Dalai Lama criticizes China's response after Xiaobo's Nobel Peace Prize

[News_Editor]

Dalai Lama criticizes China's response after Xiaobo's Nobel Peace Prize

2010-10-11 22:24:48 GMT+7 (ICT)

TOKYO (BNO NEWS) -- The Dalai Lama on Monday criticized China's response after the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, according to media reports.

The exiled spiritual leader told the Kyodo news agency that the Chinese government does "not appreciate different opinions" and insisted that it must change to "build an open transparent society and this is the only way to save all the people of China.

The Dalai Lama, who was also recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, spoke at Narita International Airport in Japan, as he was on his way to the United States from Mumbai.

On Friday, the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo said in its citation that Xiaobo was awarded the prize, which is arguably the world's most honorable prize, for his "long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China."

However, China strongly criticized the announcement, describing Xiaobo - who was sentenced to eleven years in prison on December 23, 2009 - as a "criminal." He was jailed for "inciting subversion" as he has been a leader of protests and was involved in drafting a document which called for multi-party democracy and respect for human rights in the Asian country.

International leaders and groups around the world applauded the naming of Xiaobo as the prize winner. His political rights were also taken away by a Beijing Intermediate Court for a duration of two years after his release.

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