Death of Human Rights Activist Liu Xiaobo
He was a Human Rights Activist, Former Professor of Chinese Literature and Nobel laureate.
He passed away while serving an 11-year sentence in China for "inciting subversion of state power". Chinese Communist Party leadership was scared of him for his role in drafting a democracy manifesto for China.
When he was formally awarded his Nobel Peace prize in 2010, he was represented at the ceremony by an empty chair. He was not allowed to travel to Sweden to receive his Nobel Peace Prize. In court in 2009, and in the eight long prison years between then and now, he refused to recant his commitment to democracy. No wonder China's leaders are as afraid of him in death as they were in life.
"There is nothing criminal in anything I have done but I have no complaints." Liu said in 2009. He was one of the international A-list of individuals imprisoned for their beliefs, alongside Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi and Carl von Ossietzky. His wife, Liu Xia, is also kept under house arrest.
Liu was an inspiring figure for a new generation of Chinese pro-democracy activists and his death is being remembered by political artists.
In the long term Chinese leadership cannot and will not be able to erase memories of the struggle Liu Xiaobo was committed to.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-40585327
