Dharamshala — “To those people who admire late Liu Xiaobo, please carry forward his principle; it is our duty as his admirers. We should carry forward his vision and principle,” His Holiness the Dalai Lama said in a video statement, shown at a public memorial service held in Celebration of the Life of Liu Xiaobo at Washington National Cathedral on October 19.
Offering his prayers for fellow Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo, His Holiness said, “As an elder Nobel laureate, it’s my duty to express my prayers and warm feelings. I really admire Liu Xiaobo’s firm stand on moral principle and democracy.”
Although he is no longer living, the rest of us can best honor Liu Xiaobo by carrying forward the principles he embodied, the spiritual leader said.
The prayer service saw an impressive gathering of politicians, State Department Officials, Nobel Laureates-Jody Williams and Shirin Ebadi and readings of Liu Xiaobo and Liu Xia’s works by Norwegian Nobel Committee chair Berit Reiss-Andersen and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan Mendez.
The short but powerful message of His Holiness was screened as part of reflection of the life of Liu Xiaobo.
In 2010, when Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, His Holiness was among the 15 Nobel Peace Prize laureates who appealed for Liu’s release from imprisonment.
His Holiness called Liu “one of China’s most prominent prisoners of conscience” in a statement released post the dissident’s release from 11-year imprisonment in June 2017.
When Liu Xiaobo passed away a month later, His Holiness issued a public statement, expressing his deep sadness. “It is my belief that Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo’s unceasing efforts in the cause of freedom will bear fruit before long,’ he said.
The full video statement can be viewed here.
