六四30周年臨近，世界各地都有團體以不同形式舉辦活動。加拿大的多倫多、温哥華及卡加里三大城市卻同時以籌建劉曉波紀念碑為重點項目。
Many organizations around the world are organizing events to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Tiananmen Massacre. Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary of Canada are erecting a Liu Xiaobo memorial in each city as the focus of the commemoration.
多倫多支持中國民運會與加拿大筆會及加拿大國際特赦，攜手於2018年5月籌備製造劉曉波紀念雕塑。經過一年的努力，與及各界人仕慷慨捐款，雕刻家已經將這個銅鑄的空座椅大致完成。雖然尚有少許步驟，本會率先於6月1日星期六多倫多六四遊行集會中讓大家預先親睹雕塑，然後再將雕塑安放於展覽地點，於7月13日正式揭幕。本會多年前在多倫多大學竪立的另一個紀念六四銅雕及在約克大學的民主女神像，幾經轉折才能確定竪立地點，揭幕不久後又多次受到破壞，所以三個統籌組織都非常重視這個紀念銅座，一方面小心翼翼物識雕塑家，另一方面慎重尋找合適場地，期間當然承受不少壓力，才能達到今天的成果。適逢李柱銘、李卓人及麥燕庭前往加拿大及美國，向國會講述關於香港逃犯條例修訂，途經多倫多時在百忙之中抽出寶貴時間，前往鑄造廠見證銅座製造過程，給予我們鼓舞和肯定，以空座椅讓劉曉波精神走出中國、邁向國際。
Toronto Association for Democracy in China, together with PEN Canada and Amnesty International Canada, started the project in May 2018 to erect a Liu Xiaobo bronze sculpture. After a year of hard work and the generous donation from the public, the sculpture in the form of a large-than-life Empty Chair is almost complete. Even though there are some minor steps before its final completion, TADC is bring the Empty Chair for a preview during the June 4 Rally on Saturday June 1. The sculpture will then be installed to the final location for official unveiling on July 13. TADC many years ago has erected a Tiananmen memorial sculpture at University of Toronto and a replica of the Goddess of Democracy at York University. In both cases, TADC has spent significant effort to secure the display locations. After their unveiling, both displays were sabotaged multiple times. As such, all three organizations were very cautious in selecting the sculptor and the location for the Liu Xiaobo memorial. We have gone through unsung pressure and hardship to be at this stage. Mr Martin Lee, Mr Cheuk-Yan Lee and Ms Yin-Ting Mak, while on their way to Ottawa and Washington to explain the Hong Kong Government’s amendment of extradition law, stopped by Toronto in early May. The group of three spared their precious time to visit the foundry to witness the creation of the Empty Chair. Their presence was an encouragement to us in bringing the spirit of Liu Xiaobo out of China into the world.
劉曉波一生與強權抗爭的精神在國際上獲得至高推崇。而當他在獄中知悉自己獲得諾貝爾和平獎後，流着淚向妻子說：「這個獎，屬於六四亡靈。」奧斯陸頒奬禮的開幕詞中，讚揚劉曉波「所捍衞的是國際秩序和國際社會主流。…他所代表的是今日世界主要潮流。」但是這樣一個心懷家國人民的學者，卻被中國共產黨以言入罪、長期對之踐踏殘害。現在他雖然離我們而去，卻真真正正在中國的囚牢裏獲得釋放。他不再只是屬於中國，他是代表國際、代表普世價值的主流。如果劉曉波是國際主流，迫害他的政權，就是在普世價值主流中自我放逐的孤島。
Liu Xiaobo’s devotion to fight for human rights has been honored and respected by many around the world. When he learnt about being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in prison, he said to his wife in tears, “The Prize belongs to those who died in Tiananmen.” The opening remarks at the award ceremony in Oslo praised him as setting “the order and direction of the international community….He represents the mainstream of today’s world.” As a scholar, Liu wholeheartedly gave all he had to the people and the homeland he loved. In return, the Chinese Communist Party trampled on him to his death. Now that he has us, he has in fact been released from prison in China. He is no longer a figure in China alone. He represents the mainstream of the world and represents universal values. If Liu Xiaobo were the mainstream of the world, the political power who persecuted him would have self-exiled to an island in the mainstream of universal values.
劉曉波的諾貝爾和平獎雖然只能由一張空座椅來接受，但這個空座已成為一具圖騰，承載著世人對自由的渴望。這也是多倫多支持中國民運會為劉曉波鑄造銅座的心意，希望大家於星期六下午三時親臨多倫多中國領使館門外參與遊行集會與銅座預展。
Liu Xiaobo’s Peace Prize was accepted by an empty chair. Now the Empty Chair becomes a symbol of him, holding everyone’s desire for freedom and the desire from TADC to the world. Please join us on Saturday outside the Chinese Consulate in Toronto for the June 4 Rally and preview of the Empty Chair.
合照於尚待完成的銅座有麥燕庭、李柱銘、李卓人及雕刻家 Ruth Abernethy。
In the photo with the near-complete Empty Chair are Ms Ying-Ting Mak, Mr Martin Lee, Mr Cheuk-Yan Lee and the sculptor Ms Ruth Abernethy.