Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement

​薪火雜誌

2022年7月 第132期

July 13th, 2022 marks the fifth anniversary of the death of Liu Xiaobo.

Born in Changchun, China on December 28th, 1955, Liu studied literature and philosophy, and worked as literary critic and journalist. After receiving his doctorate in 1988, he was active as a guest lecturer in Europe and the United States.

For his participation in the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, Liu was sentenced to two years in prison. He also served a three-year term in a Chinese prison camp for criticizing the country's one-party system.

During his life, Liu Xiaobo fought for a more open, free and democratic China. He called on the Chinese government to live up to the words enshrined in the Chinese constitution, that citizens would enjoy, "Freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration."

Sadly, people in today's China and Hong Kong enjoy none of these privileges.

Liu was arrested in December of 2008, for his part in the drafting of Charter 08, advocating the shifting of China's political system toward democracy, and sentenced to eleven years imprisonment for undermining state authorities. He denied the charges, saying, "Opposition is not the same as undermining.” Liu was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 2010.

Let us remember this remarkable man, who gave his life for a free and democratic China. This was a man who truly loved his country, so much so that he sacrificed his own well being, comfort, his very life, for this ideal.

Liu Xiaobo, may you Rest in Peace, and may your dream for a free and open China soon be a reality.