Calling a champion of democracy ‘a criminal’ that too by a country claiming and calling itself a democratic republic reminds one of an exercise in absurdity. Most nations get elated, here I refer to democratic nations, when prominent citizens of such nations win international acclaim for the good deeds done by them are recognized by an international organisation like Nobel Committee, notwithstanding reservations exist, over the particular person’s approach to certain matters. Wherever there are citizens, differences too are bound to exist not all carry the same views. Differences of opinions if needed are discussed, debated and deliberated upon and if possible a final solution is arrived at summits held at international as well as national levels to discuss various issues affecting world, to put it aptly, each nation participating in such summits, are discussed threadbare, without any guarantee of a solution in the end. But on that count no nation desists from taking part in such summits for good. Negotiations lead to consensus, not often but efforts are certain to continue and that is the way a variety of issues are solved across the world.
Examples are countless ranging from – it could start from anywhere – as a fine example let me point out first the Cancun Summit at Mexico, participated by 194 nations around the world, which came to an end today, G-20 Summit, ASEAN Summit, G-77 Summit, East Asian Summit (EAS) even negotiations between two enemy nations mostly under the mediation of a third country acceptable to both parties, the list is unending. True, the talks between Iran and America, though taken place several times before over the issue of Iran’s nuclear weapons programme each time without reaching a solution, both disperse for the time-being not prolonging it infinitely. Sometimes the differences of opinion could end in a war or a proxy war in such a horrific situation too peace-loving nations as well as UN explore all possible avenues to avert a war at any cost. If these things called NEGOTIATION and CONSENSUS were not given a chance in matters of dispute among various nations, what would have been the future of mankind?
Let me come to the heart of the matter. Today, Friday the 10th, Liu-Xia-Bao, the Chinese dissident leader who is imprisoned in a Chinese jail is going to be conferred with Nobel Prize for Peace, 2010, in his absence to a third party authorised by him. Liu-Xia-Bao, China’s democratic activist and advocate of human rights was sentenced to 11 years in jail last December. On being awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace, the Chinese authorities didn’t have the generosity to inform him about the glad news instead they showered some kind of mercy over him by allowing his wife to meet him and inform.
China’s anger knew no limits on him being awarded the prestigious award and its ire directed against the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Not only against the committee, its anger and hatred turned against Norway and China backtracked from the already agreed decision of signing a trade pact with the former. Norway’s crime being Norwegian Nobel Committee’s awarding of Nobel to a ‘criminal’ in the eyes of Chinese authorities. How come a Chinese national who fought for freedom of speech and expression through non-violent means being called a criminal?
Furthermore China demanded its friendly countries not to take part in and conferring ceremony and the ones who depend upon it fearing adverse reaction from taking part in the auspicious occasion acting against their conscience. China’s phenomenal economic growth and achievements on various fronts have emboldened it to arm-twist and pressurize those dependent nations from crossing the line drawn by it.
The decision not to allow a prisoner who has no criminal background from accepting the award itself doesn’t behove a nation calling itself Peoples’ Democratic Republic. Intimidating other friendly nations with dire consequences in the event of such nations’ representatives from taking part in an august ceremony and adding fuel to fire calling a champion of democratic rights a criminal lay bare the authoritarian mind-set of Chinese leaders.
Differences of opinion over the issue of Liu-Xia-Bao must be persisting among the Chinese top brass but such differences to come out into the open would take further time but one fact is there for certain the opening of Pandora’s Box is only a matter of time.
One thing which is heartening however is that India’s envoy will be present there inspite of the ‘bonhomie’ continuing between the two neighbouring nations. And, Wen-Jia-Bao, Chinese Premier is scheduled to visit India for talks relating to various issues on December 15.
Whether Liu-Xia-Bao’s issue and China’s airing of protest for India’s envoy taking part in the award giving ceremony today are stated to come up still remains a mute question. Most probably such matter is unlikely to come up for discussion between the two friendly neighbouring nations.
1989 is not 2010, true, even after 21 years, that volcanic eruption and its aftermaths still engraved on the psyche of Chinese population as well as the community of citizens around the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment