Phayul [Monday, December 28, 2009 23:23]

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaks at an education conference in
Dharamsala, December 27, 2009. RFA photo/Tenzin Dhonyoe
Dharamsala, December 28 – His Holiness the Dalai Lama has expressed his
sadness over the sentencing to 11 years’ imprisonment of a Chinese
dissident and democracy activist Liu Xiabo.

“By sentencing Liu Xiaobo and others like him, who use freedom of
expression to publicly articulate their opinions, the Chinese
authorities have not only violated the binding principles of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also the freedom of expression
mentioned in the Constitution of the People's Republic of China,” the
Tibetan leader said in a statement posted today on his official website.

His Holiness appealed the Chinese Government to release Liu and other
political prisoners who were jailed for exercising their freedom of
expression.

“I offer my regards and prayers to Mr. Liu Xiaobo, his wife and other
family members.”