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China says dissident Hu Jia is a criminal
2008-10-09
Beijing - China called reported Nobel Peace Prize nominee Hu Jia a criminal Thursday, adding that awarding the jailed dissident this year's prestigious accolade would amount to interference in its legal affairs. "Everyone knows what kind of person Hu Jia is, he is a criminal that was convicted and sentenced to prison by the state judiciary of inciting the subversion of state power," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said. "If they award the peace prize to such a person, it would be rude interference in China's internal affairs as well as our independent judiciary." Some observers predict this year's prize, to be announced Friday, could go to Hu or another Chinese dissident, as 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Hu, 36, is a well-known campaigner for civil rights, environmental protection and AIDS victims but he is currently serving a three-and-a-half year prison sentence for subversion. Among the other critics of China's communist rulers seen as potential winners are democracy activist Wei Jingsheng, human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, and Rebiya Kadeer, who represents the country's Uighur Muslim minority. But with the names of this year's 197 nominees a well-kept secret, pundits can only speculate. Beijing has repeatedly voiced its opposition to such an honour for Hu, as is the case each time a Chinese dissident is mentioned as a possible contender for the prize. In 1989, exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, greatly angering Beijing.
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