Last year was marred by human rights violations. We all hope to see improvements this year.
The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to mainland dissident Liu Xiaobo for his continuous fight for human rights and the rule of law.
Liu was arrested in June 2009 for 'inciting subversion of state power'. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
The award did not change much in terms of human rights in China.
Milk activist Zhao Lianhai was also jailed for 'disturbing social order'. He fought for the rights of parents whose children became ill from drinking tainted milk.
These high-profile imprisonments reveal the central government's unwillingness to accept and respect fundamental human rights, such as freedom of speech.
The central government may have succeeded in suppressing public opinions in the short run, but as education and civic awareness grow, people will become more disgruntled under the rule of terror. Social harmony can only be achieved through implementation of the rule of law.