Taipei, June 26 (CNA) Taiwan urged China on Monday to set free 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo (劉曉波) as soon as possible in the wake of media reports that Liu is on medical parole for treatment of late-stage liver cancer.
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) also urged China to ensure the right of family members of detained Taiwanese activist Lee Ming-che (李明哲) to visit him in China. Lee has been detained since March.
"The MAC has been concerned about mainland Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo's latest situation, hoping that he will get good medical attention so his family members can feel comfort," the MAC said.
It also called on China to show greater tolerance toward Chinese people who use peaceful means to call for political reform and democratic development, instead of violating their basic human rights with threats of indiscriminate lawsuits and heavy sentences.
Liu, 62, was thrown behind bars on charges of masterminding the 1989 Tiananmen "riots" following the brutal suppression of massive protests in June that year.
He was sent to jail again in 2009 after being given an 11-year sentence on charges of inciting others to subvert state power for his role in drafting the "2008 Constitution."
Taiwanese human rights activist Lee, a former Democratic Progressive Party worker, has been detained on charges of pursuing activities harmful to China's national security -- charges later upgraded to "subverting state power." His wife's request to visit him has fallen on deaf ears.
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