Free thinkers needed

The Chinese government is only hurting its own interests with its hard line against Nobel Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, the left-liberal daily Der Standard writes, arguing that the country needs intellectuals like Liu to secure its future: "Both open and silent critics know very well: China needs free thinkers like Liu Xiaobo if it wants to use the intellectual powers of its citizens - and the educational success of its youth - to build a stable and prosperous society. A country that doesn't want to confine itself to producing mobile phones but wants to develop the next generation of smart phones must offer people the freedom to make criticism, condemn abuses and have a say in politics. And China needs a reconciling figure like Liu Xiaobo to overcome the vast social divisions and conflicts in its society. The prisoner being honoured in Oslo is a beacon of hope not just for the opposition but for all those who believe in China's great future."

» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Human rights, » Norway, » China
All available articles from » Eric Frey

» To the complete press review of Friday, December 10, 2010