劉霞去國脫樊籠 內地人權仍堪哀

<轉載自2018年7月11日 明報 社評>

諾貝爾和平獎得主劉曉波逝世一周年在即，遺孀劉霞終於重獲自由，抵達德國。劉霞沒有觸犯任何法律，卻被長期剝奪行動自由，變相軟禁8年，飽受精神折磨，這種不人道的事情，明顯有違依法治國。現在劉霞重獲自由，劉家悲劇雖可告一段落，然而不代表當局可以將歷史污點抹走。劉霞去國是否與中美貿易戰有關，言人人殊，現實是當前國際博弈大局，不會因為劉霞去國有變，中國的國際形象也不會因而顯著改善。目前內地仍有不少維權人士遭無理拘禁，內地應貫徹依法治國，不應再有人「被失蹤」或長期遭軟禁。

劉家悲劇告一段落 打壓污點永留歷史

2009年，劉曉波被控煽動顛覆國家政權罪，判囚11年，去年因肝癌離世，本周五（7月13日）是他逝世一周年。2010年劉曉波獲頒諾貝爾和平獎後，妻子劉霞一直過着變相軟禁的生活，即使劉曉波病逝後，當局仍然沒有放鬆監視。劉霞受盡煎熬，患上嚴重抑鬱症，父母丈夫相繼離世，對她更是沉重打擊。丈夫死後，劉霞曾經寫詩，形容自己「像植物一樣活着」、「像屍體一樣躺着」。人生悲慘如此，叫人情何以堪。

劉霞沒有犯法，僅因身為劉曉波的妻子就被剝奪自由，當局聲稱根據法律對待劉霞，可說是最無情的諷刺。據劉曉波夫婦的朋友說，劉曉波死前最大遺憾，就是未能讓劉霞出國重獲自由。現在劉霞能夠重露歡顏，展開新的人生，對她本人、家人以及支持她的朋友，當然是好消息，劉曉波在天之靈，相信亦會感到安慰，可是劉霞要在異鄉始能重獲自由，本身就是極不合理的事情。當局讓劉霞赴德治病，絕非什麼「偉大恩德」又或「人道關懷」，僅僅是停止無理殘忍折磨，還劉霞最基本的人權。當局對劉曉波夫婦的打壓，將成為永不磨滅的歷史污點。

劉霞去國，適逢劉曉波逝世一周年、中美貿易戰爆發，以及總理李克強訪歐，惹來不少猜測。中國外交部表示，劉霞赴德治病，與李克強現正訪德無關；對於是否跟中美貿易戰有關，當局也沒有回應。過去北京與西方經常就人權外交針鋒相對，擇機釋放異見人士，是北京跟西方周旋的一張牌。當局容許劉霞出國，背後一定有外交考慮；隨着中美貿易戰開打，北京希望拉攏歐洲抗美，也是實情，然而貿易戰跟劉霞重獲自由是否有直接關係，需要更多論證，不能太過想當然。

李克強周一在柏林跟德國總理默克爾會談，翌日便傳出劉霞出國消息，時間的確巧合，然而劉霞赴德生活，肯定不是匆匆定好。《紐約時報》引述知情歐洲外交人士指出，早在5月默克爾訪華時，她便當面向國家主席習近平提及劉霞的問題，事後中方傳達的信息是，如果歐洲方面不事先張揚，可以考慮讓劉霞出國；劉霞好友亦提到，6月內地官方曾跟劉家商談，屬意她7月底出國，劉霞在德國的居所，由當地非牟利組織安排。上月初中方還向華府提出購買700億美元美國貨，盼可化解危機。從時間點來看，劉霞出國理應是在貿易戰鐵定開打前便有眉目。

沉默外交取得成果 放人難換「聯歐抗美」

當然，隨着中美貿易戰7月6日開打，中方當然希望跟歐洲加強經貿合作，又或至少確保歐洲不會向中方放冷箭。今次李克強訪德，首務也是鞏固共同反對貿易保護主義的立場。讓劉霞重獲自由，有利營造較佳對話氣氛，惟中國歐洲之間有不少貿易矛盾，北京肯定深明，放一個劉霞，不可能促成「聯歐抗美」，也不會改變目前貿易戰形勢。

近年中國甚少打「放人牌」，一來是西方開始少談人權外交，二來是北京覺得在西方施壓下放人「有損顏面」。中方向來的立場，是不接受西方假借人權問題羞辱脅迫，惟透過「沉默外交」（silent diplomacy）磋商則沒有問題。5月默克爾訪華，李克強表示願意在平等尊重基礎上，與德國討論具體人權個案，暗示劉霞出國有商量，相比之下，劉曉波逝世後美英等國高調要求放人，中方一口強硬拒絕。西方學者常質疑歐洲「沉默外交」成效，惟劉霞重獲自由，反映「沉默外交」亦非一無是處。

劉霞胞弟劉暉仍然身處內地，當局不應再找劉家麻煩。劉家遭遇令人悲嘆，然而內地還有一些維權人士，因為違逆當局而遭到打壓，大好家庭因此破碎。3年前發生的「709維權律師大抓捕」，多人遭定罪判囚，有人表示遭酷刑對待，維權律師王全璋至今仍下落不明，妻子終日牽腸掛肚，一些初時未受大抓捕牽連的維權律師，也因為協助同行辯護而被捕。內地要改善國家形象，必須從根本改善人權，貫徹依法治國。當局對於被捕維權人士，倘若確有真憑實據，就應盡快依法審訊，如果根本沒有證據，就應盡快放人，不可羅織罪狀。

但願劉霞今後人生平安喜樂，亦盼其他在囚維權人士可以早日一家團聚。

Liu Xia's release

LIU XIA, the widow of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, has regained her freedom at long last and arrived in Germany prior to the anniversary of her husband's death. Liu Xia did not break any laws. But she was deprived of her freedom of movement for a long time, was put in de facto house arrest for eight years and endured mental torture. The inhumane treatment she received was in obvious violation of the idea of "governing the country in accordance with the law". Now that Liu Xia has regained her freedom, a tragic chapter of Liu's family has closed. But by no means can the authorities wipe this ignominious taint from history.

