | World news | guardian.co.uk

Nobel prizewinner's wife, Liu Xia, has not been allowed to leave apartment in crackdown by Chinese authorities

Liu Xia, wife of Nobel peace prizewinner Liu Xiaobo. Photograph: Andy Wong/AP

The wife of Liu Xiaobo, this year's winner of the Nobel peace prize has been placed under house arrest as part of a crackdown by the Chinese authorities aimed at stifling celebration following the award.

Liu Xia was allowed to meet her husband after the announcement of the award on Friday and told followers that he was dedicating the prize to the victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

But later in an update on Twitter and in emails to friends she said since returning from the visit she had not been allowed to leave her apartment and that her phone had been cut. Since then, contact with her has been cut off.

She joins more than 30 Chinese intellectuals who have been detained, warned or placed under tight surveillance since the Nobel committee announced that it was giving the award to Liu.

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Turmoil Outside Of Home Of Jailed Chinese Dissident Liu Xiaobo's Home After Being Awarded Nobel Peace Prize

If China wants to be respected in the community of nations it must grant its citizens the basi freedoms enjoyed in almost all developed countries. Freedom of speech and expression, as well as basic human rights, are restricted in this totalitarian country. China should not be fully accepted into the world community until democratic reforms are implemented there. The Chinese people deserve nothing less.
John H. Armwood

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Obama ask China to free Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu-HindustanTimes

US President Barack Obama has applauded Nobel Committee's decision to honour jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo with the 2010 Peace Prize and asked Beijing to release the "courageous" human rights activist as soon as possible.

"By granting the prize to Liu, the Nobel Committee has chosen someone who has been an eloquent and courageous spokesman for the advance of universal values through peaceful and non-violent means, including his support for democracy, human rights and the rule of law," Obama said in a statement last night.

"This award reminds us that political reform has not kept pace, and that the basic human rights of every man, woman and child must be respected. We call on the Chinese government to release Liu as soon as possible," Obama said.

Welcoming the Nobel Committee's decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Liu, Obama, who was the recipient of the coveted prize in 2009, said: "Last year, I noted that so many others who have received the award had sacrificed so much more than I. That list now includes Mr Liu, who has sacrificed his freedom for his beliefs."

"As I said last year in Oslo, even as we respect the unique culture and traditions of different countries, America will always be a voice for those aspirations that are universal to all human beings," the US President said.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also welcomed the decision of the Nobel Committee to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Liu.

Throughout its history, the Peace Prize has often been used to recognise the heroism of those who have, through persistent and peaceful efforts, sought to build a world that is more fair and free, she said in a statement.

"Mr Liu has been a consistent advocate for fundamental freedoms and human rights for his fellow citizens and for peaceful political reform.

"Mr Liu's work, including his role in the drafting of Charter '08 (which called for greater freedom and an end to the Communist Party's political dominance), and his receipt of this honour highlight the fact that while China has made tremendous economic progress in the last three decades, political reform has lagged behind," Clinton said.

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