WikiLeaks/UN Human Rights Commissioner

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US Government efforts to silence WikiLeaks and the Chinese Governments continued imprisonment of Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Liu Xiaobo are addressed by UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay as potential violations of international norms for human rights and right of freedom to expression.Targeting by US authorities of credit card companies, banks and server providers are part of the expressed concern as potentially also curtailing rights of supporters.

Transcripts / Production notes / Scripts

"I want to say how dismayed I am at the recent restrictions China has placed on an ever widening circle of associates of Liu Xiaobo and other activists and critics including his wife. In recent weeks my office has received reports of at least 20 activists being arrested or detained and more than 120 other cases of house arrests, travel restrictions, forced relocations and other acts of intimidation.”

Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“This is truly what media would call a cyber war; it's astonishing what is happening. WikiLeaks case raises complex human rights questions about balancing freedom of information, the right of people to know, and the need to protect national security and public order and this balancing act is a difficult one.”

Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“I am concerned about the reports about pressure exerted on private companies, including banks, credit cards companies and internet service providers to close down credit lines for donations to WikiLeaks as well as to stop hosting the web site or its mirror sites. While it is unclear whether these individual measures taken by private actors directly infringe on States human rights obligations to ensure respect of the right to freedom of expression, taken as a whole they could be interpreted as an attempt to censure the publication of information thus potentially violating WikiLeaks right to freedom of expression.”

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights today (9 December) urged Chinese authorities to release the jailed Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo and expressed concern about possible curtailments of freedom of expression related to efforts to silence WikiLeaks.

Pillay, speaking in Geneva ahead of the International Human Rights day to be observed on 10 December, said she hoped the Chinese authorities would come to recognize the positive contribution that peaceful advocates like Liu Xiaobo can make to China’s development, and explained the reasons why she did not attend the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.

Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“I was not invited by the Nobel peace prize organizers to the event that they are holding tomorrow. I was on mission to Jordan and arrived an hour ago. I did make a statement on the 25 of December last year, the day he was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment and I described the sentence as extremely harsh and raised questions about the fairness of the charges against him. It is my view that the cases should be reviewed and Liu be released as soon as possible.”

She also expressed concern over the arrest and detention of Xiaobo family and close associates following his nomination as the 2010 Nobel peace prize winner.

Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“I want to say how dismayed I am at the recent restrictions China has placed on an ever widening circle of associates of Liu Xiaobo and other activists and critics including his wife. In recent weeks my office has received reports of at least 20 activists being arrested or detained and more than 120 other cases of house arrests, travel restrictions, forced relocations and other acts of intimidation.”

The High Commissioner said she has not received official invitation to attend the Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony in Oslo on Friday December 10.

The High Commissioner also voiced concern at reports of pressure being exerted on private companies to halt financial or Internet services for WikiLeaks.

Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“This is truly what media would call a cyber war; it's astonishing what is happening. WikiLeaks case raises complex human rights questions about balancing freedom of information, the right of people to know, and the need to protect national security and public order and this balancing act is a difficult one.”

She said that taken together, the measures could be interpreted as an attempt to prevent Wikileaks from publishing, thereby violating its right to freedom of expression.

Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“I am concerned about the reports about pressure exerted on private companies, including banks, credit cards companies and internet service providers to close down credit lines for donations to WikiLeaks as well as to stop hosting the web site or its mirror sites. While it is unclear whether these individual measures taken by private actors directly infringe on States human rights obligations to ensure respect of the right to freedom of expression, taken as a whole they could be interpreted as an attempt to censure the publication of information thus potentially violating WikiLeaks right to freedom of expression.”

Human Rights Day 2010 will highlight and promote the achievements of human rights defenders and it will again emphasize the primary responsibility Governments have to enable and protect their role.

Tags

• WikiLeaks
• human rights
• United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights
• Liu Xiaobo

Directors:

• Mo Sacirbey, UNTV

Producers:

• Susan Sacirbey