Chinese authorities
have barred Tibetan writer and blogger Tsering Woeser from going to the
Netherlands Embassy in Beijing to be handed the 2011 Prins Claus Award by the
Dutch ambassador.
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Ms Woeser
is currently under house arrest. She says state security agents have told her
not to go to the embassy to collect the prize and that four to five agents
guard her apartment around the clock.
Chinese
authorities have refused to comment. The Netherlands Embassy in Beijing
referred journalists' questions to the government in The Hague.
Prince
Claus Fund
The Prince
Claus Fund says it is “hugely disappointed” with the barring. The organisation
says the fact that Ms Woeser is not free to accept the award symbolizes the
importance of her work and the international recognition thereof.
The fund,
created in 1996, was named for the late husband of Queen Beatrix in recognition
of Claus van Amsberg's dedication to culture and development.
Human
Rights Defenders Tulip
This is the
second time in just over a month that presentation of a Dutch award has been
blocked by Chinese authorities.
Dong Xuan
was prevented from accepting the 2011 Human Rights Defenders Tulip on behalf of
her mother, Ni Yulan, who is in prison awaiting trial on fraud charges. On 25
January, Ms Xuan was arrested at Beijing Capital International Airport, where
she intended to board a plane to the Netherlands to collect the award.
Read More:
Blog by Prince Claus laureate Tsering Woeser
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