WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Thursday after the death of Liu Xiaobo, who was serving an 11-year sentence in Chinese prison after calling for peaceful political change in that country. International health experts and politicians, including Senator Cardin, had called for his release from prison for liver cancer treatment. In 2010, Liu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize:
“Today, the world has lost one of its great spirits and great champions for human rights and democracy, Liu Xiaobo. His life stands as a rich testament to the enduring power of the ideals of human freedom, freedom of expression, and self-government. The Chinese government should be ashamed of their treatment of Liu - who wanted nothing more and fought for nothing less than the betterment of the lives of all of the Chinese people. They should also know that his ideas and his ideals prove inspiration for those in China and around the world who cherish his memory. We rededicate ourselves today to his unfinished work, and affirm that his vision for a new birth of freedom in China shall not be darkened.”
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