This open letter is written by some exiled overseas Chinese dissidents. The China Times post their letter for archive purpose only.

To: Nobel Peace Prize Committee

Copied to:
Dalai Lama
Desmond Tutu
Herta Müller, 2009 Nobel Prize Laureate in Literature
U.S. State Department
U.S. Congress
U.S. National Endowment for Democracy Foundation
U.S. Human Rights Organizations
International Human Rights Organizations
European Parliament

Respected Nobel Prize Committee and Mr. Vaclav Havel:

We are a group of exiled overseas writers, dissidents, and overseas Chinese, who are concerned about and have been participating in the Chinese democracy movement for many years. We have always condemned the persecutory conduct of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) government, and we are equally opposed to the CCP’s current persecution of writer Liu Xiaobo.

However, we do not consider that Liu Xiaobo qualifies as a candidate for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. As recently as December 23, 2009, he made a statement entitled “I have no enemies—my final statement” during his trial after being detained for nearly a year. This statement was released to Radio Free Asia and Voice of Germany by his wife on January 21, 2010. In this statement, he whitewashed the Communist regime’s appalling human rights record and legal system, based on only his own special treatment by the CCP justice system during his detention. He also contradicted himself by first saying that the CCP was criminalizing him for his speech, and then praising the CCP for putting “respecting and protecting human rights” into the constitution, saying that “it is a sign that human rights have become one of the fundamental principles of Chinese law.” Also in this statement, he praised the CCP prison system for its “tender management,” “offering inmates a humane living environment,” and “making them feel warm.”

At the same time that Liu Xiaobo was receiving “tender and humane” special treatment in jail, under the same totalitarian regime, in the same year, under the same legal system, Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng and other prisoners of conscience were suffering from brutal tortures as atrocious as electric shocks to the genitals by the police. Liu Xiaobo clearly knew that the CCP was deliberately giving him special lenient treatment while ruthlessly brutalizing Mr. Gao Zhisheng and other prisoners of conscience. But he still said in his “I have no enemies” statement that the Chinese government “recognizes universal standards of human rights.” This is consistent with his conduct after the Tiananmen movement of 1989. Back then in a speech broadcast across the national television network, he helped the CCP to cover up its massacre during the June 4th movement. Because of these deeds and conduct, he has lost the moral image fit for a Nobel Peace Prize recipient.

As everyone knows, the CCP has always refused to share power with any force outside the government. It also views anyone who demands it to relinquish its dictatorship as “hostile forces.” These “hostile forces” are subjected to brutal persecution by the CCP, regardless of whether the demand was in the form of resistance or gentle suggestions, including Liu Xiaobo’s “Charter 08,” which tries to persuade the CCP to adopt democracy. Liu’s arrest this time again demonstrates the fall of the fantasy that the CCP regime will reform itself and peacefully transition into a democracy. It also shows that Liu Xiaobo’s path of persuasion and advice can only lead to a dead end.

Liu Xiaobo is free to say whatever he wants, but as a public-figure “dissident,” his disregard for facts and open praise for the CCP regime that tramples on human rights, and his attempt to both defend himself and exonerate the CCP, all set a precedent of confounding truth and falsehood that misguides and negatively impacts the Chinese democracy movement.

The point of dispute among the Chinese dissidents is this: How do we confront the totalitarian rule of the CCP? This dispute divides Chinese dissidents into those who favor change through resistance and those who favor change through cooperation. The former completely negate the totalitarian Communist system, calling for the people to reject dictatorship and establish a democratic government; the latter cooperate with the CCP, hoping to work with it to establish a “democratic system.” The existence of such severe differences among the Chinese dissidents, plus the CCP intelligence operation’s infiltration and buy off, makes the ranks of dissidents highly complex. The current Chinese democracy movement is as chaotic and complicated as the resistance movements before the collapse of the Communist parties in the Eastern European countries. It is our belief that perhaps only time can reveal the true face of Liu Xiaobo as a controversial figure and representative of the “cooperative faction.”

Finally, we would like to clarify that we are opposed to any infringements on freedom and human rights by the CCP. We also consider it illegal to criminalize free speech and persecute and imprison either those who try to bring change through resistance or those who try to achieve reform through cooperation. Nonetheless, awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo, with his defective image and being a representative of the “cooperative faction,” will have a negative impact on the Chinese peoples’ struggle for human rights, freedom, and democracy.

