Thaindian News

STOCKHOLM (BNO NEWS) — In what likely will be seen as a direct insult to the Chinese government, dissident Liu Xiaobo was awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday morning for his long struggle for fundamental human rights in the Asian country.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo said in its citation that Xiaobo was awarded the prize, which is arguably the world’s most honorable prize, for his “long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China.”

The Committee said it has long believed that there is a close connection between human rights and peace. “Such rights are a prerequisite for the “fraternity between nations” of which Alfred Nobel wrote in his will,” it said in a statement.

The winner was announced by Thorbjørn Jagland, Chair of the Nobel Committee, during a press conference in Oslo where dozens of reporters had gathered. He said he hoped that China would welcome this debate.

China has campaigned years for one of its residents to win a Nobel Peace Prize. However, Xiaobo’s win will most likely be seen as an insult in China as the dissident is currently serving a jail sentence for “inciting subversion of state power.”

Xiaobo was sentenced to eleven years in prison on December 23, 2009. His political rights were also taken away by a Beijing Intermediate Court for a duration of two years after his release.

The state-run Xinhua news agency did not immediately report on Xiaobo’s win.

This year, the Committee had a record number of 337 nominations to choose from. Among them were 38 organizations on a list that was top secret until the announcement was made.

Last year, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to U.S. President Barack Obama “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” That announcement led to sharp criticism as it came only nine months into Obama’s term as president.