A newly formed Chinese organization says it will award its own peace prize on Thursday, a day before the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Norway to imprisoned Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.
The announcement comes just three weeks after a Chinese newspaper proposed the creation of the Confucius Peace Prize, named for the famed Chinese philosopher. It follows determined efforts to undermine Friday's Nobel ceremony in Oslo by pressuring governments to boycott the event.
In e-mails to news organizations Wednesday, Confucius Prize organizers said the initial award will honor former Taiwan Vice President Lien Chen, who built a bridge of peace between Taiwan and the mainland. Lien was chairman of Taiwan's Nationalist Party in 2005 when he made a historic trip to China, helping to ease decades of tensions between the two governments.
Other nominees for the Confucius prize included former South African President Nelson Mandela, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Beijing-appointed Panchen Lama, the second highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism.
The awards committee chairman told the Associated Press that the group is not an official government body, but said it worked closely with China's Ministry of Culture.
The e-mailed statement said the award was created as a peaceful response to the Nobel decision and to explain the Chinese people's views of peace.
Chinese officials were outraged when the Nobel Prize was awarded to Liu, whom Beijing considers a criminal. Liu is serving an 11-year prison sentence for his advocacy of broad democratic reforms in China. His wife and supporters are prevented from traveling to Oslo to attend the award ceremony on his behalf.
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesThis price pollutes the legacy of Confucious. Two names on their list could be merrited the rest only serves Chinese interests. Two are internationally recocnised for their achievements. One - Abbas have not achieved peace yet and is threatening disbanding the Palestine Authority. Premature to award anything to him. The rest bowed to Chinese pressure or are puppets. China's government should heed the advise of their own retired party leaders. Time to stop the oppressive behaviour and allow a free China. Alternative prizes wont hide the facts.
Dec 09th, 2010 - 09:27 am 0For the Nobel Prize - ... Sixty-five countries with embassies or consulates in Norway were invited.
Dec 10th, 2010 - 03:56 am 0DECLINED:
China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Colombia, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Serbia, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Egypt, Sudan, Cuba, Morocco, Algeria and Argentina.
NO REPLY: Sri Lanka ...
Argentina not a fan of human rights?
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