OSLO - An empty chair served as a stark reminder of the absence of Nobel Peace Prize laureate, jailed Chinese political activist Liu Xiaobo, at Friday's ceremony at Oslo City Hall. Liu's optimism about political change in China and calls for reconcilation were strong themes in the award ceremony boycotted by China. The ceremony included a performance by a children's choir - a wish Liu had managed to convey to organisers from his imprisonment. Liu is serving an 11-year sentence on charges of sedition. He was sentenced for his role in organising the Charter '08 for democratic reform of communist China. Liu was awarded for his 'long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China,' Nobel Committee head Thorbjorn Jagland said. Jagland expressed 'regret' over the absence of Liu, who is 'in isolation in a prison in northeast China' and also noted the absence of his wife and other close relatives from the ceremony. In their absence, the committee decided not to present the award. After paying tribute to Liu and his efforts, Jagland placed the laureate's medal and diploma in an empty chair. A large portrait of Liu was also displayed in the hall. Instead of an acceptance speech, Norwegian actress Liv Ullmann read a 'final statement' titled 'I Have No Enemies' that was released by Liu's supporters after his sentencing a year ago. In the statement, Liu underlined the importance of the 1989 democracy movement - where he took part in a hunger strike - that ended with a crackdown in Beijing's Tianamen Square, observing 'the ghosts of June 4 (1989) have not yet been laid to rest'.
