A Chinese court sentenced Liu Xiaobo, a prominent human rights activist and the author of Charter 08, to 11 years in prison last week on a charge of inciting to subvert state power, a vague allegation often leveled against opponents of the Chinese Communist authorities.
The case took only 2 hours to prosecute and more than a dozen diplomats from the international community were denied entry to the trial. The United States government has denounced the verdict.
In this video, after a 3 minute report, PBS NewsHour correspondent, Margaret Warner, talks to an advocate for human rights in China and a former National Security Council Asia expert for more on the meaning of the conviction.
Quotes
"So, it's extremely significant, as what's really on trial is the Chinese constitutional rights that are supposedly protecting and the human rights amendment, and China's willingness to respect international human rights including freedom of expression." Sharon Hom, executive director, Human Rights in China
"[Liu's] taken on the state in the most direct way that an intellectual can. And he represents a big threat to the state, as an individual and as a representative of this movement." Douglas Paal, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Warm Up Questions
1. What are some basic human rights?
2. What is international law?
Discussion Questions
1. Mr. Paal says that Liu Xiaobo is very brave. Do you agree? Why or why not?
2. Can you imagine a human rights activist being jailed in the United States? Explain your answer.
3. What most surprised you in this report? Why?
4. What, if anything, do you think the White House should do in response to this ruling?
Additional Resources
