Late Nobel laureate Liu came to UH Manoa to take part in seminars

The late Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo spent part of his first time outside China in Hawaii and later drew support from University of Hawaii faculty for his human rights stance.

In early 1989 he participated in graduate seminars in philosophy and Chinese studies at UH Manoa; professors remember that Liu favored Western ideas over traditional Chinese philosophies and also advocated democracy by peaceful means.

UH professors were among the scholars, lawyers and human rights activists who had lobbied the Chinese government to release Liu over his years of imprisonment.

UH law professor Carole Petersen said Thursday that the persecution of Liu Xiaobo might come back to haunt the Chinese Communist Party.

“He was never allowed to seek treatment outside of China, which is really sad. … The international community, I hope, will condemn China for the treatment of Liu Xiaobo,” said Petersen, who teaches at UH’s William S. Richardson School of Law.

Petersen, also the graduate chairwoman at the Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace &Conflict Resolution, said that since 2015 there has been a crackdown in China against dissidents as well as lawyers and journalists. She said 200 to 300 lawyers have been arrested or placed under house arrest.

“China’s human rights record has deteriorated terribly,” she said.

Petersen said unlike in Hong Kong, which still has freedom of expression, people in mainland China showing support for Liu can expect to be arrested.