November 7th the 2004 Rafto laureate, Rebiya Kadeer, was celebrated with a ceremony to her honour at ‘Den Nationale Scene’ in Bergen. The ceremony was accompanied by artistic performances, through words, music and dance, and they were all performed as a tribute to Kadeer’s struggle for the Uyghurs’ basic human rights in the North-western province of the People´s Republic of China, Xinjiang. The peak of the ceremony was the moment when Kadeers daughter Akida expressed gratitude on behalf of her mother on a telephone line from the USA. (21-NOV-2004)

Recorded interview with Kadeers husband and daughter, Sidik Haji Rouzi and Akida Rouzi.

Rebiya Kadeer smallRebiya Kadeer (picture) is imprisoned in the People´s Republic of China, and therefore her husband and daughter, Sidik Haji Rouzi and Akida Rouzi, were supposed to come from their political refuge in the USA to Bergen in order to receive the price on her behalf. Unfortunately they were unable to leave the USA because of lack of will to issue temporarily travel documentations from American and Norwegian authorities. As a consequence of this the audience only got to see a recorded interview with Rouzi and Akida, made some days prior to the ceremony, in addition to Akida’s touching speech of gratitude by telephone from the USA. Akida affirmed that the price would have positive consequences for her mother’s situation since the Chinese authorities now are aware that the world is watching their actions towards her mother.

American and Norwegian authorities critizised
The ceremony was both beautiful and moving, despite that neither Rebiya Kadeer nor her family were present in person to collect the price. Chair of the Rafto Foundation, Arne Liljedahl Lynngård, reasoned the price in his speech. He also criticised both American and Norwegian authorities for being passive in not issuing the necessary travel documentations.

–  We have received an official statement from the authorities on the problem with the passports. Nonetheless I have huge problems explaining the family Rouzi/Kadeer why it is not possible to cut through stiff legged bureaucracy. We are here talking about two democratic states, said Liljedahl Lynngård. Furthermore he pointed out how important it is for western countries to secure lucrative contracts with the expanding economic superpower the People´s Republic of China. – It can be expensive to openly criticise the People´s Republic of China in both economic and political terms, said Arne Liljedahl Lynngård.

50 political prisoners sentenced to death
In the interview with Sidik Haji Rouzi made in the days before the award, he said that he has not seen his wife for nine years. It has been five and half year since the family received any letter from her. Rouzi also reminded the audience on the present human rights violations directed at the eight million Uyghurs living in Xinjiang. –Only this year 50 political prisoners have been sentenced to death, said Sidik Haji Rouzi, who escaped the People´s Republic of China in 1996.

The artistic performances created a beautiful mood and setting for honouring Rebiya Kadeer, and every artist performed for free.

Present among the audience were approximately 100 uyghurs living in different part of Northern Europe, and representatives for the Uyghur American Association were attending the ceremony as well. Chair of the organisation, Nury Turkel, held a speech of gratitude and he called on Chinese authorities to free Rebiya Kadeer and other political prisoners.

The evening ended with Kuresh Sultan performing his newly composed tribute – “Rabiye Kadir”. Sultan is an uyghur living as a political refugee in Sweden, and his song was a magnificent way to end an evening honouring Rebiya Kadeer.