【新唐人2014年01月17日訊】日前，紀念「薩哈羅夫思想自由獎」25週年的活動在美國國會舉行。在會議上，這一獎項的幾位獲得者以及多位美國議員，就人權和思想問題發言。曾經獲得這一獎項的大陸維權人士胡佳，呼籲國際社會更多的關注中國人權問題。

由歐洲議會駐美辦事處、以及美國國會「蘭託斯人權委員會」，聯合主辦的「薩哈羅夫思想自由獎」25週年活動，1月14號在美國國會舉行。活動由「自由之家」副執行主任丹尼爾-凱領爾特（Daniel Calingaert）主持。由「魏京生基金會」、「自由之家」、「記者無國界」，以及「古巴民主倡導者」等組織協助舉辦。

「薩哈羅夫思想自由獎」是歐洲議會在1988年12月設立。以蘇聯著名異見人士，諾貝爾和平獎得主安德烈-薩哈羅夫的名字命名。為表揚那些為捍衛人權以及思想自由而做出貢獻的個人和組織。

自「薩哈羅夫思想自由獎」設立的25年以來，世界不同國家的人權和思想自由活動人士，先後被授予這個獎。，歐洲議會將2013年「薩哈羅夫思想自由獎」，頒給了因為爭取婦女教育權，而遭塔利班極端主義分子襲擊的16歲巴基斯坦少女——馬拉拉•優素福扎伊(Malala Yousafzai)。

在此之前，中國也有兩名異見人士被授予這一獎項。一名是曾被中共當局監禁先後共18年的異議人士魏京生，他是1996年在獄中服刑的時候，獲得了這一獎項。

魏京生在接受《美國之音》採訪時，透露了當年知道被授予這一獎項時的心情。

中國異見人士魏京生：「(當時)當然非常高興，這就說明其實全世界都已經關注中國，而且注意到咱們中國人為了民主、自由的努力。」

另一名獲得「薩哈羅夫獎」的是北京維權人士胡佳。

北京維權人士胡佳：「我是第20屆，2008年的獲得者。特別感謝當我在作為奧運囚徒，在監獄裡時，就是歐洲議會把薩哈羅夫獎頒發給我，那個獎項大大改善了我在監獄裡的待遇，然後也給很大的鼓舞和信心。」

中國社會活動家胡佳，多年來關注大陸社會運動，包括環保事業、抗擊愛滋病和爭取民主人權等。曾多次遭到當局的軟禁、拘捕。2008年，胡佳被當局以「煽動顛覆國家政權罪」的名義判刑3年零6個月。

胡佳：「14號在美國國會舉行的活動，我也聽到了、看到了這樣的消息，滿振奮的，因為美國和歐洲是全球最著名的國家，對於中國的人權問題來講，繼續需要靠中歐和中美就中國的人權問題發出統一的聲音、採取統一的行動，比如說，要求停止迫害法輪功啊、停止迫害六四的這些（人）。」

胡佳表示，在中國，還有很多為了民主、自由深陷牢籠的人，這些人都是需要國際社會的關注。

胡佳：「我上次獲獎是2008年，到現在正是中國的網路改變中國的時機，然後許多公民的城市化、街頭化行動受到政府的維穩管制，強行打壓，真的是特別期待。薩哈羅夫獎或者說歐洲議會能再次把視線聚焦在這塊土地上，為爭取自由而奮鬥的像許志永律師、高智晟律師、郭飛雄先生這些人的身上，因為我們中國需要這樣的給予和保障。」

胡佳表示，獲得了「薩哈羅夫獎」之後，也給他帶來壓力，因為它激勵著自己在有生之年，必須為被中共控制的這個專制國家，做更多更多的事情，這樣才能夠對得起「薩哈羅夫獎」。

採訪/朱智善 編輯/田淨 後製/孫寧

Sakharov Prize: Chinese Winners, 25 years of Promoting Human Rights

The 25th anniversary of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom

of Thought was celebrated in Washington D.C. on Tuesday.

Joined by U.S. lawmakers and a Sakharov Laureate,

statements on human rights issues were issued.

Back in China, Chinese activist Hu Jia, the 2008 winner,

calls on the international community to pay more attention

to China’s human rights issues.

The 25th anniversary of the Sakharov Prize, jointly organized

by European Parliament Liaison Office and the Tom Lantos

Human Rights Commission, was held on Jan. 14

at the U.S. Congress in Washington.

Freedom House Executive Vice President Daniel Calingaert

moderated the meeting, which was sponsored

by Wei Jingsheng Foundation, Freedom House, Reporters

Without Borders, and Cuba Advocates for Democracy.

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named after

Soviet scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov,

was established in December 1988

by the European Parliament.

The Prize honors individuals or organizations for their efforts

on behalf of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

For 25 years, the Sakharov Prize has awarded human rights

defenders of the world.

16-year-old Pakistani Malala Yousafzai has been awarded

the 2013 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought

for her fight to promote education for girls

in the face of Taliban violence.

In China, two dissidents have been previously awarded

this prize.

One is Wei Jingsheng who had been imprisoned

for 18 years by the Communist regime.

He won in 1996 at a time when he was incarcerated.

In an interview with Voice of America, Wei Jingsheng

revealed his thoughts at the time he was honored the prize.

Wei Jingsheng, Chinese dissident: “(I was) of course

very pleased.

That means the world has noticed the efforts of the Chinese

involved in democracy and freedom in China."

The second Chinese winner is Beijing activist Hu Jia.

Hu Jia, Beijing activist: “I was the 2008 winner.

I was detained during the Beijing Olympics.

The European Parliament awarding me with the Sakharov

Prize helped to greatly improve my situation in prison.

It was also very encouraging and brought

great confidence to me."

Chinese activist Hu Jia has participated in numerous social

movements in China such as environmental protection,

the fight against AIDS and the fight for democracy

and human rights.

Authorities have repeatedly arrested him and put him

under house arrest.

In 2008, Hu Jia was convicted of inciting subversion

and served a three-and-a-half-year jail sentence.

Hu Jia: “I heard about the meeting on the 14th in the U.S.

Congress. It is exciting.

When it comes to China’s human rights issues the unified

voice and action of the world’s famous countries such as

the United States and those in Europe are continuously

relied on to stop the persecution of Falun Gong

and of participants of the Tiananmen students movement."

Hu Jia indicates that there are many imprisoned democracy

and freedom activists in China in need of the international

community’s help.

Hu Jia: “I was awarded in 2008.

Now China is facing changes in the Internet era.

I really have high hopes – with the urbanization there are

many citizen’s movements being suppressed in the streets

in the name of stability maintenance.

China needs the Sakharov Prize and the European Parliament

to once again pay attention to Chinese rights defenders

such as attorneys Xu Zhiyong, Gao Zhisheng, Guo Feixiong

and others."

Hu Jia expresses that the Sakharov Prize has motivated

and encouraged him to work harder and do more under

the authoritarian Communist regime to be worthy

of the honors bestowed upon him by the Sakharov Prize.

Interview/ZhuZhishan Edit/TianJing Post-Production/SunNing