Stockholm: Nobel literature prize winner Herta
Mueller has urged Western countries to be tougher on China,
which she says is far from being a democratic country.
The 56-year-old writer says human rights in China have
been cast aside for too long and that the persecution of
dissidents "has nothing to do with democracy."
The Romanian-born writer was persecuted for many years
under Nicolae Ceausescu's dictatorship before she moved to
Germany. She spoke to reporters in Stockholm today, two days
before being presented with this year's literature award.
Mueller says Chinese leaders "would have to think a
little bit about how to change" if the West were less tolerant
of their policies.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, December 09, 2009, 00:33