Tibetan PM concerned over Chinese dissident's health

Tibetan Prime Minister Lobsang Sangay on Saturday expressed concern over the deteriorating health of Nobel Peace Prize-winning Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, who has been diagnosed with cancer.

"I am saddened to learn of Chinese Nobel Peace Laureate Liu Xiaobo's tragic cancer diagnosis and at the same time relieved to learn of his release on medical parole," a statement quoting Sangay said.

Urging the Chinese government to grant Liu and his family permission on humanitarian grounds to travel abroad for treatment, he said: "I also join the global call and prayers for his recovery."

Liu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 after being sentenced the previous year to 11 years of imprisonment for inciting subversion of state power.

He was arrested after he signed, along with 300 other intellectuals, the political manifesto Charter 08, which called for constitutional rights such as freedom of the press and expression as well as the implementation of a multi-party system.

At least 154 Nobel laureates have urged Chinese President Xi Jinping in an open letter to allow Xiaobo and his wife Liu Xia to travel to the US for medical treatment.

--IANS

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