To inspire the Chinese people currently struggling against the brutal tyranny of the CCP, with respect to the selection of Chinese candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize, we hope that the Nobel Committee will consider those individuals who have made real contributions to the struggle for freedom, human rights and democracy in China. They are, for example, Gao Zhisheng and Hu Jia who are currently being persecuted by the CCP, and Dr. Gao Yaojie who just fled China to escape persecution.

Sincerely and respectfully yours,

Co-signers:

Bian Hexiang，Anti-CCP activist. Member, Central Committee of Chinese Social Democratic Party; Chairman, The Coalition of Guards For American Values, Inc.; blacklisted by CCP for the pursuit of freedom and democracy in China and support for Fanlun Gong’s struggle against persecution. Now living in New York City, USA.

Huan Xuewen，Freelance writer. Passport invalidated by CCP in 1992 for joining overseas independent students and scholars organizations and opposing the 1989 massacre by CCP. Now living in Essen, Germany.

Liu Guohua，Anti-CCP activist, Former Associate Professor of Northeastern University, China. Vice Chairman, The Coalition of Guards For American Values, Inc. Now living in New York City, USA.

Liu Xiaodong，Freelance writer, Pen name: San Mei. Blacklisted by CCP for supporting and participating in Chinese pro-democracy movements. Now living in Chicago, USA.

Lu Decheng，Anti-CCP activist. Sentenced to imprisonment for 15 years for participating in the 1989 Tiananmen pro-democracy movement and defacing Mao’s portrait on Tiananmen with paint-filled eggs; released on parole in 1998. Now living in Calgary, Canada.

Su Junyan，Freelance writer. Senior political critic, graduate of Department of History, Beijing University. Persecuted by CCP for expressing political views during the June 4th movement and sentenced to imprisonment; won the United Nations’ political asylum. Now living in Toronto, Canada.

Tang Boqiao，Chairman, China Peace and Democracy Federation. Sentenced to imprisonment for three years for participating and organizing the 1989 pro-democracy movement, and served for 18 months. Now living in New York City, USA.

Wang Gongbiao，Human rights activist. Suffered from discrimination by the CCP government due to family origin, persecuted by CCP for free speech, exiled to Australia and won political asylum there. Now living in Sydney, Australia.

Wang Shenglin，Chinese dissident, Senior Financial Information Analyst at HSBC. Blacklisted by CCP for supporting and participating in Chinese pro-democracy movements. Now living in Chicago, USA.

Wu Fan，Anti-CCP activist. Chief Editor, China Affairs, member of Independent Chinese PEN Centre; member, Coordinating Committee of Chinese Liberal Culture Movement; labeled as a rightist by CCP in 1957, charged as a reactionary and sentenced to imprisonment for 20 years in 1968; served in labor camp for 12 years; released in November, 1979, and then taught in Anhui Teachers College, China. Now living in Los Angeles, USA.

Xiao Hong，Freelance writer. Now living in Denmark.

Xiao Jing，Manager, Broad Book USA. Rose against CCP for mother’s persecution by CCP for practicing Falun Gong; Canadian citizen. Now living in New York City, USA.

Xiong Yan，Participant of the 1989 Tiananmen student pro-democracy movement. Arrested and sentenced to imprisonment on June 14, 1989; released in January, 1991; currently serving in US Army as Army Priest. Now living in Alabama, USA.

Xu Shuiliang，Anti-CCP activist. Devoted to Chinese pro-democracy movement from 1973; jailed twice from 1975-1979 and May 1981- May 1991 for supporting and participating in Chinese pro-democracy movements. Now living in New York City, USA.

Xu Yi，Associate Professor at University College London, UK. Blacklisted by CCP for supporting and participating in Chinese pro-democracy movements, and denied passport renewal for many years. Now living in London, UK.

Yuan Hongbing，Freelance writer, jurist, founder of Chinese Liberal Culture Movement. Arrested by CCP for participating in the 1989 Tiananmen pro-democracy movement; exiled to Guizhou, China; sought political asylum in Australia in 2004. Now living in Sydney, Australia.

Zeng Dajun， Teacher. Now living in New York City, USA.

Zhang Guoting，Anti-CCP activist, Internet writer. Arrested and sentenced to labor camp in 1960 at age 16, subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment for reactionary crimes, served in prison for 22 years, released in 1982 and fled to Denmark. Now living in Denmark.

