(Newser)
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Jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo is seen as one of the frontrunners for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, but he’s drawing opposition from an unusual quarter: other Chinese dissidents. A group of 14 overseas dissidents wrote a letter to the Nobel committee calling Liu an “unsuitable” laureate, complaining of his “open praise” of the Communist Party. Liu’s supporters describe him as a pragmatist working for peaceful change, and say his latest prison sentence—11 years for writing a manifesto on Democratic reform—is evidence enough of his sincerity.
Here are some other top contenders for tomorrow's award, according to the Christian Science Monitor:
- Sima Samar—An Afghan activist for human rights and women’s rights. She’d be the first woman to win since 2003.
- The Democratic Voice of Burma—A media group that equips covert journalists with equipment to keep watch over the oppressive Burmese regime.
- Svetlana Gannushkina—A champion of rights for immigrants and refugees in Russia.
- The Special Court for Sierra Leone—A group looking for “truth and reconciliation” following the country’s civil war.
- The Internet—Seriously.
