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Liu Xiaobo, a Nobel laureate in favour of an autonomous Tibet

Liu Xiaobo has been calling for Tibet’s national rights to be respected since 2000 · The awarded activist advocates a democratic and federal China · Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Parliament in exile congratulate Liu for the award

Nobel Peace Prize to Chinese writer and political prisoner Liu Xiaobo has made the front-page of worldwide news and focused international attention on Chinese dissidents demanding democratic political changes and respect for human rights. It is worthwhile to examine Liu Xiaobo's writings on Tibet as it shows there is an alternative discourse among Chinese intellectuals about the Tibetan issue.

Ten years ago Liu published a short article called "The right to self-government" where he criticized Beijing's policy towards Tibet, East Turkestan and Taiwan. The commentary, which can be read in Chinese at the Independent Chinese PEN Centre's website, an institution Liu is president of, argued that granting autonomy for several territories could contribute to solve national tensions. Liu said China is a "multi-ethnic" country and gave his support to Dalai Lama's claim for a "genuine" Tibetan self-government. The article was critical with advocates of human rights in China, whose attitude towards the Tibetan issue was ambiguous or openly aligned with "Han chauvinism", China's largest ethnic group.

The claiming of a federal China in the Charter 08

Liu's political views on Tibet went even further in 2008, the year in which the awarded dissident and other 350 Chinese intellectuals and activists signed and issued the so-called Charter 08, a manifesto in favour of democratic reforms, separation of powers, guarantees for the protection of human rights and freedom of expression, religion and association. As regards the structure of the State, the Charter 08 argued for a "Federal Republic of China" granting "common prosperity for all ethnic groups". Without stating it, the charter implied activists were for the autonomy of Tibet and East Turkestan as integral states of the federation. They also gave their support to the protection of the free political systems of Hong Kong and Macao. It was exactly the publication of the Charter 08 that brought Liu to prison with an 11-year sentence.

Tibetans congratulate Liu for the award

As the Chinese government reacted furiously against the decision by the Swedish Academy, Tibetan authorities in exile warmly congratulated Liu Xiaobo. The Dalai Lama was pleased by the "growing Chinese voices" in favour of "political, legal and constitutional reforms". The Tibetan leader called for Beijing to release Liu Xiaobo and other prisoners of conscience, while the Tibetan Parliament in exile subscribed the acknowledgment of Liu's task in favour of an autonomous Tibet.

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