Zhong Weiguang，Freelance writer. Blacklisted by CCP for publications that point out the problems of Communism and Communist culture, and articles that criticize the CCP government; passport invalidated by CCP in 1997. Now living in Essen, Germany.

Liu Xiaobo has received hundred thousands of US government funding via the NED in the past five years. Check NED’s China grants for Independent Chinese Pen Center and Zhongguo Minzhu magazine, which Liu heads.

If Liu is American he would be in violation of FARA (Froeign [Foreign] Agent Registration Act).

Following his reference, we’ve checked the website of NED ( National Endowment for Democracy ) and its grants for Asia Programs:

http://www.ned.org/grants/08programs/grants-asia08.html#China

To understand more about NED, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Endowment_for_Democracy

The two organizations mentioned in anonymous comment are:

Independent Chinese PEN Center
$152,350*
To promote freedom of expression in China. Activities will include translation of materials on freedom of expression into Chinese, publishing banned materials to enable Chinese readers to have access to diverse views and literary works despite official censorship, and organizing domestic and international advocacy campaigns on behalf of imprisoned writers and journalists.

and

Democratic China, Inc.
$150,000
To promote well-informed and uncensored dialogue on issues relevant to China’s political development. The grantee will publish weekly the online Chinese-language magazine Minzhu Zhongguo (Democratic China), which carries news and analysis by authors inside and outside of China regarding current affairs, culture, history, and international relations.

The website of magazine Minzhu Zhongguo (Democratic China) is www.minzhuzhongguo.org which contains about 30000 static pages generated by ASP scripts, it ranked 656,938 on Alexa.com, the visitors’ geographic details are:
83.0% United States
6.9% Canada
10.0% OTHER

According to some threads posted in Chinese forum (search 刘晓波+NED), Independent Chinese PEN Center also received funds from other sources secretly. Liu Xiaobo was indirectly supported by a fixed income of tens of thousands of dollar every year, and his online magazine has annual budget of $136,000 funded by NED (unconfirmed information).

We have no intention of judging the links between these organizations and NED, also we don’t comment on the relation between Liu Xiaobo and NED. The China Times ( Chinais.com ) only focus on credible information.

We can find the brief of NED China programs on its website. Here is the full list of organization supported by NED ( Mainland China only, programs in Hong Kong not included here):

http://www.ned.org/grants/08programs/grants-asia08.html#China

Rule of Law and Public Participation
$180,913
To strengthen the rule of law, enhance citizens’ awareness of their legal rights, enhance norms of access to information and the free flow of information, and broaden participation in public policy debates. Projects will support a variety of educational, research, policy analysis, and legal aid activities.

American Center for International Labor Solidarity
$294,058
To empower workers, promote government accountability, and improve access to justice in China. The Solidarity Center, in cooperation with local partners, will sponsor research, education programs, trainings, and seminars to build effective networks in specific industrial sectors, as well as enhance the capacity of stakeholders to initiate viable labor regulation reforms related to worker safety and health.

American Center for International Labor Solidarity
$134,454
To promote labor rights and government accountability. The Solidarity Center’s partner organization conducts in-depth research on labor issues, disseminates a variety of research and educational publications, and engages in related legal aid and advocacy activities.

American Center for International Labor Solidarity
$120,418
To promote labor rights in China. The Solidarity Center will cooperate with local partners to conduct trainings and other outreach activities to raise awareness of labor rights, particularly as they relate to occupational safety and health.

American Center for International Labor Solidarity
$40,000
To promote awareness among Chinese workers of their rights. The Solidarity Center and its partner will continue distribution of its worker rights information CDs inside China as well as frequent interviews with the international and Chinese press.

American Center for International Labor Solidarity
$40,000*
To strengthen enforcement of the Labor Contract Law and other labor protections in China. The Solidarity Center’s partner organization will conduct education workshops for workers, and publish and distribute a study guide regarding the Labor Contract Law and other relevant regulations.

American Federation of Teachers Educational Foundation (AFTEF)
$40,000
To encourage the introduction of democratic teaching methods in classrooms. The AFTEF will assist local partners to conduct a variety of workshops and produce educational materials for distribution in hard copy and on the Internet.

Asia Catalyst
$15,000*
To function as a regional forum and facilitate cross-border linkages among NGOs. Asia Catalyst will develop a Chinese-language informational website that will include resources for NGOs and post information about human rights, social justice, and environmental protection initiatives.

