Editor, Canberra Times: I would like to join with human rights organisations and notable people worldwide in applauding the granting of the 2010 Nobel Peace prize to Lui Xiaobo, the courageous Chinese campaigner for democratic rights in China.
My life-long interest in the activities of the Communist Party of China began well before I attended a Communist Party school in Beijing in 1951 – 1954, which was just two years after the Communists came to power after decades of leading the fight against foreign occupation and local despotism.
However, along with many other supporters of the new China, my deep admiration for the Communist Party of China was shattered when millions of Chinese workers, peasants and intellectuals, including notable Communists, died of starvation or were killed during the “Great Leap Forward” and the “Cultural Revolution”. These were the very people Communists were taught to serve!
While the world acknowledges the great economic achievements of China and the rising living standards of its hard-working, industrious people, one hopes that enlightened Communists in China will be able to extend democracy and human rights within the Party and in their country so that the true aims of their revolution are fulfilled.
Releasing Liu Xiaobo from jail would demonstrate that Communism and democracy are not incompatible.
Keith McEwan, CLA member
Oxley ACT