In 2009, Liu Xiaobo was charged with inciting subversion of state power and was sentenced to eleven years in prison. He died of liver cancer last year. The coming Friday (13 July) marks the first anniversary of his death. Since Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010, his wife had been living under house arrest. The authorities did not relax their surveillance of Liu Xia even after Liu Xiaobo died of his disease. Subjected to all kinds of torture, Liu Xia developed severe depression. The deaths of her parents and husband dealt heavy blows to her. After the death of her husband, Liu Xia described herself as "living like a plant" and "lying like a corpse" in her poetry. Such were the sorrows of her life that they overwhelmed us with emotions.

Liu Xia did not break the law. She was deprived of her freedom only because her husband was Liu Xiaobo. That the authorities said that they were treating her in accordance with the law was an irony of the greatest cruelty. According to their friends, Liu's greatest regret before his death was that he was unable to help Liu Xia leave the country and regain freedom. That Liu Xia is all smiles again and has embarked on a new chapter of her life is no doubt a piece of good news to herself, her family and supporting friends. Liu Xiaobo's spirit in heaven would believably feel relieved too. However, that Liu Xia has had to regain her freedom in another country is itself extremely unreasonable. By allowing Liu Xia to have her condition treated in Germany, the authorities were not displaying "great kindness" or "humane care". They were merely ceasing their unjustified, cruel torture of Liu Xia and giving her her basic human rights. The authorities' suppression of Liu Xiaobo and Liu Xia will leave an indelible taint in history.

Liu Xia's departure coincided with the anniversary of Liu Xiaobo's death, the outbreak of a trade war between China and the US and Chinese premier Li Keqiang's visit to Europe. This has provoked quite a lot of speculation. China's Foreign Ministry said that Liu's trip to Germany where she would undergo treatment had nothing to do with Li's Germany visit. The authorities did not respond to questions about whether her release had anything to do with the trade war either. In the past the Beijing authorities were often at loggerheads with the West over human rights. Releasing dissidents has always been a card played by Beijing when it contends with the West. That Liu Xia has been allowed by the authorities to leave the country must contain diplomatic considerations. As the Sino-US trade war has begun, Beijing is indeed hoping to bring Europe to its side against the US. However, more evidence is needed to determine whether Liu Xia's regaining of freedom is directly related to the trade war. It is not advisable to leave it to wild guesses.

Our hope is that Liu Xia's life will be peaceful and joyful afterwards, and that other imprisoned human rights activists can reunite with their families as soon as possible.

劉霞去國脫樊籠 內地人權仍堪哀

諾貝爾和平獎得主劉曉波逝世一周年在即，遺孀劉霞終於重獲自由，抵達德國。劉霞沒有觸犯任何法律，卻被長期剝奪行動自由，變相軟禁8年，飽受精神折磨，這種不人道的事情，明顯有違依法治國。現在劉霞重獲自由，劉家悲劇雖可告一段落，然而不代表當局可以將歷史污點抹走。

2009年，劉曉波被控煽動顛覆國家政權罪，判囚11年，去年因肝癌離世，本周五（7月13日）是他逝世一周年。2010年劉曉波獲頒諾貝爾和平獎後，妻子劉霞一直過着變相軟禁的生活，即使劉曉波病逝後，當局仍然沒有放鬆監視。劉霞受盡煎熬，患上嚴重抑鬱症，父母丈夫相繼離世，對她更是沉重打擊。丈夫死後，劉霞曾經寫詩，形容自己「像植物一樣活着」、「像屍體一樣躺着」。人生悲慘如此，叫人情何以堪。

劉霞沒有犯法，僅因身為劉曉波的妻子就被剝奪自由，當局聲稱根據法律對待劉霞，可說是最無情的諷刺。據劉曉波夫婦的朋友說，劉曉波死前最大遺憾，就是未能讓劉霞出國重獲自由。現在劉霞能夠重露歡顏，展開新的人生，對她本人、家人以及支持她的朋友，當然是好消息，劉曉波在天之靈，相信亦會感到安慰，可是劉霞要在異鄉始能重獲自由，本身就是極不合理的事情。當局讓劉霞赴德治病，絕非什麼「偉大恩德」又或「人道關懷」，僅僅是停止無理殘忍折磨，還劉霞最基本的人權。當局對劉曉波夫婦的打壓，將成為永不磨滅的歷史污點。

劉霞去國，適逢劉曉波逝世一周年、中美貿易戰爆發，以及總理李克強訪歐，惹來不少猜測。中國外交部表示，劉霞赴德治病，與李克強現正訪德無關；對於是否跟中美貿易戰有關，當局也沒有回應。過去北京與西方經常就人權外交針鋒相對，擇機釋放異見人士，是北京跟西方周旋的一張牌。當局容許劉霞出國，背後一定有外交考慮；隨着中美貿易戰開打，北京希望拉攏歐洲抗美，也是實情，然而貿易戰跟劉霞重獲自由是否有直接關係，需要更多論證，不能太過想當然。

但願劉霞今後人生平安喜樂，亦盼其他在囚維權人士可以早日一家團聚。