Beijing Dongzhen-Nalan Cultural Communication Co., Limited (BDNCCC)
$36,500 *
To strengthen civil society and advance respect for human rights. BDNCCC will facilitate several trainings for civic groups to introduce to participants basic concepts of human rights and organizational development skills, such as management systems, leadership, and team building.

Beijing Spring Magazine
$180,000*
To publish the monthly Chinese-language magazine Beijing Spring, which carries analysis and commentary by authors inside and outside China regarding political developments, social issues, and the prospects for democratization in China.

Beijing Yirenping Information & Counseling Center, LLC
$70,000*
To promote the rule of law and the development of public interest law in China. The Center will maintain a telephone hotline to provide citizens with legal aid, conduct research regarding legal reforms and produce related public reports, make policy recommendations to relevant authorities, and hold a discussion series for lawyers and concerned citizens.

Beijing Zhiaixing Information Counseling Company Limited
$235,000*
To operate a diverse program promoting accountability and human rights. The work of the organization will include legal aid, investigative reporting, activist training, and human rights documentation related to HIV/AIDS and other public health threats.

Celeluck Company, Ltd.
$100,000*
To promote free discussion and analysis of current events and political issues. Celeluck will publish a series of Chinese-language books on issues related to the future of democracy and human rights in China. The organization will also continue to issue its monthly periodical, Open Magazine, known for its exposés and timely analysis of trends and newsworthy events in China.

Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)
$167,708
To enhance the capacity of busin
ess associations and other NGOs. CIPE and its partner organization will collect and disseminate information on management best practices, and publish a guidebook promoting a better model of self-governance for independent organizations.

Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)
$26,133
To encourage good governance and enhance private-sector participation in public policy debates on key reform issues. CIPE will support local partners in China to conduct regular symposia on China’s economic and governance reforms, in which independent voices can engage government officials in policy discussions.

Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)
$94,182
To encourage advocacy efforts by raising awareness of key reform issues. CIPE will work with its partner in China to hold weekly policy forums. These forums will focus on themes such as political and economic reforms, civil society development, and social justice.

Center for Modern China
$261,000*
To maintain a forum for informed and responsible debate of public policy questions. The Center will publish Modern China Studies, a quarterly Chinese-language scholarly journal that features economic and social science research concerning liberal, democratic solutions to contemporary policy questions in China. In addition, the Center will engage in a historical memory project that gives voice to alternative views of an important historical event.

China Aid Association
$75,000*
To promote religious freedom in China. China Aid will publish the Chinese Law & Religion Monitor, a semi-annual journal containing analysis and documentation of religious issues and human rights abuses suffered by religious believers. China Aid will also maintain an online library of reference materials, including Chinese- and English-language full-text copies of laws and regulations governing religious practices in China.

China Free Press
$140,000
To expand the space for free expression. China Free Press will host banned and censored Chinese pro-democracy websites that provide a platform for discussion and debate on current events and pressing social, political and economic questions facing China. China Free Press will also maintain a dedicated civil rights page as a forum for reports, commentary, and appeals by citizens.

China Information Center
$410,000*
To provide an alternative source of news and opinion for audiences in China. The Center will disseminate news, commentary, and independent analysis of developments in China and important international events through two Chinese-language websites and an email list.

Democratic China, Inc.
$150,000
To promote well-informed and uncensored dialogue on issues relevant to China’s political development. The grantee will publish weekly the online Chinese-language magazine Minzhu Zhongguo (Democratic China), which carries news and analysis by authors inside and outside of China regarding current affairs, culture, history, and international relations.

Friends of China Labour Bulletin
$80,000*
To promote labor rights and government accountability. The organization conducts in-depth research on labor issues, disseminates a variety of research and educational publications, and engages in related legal aid and advocacy activities.

Human Rights in China (HRIC)
$430,000*
To advance internationally recognized human rights in China. HRIC facilitates the work of domestic groups in building an effective agenda for social, legal, and political development through collaborative research and education, print and electronic publications, and advocacy.

Independent Chinese PEN Center
$152,350*
To promote freedom of expression in China. Activities will include translation of materials on freedom of expression into Chinese, publishing banned materials to enable Chinese readers to have access to diverse views and literary works despite official censorship, and organizing domestic and international advocacy campaigns on behalf of imprisoned writers and journalists.

Initiatives for China
$75,000
To promote inter-ethnic understanding, mutual trust, and cooperation among prodemocracy activists from different ethnic groups in China. Initiatives for China will organize an inter-ethnic conference with conflict resolution workshops and panel discussions on democracy, human rights, and religious freedom.

