by Tienchi Martin-Liao / December 18, 2013
On the fifth year of Liu Xiaobo’s imprisonment.
Liu Xia, wife of Liu Xiaobo. Image: Lunar New Year via Flickr.
Exactly five years ago, on December 6, 2008, Liu Xiaobo happily told me on Skype that there were already over 180 people who had co-signed Charter 08, an online manifesto for democracy and reform in China that he and his friend Zhang Zuhua initiated. “People are not afraid of the pressure, the signatures are still ongoing,” Liu said enthusiastically.
“Xiaobo, you must be careful,” I said. “You know the old Party phrase: Shoot the bird that stretches its head out of the nest first.” I was worried.
“Hang on, there’s someone at the door. I’ll call you later,” Liu replied. Those were the last words I heard from him.