(No. 64 - February 11, 2010 - 5 p.m. ET) The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement regarding the Beijing Municipal High Court’s decision to uphold an 11-year sentence imposed on Chinese intellectual and dissident Liu Xiaobo:
“Canada is extremely disappointed that China is upholding Liu Xiaobo’s sentence on the charge of inciting subversion of state power. We are concerned that Chinese individuals are being punished for exercising their fundamentals rights, including the right to peaceful and non-violent freedom of expression.
“Canada is also deeply concerned by the circumstances of his appeal, which was not open, and to which foreign observers—including Canadian Embassy representatives—were denied access.
“Canada reiterates its call on China to immediately release Mr. Liu without condition.
“The Government of Canada is fully committed to promoting freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law around the world.”
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