{"id":144659,"date":"2012-10-12T23:27:55","date_gmt":"2012-10-13T06:27:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/?p=144659"},"modified":"2015-12-15T18:33:12","modified_gmt":"2015-12-16T02:33:12","slug":"nobel-laureate-mo-yan-hopes-for-liu-xiaobos-freedom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/2012\/10\/nobel-laureate-mo-yan-hopes-for-liu-xiaobos-freedom\/","title":{"rendered":"Nobel Laureate Mo Yan Hopes for Liu Xiaobo’s Freedom"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a press conference on Friday, Nobel Literature prizewinner Mo Yan gave an unexpected expression of support for fellow laureate Liu Xiaobo<\/strong><\/a>, the imprisoned winner of the 2010 Peace Prize. Mo’s statement has dampened fierce criticism from dissidents<\/a>, raised questions about how he might use his newly magnified influence, and scattered at least a few raindrops on the official celebrations. From Andrew Jacobs at The New York Times:<\/p>\n

\n

“I hope he can achieve his freedom as soon as possible,” Mr. Mo, 57, told reporters during a news conference held a day after he won the 2012 prize for literature. He spoke not far from his family\u2019s home in rural Shandong Province, the setting for many of his epic novels.<\/p>\n

Even if Mr. Mo\u2019s remarks were spare and decidedly nonconfrontational \u2014 he went on to suggest he was not an admirer of Mr. Liu\u2019s pro-democracy essays \u2014 they are nonetheless likely to infuriate China\u2019s leadership, which has been exulting in the Swedish Academy\u2019s decision to give China its first Nobel in literature.<\/p>\n

[\u2026] Ran Yunfei, a sharp-tongued writer persecuted for his pro-democracy views, said he was heartened by Mr. Mo\u2019s comments but doubted that he would become a crusader for human rights and free expression. “He has become very skilled at walking on a tightrope,” Mr. Ran wrote in a microblog post. “Now that he has become a household name with the government\u2019s backing, it\u2019s only going to become harder for him to be a real critic of the government.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Other critics have also softened their tone. Activist Hu Jia said to Reuters that “what has happened in the last 24 hours has changed him<\/a>. A Nobel prize, whether for peace or for literature, bestows on one a sense of wrong and right.” Outspoken artist Ai Weiwei, who had previously called Mo’s award an “insult to humanity and to literature<\/a>“, told China Real Time Report that “I want to welcome Mo Yan back into the arms of the people<\/a>. If this sort of courage is the result, I hope more Chinese writers will be given Nobel prizes.”<\/p>\n

Also at China Real Time, Human Rights Watch’s Nicholas Bequelin commented on Mo’s politics and his support for Liu Xiaobo<\/strong><\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

“Mo Yan certainly has a mind of his own. He\u2019s not a government puppet. His novels make very clear that he\u2019s not a cheerleader for the state of Chinese society today,” said Nicholas Bequelin, senior Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch. The novelist\u2019s willingness to talk about Mr. Liu, he added, “will make it a little more difficult for China to conceal that they\u2019re holding a Nobel Peace Prize winner in prison.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Avant-garde writer Bei Cun wrote on Sina Weibo<\/strong><\/a> (via South China Morning Post’s John Kennedy):<\/p>\n

\n

Journalists and friends have messaged me asking for my view, as I’ve expressed both congratulations as well as opposition to the hand-copying [of Mao’s speech]. What we must remember is that this is a literature award, and is limited to that profession. As I said several days ago, a writer’s political position will not inevitably affect his or her professional ability, otherwise someone such as Heidegger would be difficult to understand. Writers aren’t saints, maintaining a spiritual contradiction is allowed. I can only hope Mo Yan uses his influence to encourage people to act on conscience.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Jeffrey Brown discussed Mo’s political tightrope-walking<\/strong><\/a> with University of Virginia’s Charles Laughlin<\/a> and China Digital Times Editor in Chief Xiao Qiang on PBS NewsHour:<\/p>\n