CNHRA PERSON RECORD · CNHRA-P-598334
Xu Wenli
Born
Unknown
Occupation
Unknown
Role
Political Activist · Dissident
Record ID
CNHRA-P-598334
Visual Records
Xu Wenli at Princeton University on February 27, 2005.
Biography
Xu Wenli participated in the Democracy Wall movement, edited April Fifth Forum and later helped organize the China Democracy Party.[1]
Xu edited April Fifth Forum and later advocated human-rights monitoring, independent unions and reassessment of 1989.[1]
Human Rights Watch records Xu’s December 1997 position that he did not seek to overthrow the government, supported economic reform and believed dissent should be expressed within legal parameters. He also called for a democratic society, reassessment of the 1989 movement and independent unions. The account describes his applications to establish a rights-monitoring group and publication of unofficial material after parole in 1993, followed by surveillance and repeated brief detentions.[1]
Case Summary
HRW records Xu’s detention in April 1981 and parole in May 1993. In December 1998 he received thirteen years over China Democracy Party activity.[1]
Xu was released and left for the US on December 24, 2002. HRW welcomed release, criticized exile as its price and called for the release of other party organizers including Wang Youcai and Qin Yongmin.[1]
Timeline
1981-04
Detained in the Democracy Wall case
Xu was detained over Democracy Wall and unofficial publishing, including editorship of April Fifth Forum. Prolonged imprisonment followed work creating a channel for public discussion outside official media.[1]
1993-05
Paroled
Xu was paroled after roughly twelve years. HRW reports subsequent surveillance and brief detentions associated with rights monitoring and unofficial publishing.[1]
1998-12
Thirteen-year sentence in party-organizing case
HRW records a thirteen-year sentence for China Democracy Party organizing, alongside heavy terms for Wang Youcai, Qin Yongmin and others in the same period.[1]
2002-12-24
Released into exile in the US
Xu was released and left for the US. HRW welcomed release, criticized exile as its price and called for the release of other party organizers.[1]
Related Events
Sources
- [1]
CNHRA-S-333540Human Rights Watch
Evidence location: Body: April Fifth Forum, 1981–1993 imprisonment, 1998 sentence and 2002 release into exile; Paragraph on activities after 1993 parole and Xu’s December 1997 statement.
- [2]
CNHRA-S-481031Wikimedia Commons
Evidence location: Photograph, subject description, author and licensing section.