International Republican Institute (IRI)
$400,000
To expand the space for civic engagement in China by supporting citizen groups and coalitions. The program will help strengthen the capacity of Chinese civic organizations and coalitions by providing opportunities for international exchange and by supporting partner organizations’ research, monitoring, and education activities.

International Republican Institute (IRI)
$45,000*
To promote legislative and legal reform on workplace and property rights discrimination. IRI will facilitate the work of its partner organization to conduct research and education activities, hold workshops, and develop and distribute a training handbook, model guidelines, reports, and other publications.

Laogai Research Foundation
$280,000
To campaign for the abolition of the laogai labor camps. The Foundation will carry out investigation and documentation of the Chinese system of labor camps, while also undertaking a program of timely research exposing other human rights problems in China.

Princeton China Initiative
$115,000
To promote media freedoms and civic engagement via the Internet in China. The program will bring together specialists in Internet technology to exchange information and create online tools that can be used by ordinary Chinese citizens, journalists and social activists for “citizen journalism” and civic-oriented, open communication.

Princeton China Initiative
$210,000
To promote human rights in China. The Princeton China Initiative will carry out a broad program of support for human rights projects to enhance transparency, accountability, legal knowledge, and access to justice.

Princeton China Initiative
$120,000
To provide an effective forum for free expression and stimulate liberal debate on China’s international role. Princeton China Initiative will publish China in Perspective Magazine, which will provide a pluralistic platform for Chinese writers to discuss issues related to comparative democratization, Chinese foreign policy making, responsible international behavior, and nationalism.

Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center (SMHRIC)
$75,000
To advance the human rights of ethnic Mongols in China. SMHRIC will report on the human rights conditions in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, also known as Southern Mongolia, through a website and an English- and Mongolian- language electronic publication, Southern Mongolia Watch.

Open Letter

Prague, January 6, 2010

Your Excellency,

On December 23, the Beijing Municipal No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court – after holding him for over a year without trial – sentenced respected intellectual and human rights activist Liu Xiaobo to 11 years in prison for “inciting subversion of state power.”

Mr. President, we would like you to know that we do not consider this trial an independent judicial process in which neither you nor your government can interfere. In fact, it is just the opposite. Mr. Liu’s trial was the result of a political order for which you carry ultimate political responsibility. We are convinced that this trial and harsh sentence meted out to a respected, well-known, and prominent citizen of your country merely for thinking and speaking critically about various political and social issues was chiefly meant as a stern warning to others not to follow his path.

Thirty-three years ago, on January 6th, 1977, we, playwright Vaclav Havel, actor Pavel Landovsky, and writer Ludvik Vaculik, were arrested by the police in our own country, then a one-party Communist state, for “committing” exactly the same “crime”: the drafting of Charter 77 and collection of signatures with the intent to call on our own government to respect our country’s constitution, its international obligations, and basic civic and human rights. Later, some of us were also sentenced to long prison terms in politically ordained judicial proceedings, just as the court in Beijing shamefully sentenced Mr. Liu Xiaobo in December 2009.

We strongly believe, and we dare to remind you and your Government, that there is nothing subversive to state security when intellectuals, artists, writers and academics exercise their core vocation: to think, re-think, ask questions, criticize, act creatively, and try to initiate open dialogue. On the contrary, the present and future well-being of a society is undermined when governments suppress intellectual debate.

There is nothing subversive to state security or damaging to future prosperity when citizens act guided by their own will and according to their best knowledge and conscience, when they associate among themselves to discuss and express peacefully their concerns and visions about the future development of their society.

On the contrary, a country’s material and spiritual future is undermined when its citizens are not allowed to act, associate, think and speak freely.

This is why we call upon you and your Government to secure a fair and genuinely open trial for Liu Xiaobo when the court hears his appeal.

We are also asking you and your Government to end the house arrests and police surveillance which have been imposed on other Charter 08 signatories. We call upon you and your Government to end the criminalization of free speech and to release all prisoners of conscience.

Mr. President, we would like you to know that we will continue to watch carefully the treatment of Mr. Liu Xiaobo and other signatories of Charter 08. We will, together with many of our colleagues from the Czech Republic and Slovakia who signed the original Charter 77, make continued and sustained efforts to draw international attention to their plight.

With regards,

Vaclav Havel, playwright

Pavel Landovsky, autor

Vaclav Maly, Bishop of Prague