Liu Xiaobo, a pro-democracy and human rights activist currently in prison in China, has won the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. Liu is currently serving an 11-year sentence as the lead author of Chapter 08, a manifesto calling for free speech and multi-party elections in China.
Norwegian Nobel Committee President Thorbjoern Jagland cited Liu’s “…long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China.”
Lui joins Andrei Sakharov of Russia and Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar as winners who could not be able to accept their award, due to being imprisoned.
Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, and fellow peace prize winner, the Dalai Lama offered his congratulations to Liu, saying, “Awarding the Peace Prize to him is the international community’s recognition of the increasing voices among the Chinese people in pushing China towards political, legal and constitutional reforms.”
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the richest and most prestigious awards in the world. The prize includes a $1.5 million award.