We will never forget Liu Xiaobo: Human rights advocates honour Nobel Laureate
人權組織渥太華獻花，劉曉波精神永誌不朽！
OTTAWA – Today, on the anniversary of the death of Liu Xiaobo, human rights groups commemorated the incredible life of the Nobel Laureate, writer, philosopher, and lifelong advocate for human rights in China.
渥太華消息：今天是劉曉波的忌辰，人權組織悼念這位諾貝爾獎得主、作家、哲學家和中國維權鬥士不凡的一生。
Amnesty International, the Toronto Association for Democracy in China, and the Alliance Canada Hong Kong laid a commemorative wreath on the Liu Xiaobo Empty Chair Memorial, which sits on the front lawn of the Ottawa office of Amnesty International Canada.
“We must honour Liu Xiaobo’s legacy and remember that his fight for a free, democratic China is far from over,” said Cheuk Kwan, of the Toronto Association for Democracy in China (TADC). “This small gesture of remembrance serves to remind us that his spirit will never fade, even as we witness the horrifying deterioration of human-rights in Hong Kong.”
On June 30, almost two weeks before the anniversary of Liu Xiaobo’s death, Chinese authorities approved the passage of the national security law, banning all individuals, institutions, and organizations in Hong Kong from “engaging in activities that endanger national security”.
The broad, vaguely defined offences under this new legislation similarly feature in China’s own National Security Law, which has been used to crack down on dissent.
“It was only a year ago when we witnessed the horrific human-rights crackdown in Hong Kong, as authorities clamped down on millions of people taking to the streets in protest of a proposed extradition law,” said Cherie Wong, who presented the wreath on behalf of the Alliance Canada Hong Kong and TADC. “Now, we have seen Chinese authorities go a step further in criminalizing all forms of dissent under this dangerous new national security law.”
Among his many accomplishments, Liu Xiaobo co-wrote Charter 08, a manifesto calling for freedom of expression, human rights, and political reforms in China. He was arrested and sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2009.
Nearly a year later, Liu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China. The Chinese government refused to allow him to travel to Oslo to receive the prize. His absence was marked by an empty chair on stage during the award ceremony.
Liu died in prison of liver cancer on July 13, 2017, after Chinese authorities refused his request to seek treatment abroad.
“Three years after Liu Xiaobo’s death, we are reminded that we must do everything we can to uphold his powerful legacy,” said Ihsaan Gardee, Director of Programs & Communications at Amnesty. “Whether in China or elsewhere, we will continue holding all governments to account until we see human rights for everyone.”
Canadian sculptor Ruth Abernethy created a bronze replica of the “empty chair”, which was unveiled on the front lawn of Amnesty International’s Ottawa office during a ceremony on Aug. 13, 2019.
All members of the public are invited to pay their respects at the Liu Xiaobo Empty Chair Memorial at in Ottawa 312 Laurier Ave. E.
國際特赦、多倫多支持中國民運會和ACHK在位於國際特赦組織渥太華總辦公室前院的劉曉波空座椅紀念碑前敬獻花環。
多倫多支持中國民運會發言人關卓中表示：「我們必須表揚劉曉波遺下的榜樣，牢記他為自由民主中國的奮鬥遠未結束。這個微小的悼念儀式目的是提醒我們，即使我們目睹香港的人權受到可怕的侵蝕，劉曉波不屈的抗爭精神永遠不滅。」
6 月 30 日，在劉曉波忌辰將近兩星期前，中國當局通過了香港的國家安全法，禁止所有個人、機構和組織「從事危害國家安全活動」。
這個新法例對罪行的定義廣泛而含糊，與中國本身的國家安全法相似，後者常被用來打壓異見者。
「不過是一年前，我們目睹了香港的人權受到可怕的踐踏，當權者鎮壓數百萬上街抗議政府修訂逃犯條例的人。」代表多倫多民運會及ACHK獻花的王卓妍說。「現在，我們見到中國當局更進一步用這條危險的新國安法，把所有形式的異見定性為非法。」
劉曉波為民主自由貢獻良多，其中包括共同草擬《零八憲章》，這個宣言要求中國執政者讓人民享有言論自由和人權，並且作出政治改革。為此，他於 2009 年被捕和被判入獄十三年。
約一年之後，劉曉波獲頒諾貝爾和平獎，表揚他長期以非暴力形式爭取中國人民的基本人權。中國政府拒絕讓他前往奧斯陸領獎。在頒獎禮上，主辦者在臺上擺放一張空椅子，作為他缺席的標記。
2017 年 7 月 13 日，劉曉波因肝癌在獄中逝世。在他患病期間，中國當局拒絕他到國外就醫的請求。
國際特赦項目及傳訊總監Ihsaan Gardee說：「劉曉波離世三年，這個時刻提醒我們必須盡一切努力秉承他的遺志。不論是在中國或別的地方，我們將會繼續責成所有政府，直到每個人都享有人權。」
加拿大雕塑家Ruth Abernethy仿照「空椅子」製作了一張銅座椅，這紀念碑於 2019 年 8 月 13 日在國際特赦渥太華辦公室的前院揭幕。
歡迎公衆蒞臨渥太華 312 Laurier Ave. East，參觀劉曉波空座椅紀念碑。