Asia Sentinel

Good idea to step outside the Western World View. Bad idea to step into the World View Of the Glorious Lee Leaders. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

I'm sure that kishore, if he can, would also put up his political master LKY for the nobel peace prize if possible!! Guess he belong to the school of thought that the end justify the mean, which in his narrow mind suggest that all dissidents and oppositions should be locked up or exiled so as to bring "peace to the society" and therefore win the nobel peace prize!! WHAT A JERK!!

Though I cannot disagree more with Mahbubani in other topics (see http://www.economist.com/node/17199884), this time I lean towards Mahbubani reasoning. I never though about Deng Xiaoping in this vein, but from a purely development standpoint, Mr Mahbubani's argument begs some consideration. Unfortunately, Deng's commitment for reform was limited to the economic ground, as his approval of the Tiananmen massacre (which tirelessly Xiaobo tried to avoid), is out of doubt. Consequently, suggesting the legacy of Deng as somehow deserving the Nobel Price risks, to say the least, the reader's head scratch.

Additionally, I think that the high-profile Obama's and Xiaobo's awards were given in a media-savvy light, as if the Nobel Price commission was seeking the mainstream recognition. I equally support what Obama represents as I disgust Xiaobo decade-long imprisonment for daring to share his thoughts. Having said that, I believe that the determination of both colossal figures is not chiefly targeted to the promotion of Peace, so maybe the Nobel Price is not the right platform to cherish their noble endeavours.

Mahbubani claims that "the winners in Asia are never leaders who brought great change." I wonder how he can be a dean when he somehow forgets that some of these winners, including Liu Xiaobo and Aung San Suu Kyii, either have spent or will spend many years in jail through no fault of their own. Of course it's impossible to change much when you are forced to stay in your house or a prison cell!

If these two winners had actually been allowed to pursue their beliefs, China and Burma could likely have developed into much more just and harmonious societies than they are today.

And yes, I do agree that giving the Nobel Peace Prize to Obama was a mistake. But Liu Xiaobo's prize should be considered on its own merits. In this case it's irrelevant whether earlier prizes were justified or not.