Chinese Forced Abortion Opponents Nominated for 2010 Nobel Peace Prize

International   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Feb 8, 2010   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Chinese Forced Abortion Opponents Nominated for 2010 Nobel Peace Prize

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 8
, 2010

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Congressman Chris Smith has nominated three Chinese human rights activists, including opponents of the forced abortion population control campaign in China, for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. President Barack Obama, an ardent abortion advocate, won the prize last year.

Smith, a New Jersey Republican who has long been the pro-life leader in the House, says the three persecuted Chinese human rights advocates — Chen Guangcheng, Gao Zhisheng, and Liu Xiaobo — deserve the honor.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers from the U.S. House of Representatives who are active on human rights issues joined Smith in nominating them.

In a letter this week to Thorbjorn Jagland, chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee in Norway, the group wrote that Chen, Gao, and Liu are worthy of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize for their valiant human rights work.

“Chen, Gao, and Liu form a trio of activists outstanding for their human rights advocacy in China,” the congressmen wrote. “For years, these three figures have called on their government to substantially improve its human rights record."

The letter continued: "In so doing they have been remarkable for their patriotism, their civil courage, and the generous tone of their work, which has never sought to divide their country or cause civil conflict, but always to raise the Chinese people’s awareness of their dignity and rights, and to call their government to govern within its constitution, its laws, and the international human rights agreements it has signed."

Chen and Gao are human rights lawyers who defend people the Chinese government persecutes for political and religious reasons, including gross abuses in the enforcement of China’s brutal one-child policy.

Liu is a leader who has repeatedly called on the Chinese government to recognize the human rights of its citizens, most recently as a leader of the Charter 08 movement, which calls for greater personal and political freedoms in China.

Currently, Chen is serving a prison term for his work, Liu is appealing an 11-year sentence to prison, and Gao disappeared under suspicious circumstances more than a year ago.

Smith, senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, and Ranking Member of Congressional-Executive Commission on China, signed the letter.

He is joined by Reps. David Wu (OR-01), Joe Pitts (PA-16), Thaddeus McCotter (MI-11), Bob Inglis (SC-04), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL-21), and Gus Bilarakis (FL-09).

In the letter, the congressmen note the Nobel Peace Prize Committee’s history in awarding prizes despite the strong opposition of oppressive governments like that of China.

“These three heroes have stood up for the cause of freedom and human dignity, and they have sacrificed and suffered for their stands,” said Smith. “They deserve consideration for the Nobel Peace Prize.”

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