Thursday, September 10, 2009


German official cautions Book Fair over China plans
Asia-Pacific News - Mnsters & Critics Website
Sep 9, 2009

Berlin - A top German government human rights official called Wednesday on the Frankfurt Book Fair to stand up boldly to China.
Guenter Nooke, commissioner for human rights issues, spoke hours after reports that China had stopped dissidents speaking at a symposium this weekend in advance of the October 14-18 Fair, where China will be special guest with its books.
'They must stand up for human rights with unambiguous and unmistakeable clarity,' he said in Berlin. Nooke said the Fair organizers from the German book trade must stress that rights applied to every nation.
'Literature can be a bridge between our nations, but only if that bridge is built on firm ground,' said Nooke.
Reports said earlier that the symposium was going ahead in Germany this weekend, despite Beijing authorities confiscating invitations sent to author Dai Qing and philosophy professor Xu Youyo.
Dai Qing said that the German organizers had booked her air ticket and hotel, but she was then told not to attend.
The Frankfurt Book Fair is world book publishing's biggest annual event.

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