China “dissatisfied” with EU choice for Human Rights prize

China has reacted angrily to the award of a top EU human rights prize to its jailed dissident Hu Jia.

This year’s Sakharov prize for “Freedom of Thought” has gone to the 35 year old civil rights campaigner, currently serving a three-and-half year prison term for subversion.

Beijing has warned that relations with the European Union could be seriously strained.

Hu was jailed after testifying by telephone to the European Parliament’s subcommittee on Human Rights last year.

Parliamentary President, Hans-Gert Poettering said, as he made the announcement to MEPs:
“Awarding the Sakharov-prize, the European Parliament recognises emphatically and resolutely the daily struggle for freedom of all defenders of human rights in China.”

A campaigner for civil rights and environmental protection, Hu was jailed in April, but he had already spent many months under house arrest with his family. Friends say his health is failing as he is now suffering from cirrhosis of the liver but receiving no medication.

Hu began as a campaigner for rural AIDS sufferers but has emerged as one of his country’s most vocal advocates for democratic rights, religious freedom and of self-determination for Tibet.

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