Brown Senior Fellow Nominates Nobel Peace Prize Winner

Brown Senior Fellow Nominates Nobel Peace Prize Winner

Yesterday, Liu Xiaobo (right), Chinese government dissident and political activist was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China."

Xu Wenli (below, with Liu), a senior fellow at the Watson Institute of International Studies at Brown University and the chairman of the Chinese Democratic Party, worked closely with Liu Xiaobo to promote human rights in China. When Mr. Xu was selectively invited to submit a nomination by the Nobel Committee, the choice to nominate his friend was clear. 

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In Mr. Xu's nomination letter he describes Mr. Liu as "a rare symbol of courage, unafraid to harshly and openly criticize the CCP's [Community Party of China's] dictatorship."

Mr. Xu goes on to say that Mr. Liu's reception of the Nobel Prize sends a major message to the Chinese government, encouraging the peaceful transition of China towards democracy.

Friends for Freedom

Mr. Liu and Mr. Xu have been strong allies fighting for freedom and human rights in China. They have both been involved in peaceful protests and important political writings since the 1980s.

Liu Xiaobo is currently under house arrest by the Chinese government for initiating a Civil Rights Charter demanding a list of freedoms for the people of China. He has been arrested and detained several times for his political activities. He also served as President of the Independent Chinese PEN Center in 2003.

Xu Wenli was exiled to the U.S. on December 24th 2002, after spending a total of 16 years in prison for his anti-Chinese Communist Party activism. The US ambassador to China and other Western officials called for his release in 2002 due to his declining health, which was a result of poor Chinese prison conditions. He now resides in RI with his wife and daughter.