Liu Xiaobo, rights activist, 1955 -- 2017

July 13, 2017 10:50 AM

Liu Xiaobo, Chinese professor, political dissident, human rights and civil rights activist, prisoner of conscience, Nobel peace prize laureate (2010, previously), died from liver cancer while under state custody.

Liu's death followed his early "parole" from the 11-year prison sentence while he was in a critical state from late-stage liver cancer.

A collection of links following he recent events, as follows.

From The Guardian:

• Obituary
• Biographic on his wife, Liu Xia, who survives him and is also under de facto house arrest

From The New York Times:

• Nicholas Kristof, known for his reporting of the 1989 Tiananmen protests, reflects on the meaning of Liu's work for today's world --- especially for the United States. Liu participated in the protests and is remembered for his role in the negotiation for a safe passage.
• The battle for the control of his legacy.

Fan Jiayang writes for The New Yorker and on his prescience, and rests on the theme of indifference.

In Foreign Policy, James Palmer writes, with scathing condemnation, about China's cynical authoritarianism and the damage done to the citizens' psychological state.

Los Angeles Times, in a timely manner, has Prof. Bruce J. Dickson surveying how the Chinese view democracy and their own society.

The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, now in the control of Chinese tech tycoon Jack Ma (who denies political ambitions and dismisses the role of political connections in his success, but is noted for his company's role in China's push for a perfect surveillance state), publishes an op-ed titled "How can China become a tech leader if it’s intolerant of free thought?"

posted by runcifex (29 comments total)

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posted by Etrigan at 11:43 AM on July 13, 2017

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posted by tonycpsu at 11:46 AM on July 13, 2017

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posted by lalochezia at 11:52 AM on July 13, 2017

和平

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posted by Fizz at 12:14 PM on July 13, 2017

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posted by What'sAPedantWalter? at 12:24 PM on July 13, 2017

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posted by rh at 12:43 PM on July 13, 2017 [2 favorites]

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posted by Pendragon at 12:44 PM on July 13, 2017

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posted by Cash4Lead at 1:00 PM on July 13, 2017

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posted by languagehat at 1:28 PM on July 13, 2017

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posted by ChuraChura at 1:42 PM on July 13, 2017

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posted by ecourbanist at 1:48 PM on July 13, 2017

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posted by riruro at 1:58 PM on July 13, 2017

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posted by haiku warrior at 2:05 PM on July 13, 2017

"Even if I am crushed into powder, I will embrace you in ashes."

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posted by Bringer Tom at 2:18 PM on July 13, 2017 [3 favorites]

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posted by Lesser Spotted Potoroo at 2:35 PM on July 13, 2017

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posted by acb at 2:42 PM on July 13, 2017

I wonder to what extent the cancer naturally occurred, or whether they have a programme of adding doses of carcinogens to the food of imprisoned dissidents they don't want to officially execute but would rather did not cause any trouble again. (I think East Germany did something similar, only with radiation.)
posted by acb at 2:44 PM on July 13, 2017

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posted by Dumsnill at 4:15 PM on July 13, 2017

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posted by kinnakeet at 5:48 PM on July 13, 2017

This is a worthy obit, thank you. Weep for China, too, still denied the freedom it deserves.
posted by smoke at 6:17 PM on July 13, 2017

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posted by en forme de poire at 6:19 PM on July 13, 2017

'Teacher of the world' indeed.
posted by Twang at 7:51 PM on July 13, 2017

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posted by jojobobo at 8:04 PM on July 13, 2017

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posted by flippant at 9:42 PM on July 13, 2017

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posted by a lungful of dragon at 11:03 PM on July 13, 2017

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posted by longdaysjourney at 3:09 AM on July 14, 2017

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posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 10:30 PM on July 14, 2017

In front of this graffito in Hosier Lane (Melbourne) yesterday were hundreds of bunches of flowers and many quiet Chinese tourists.
posted by hawthorne at 8:38 PM on July 15, 2017

Link got stripped in that comment. Here is another.
posted by hawthorne at 9:15 PM on July 15, 2017 [1 favorite]