The Board of Directors and the staff of the International Campaign for Tibet are deeply saddened by the passing of Harry Wu. Harry was a staunch human rights defender whose life-long mission was the documentation and exposure of forced labor camps (Laogai) in China. Harry was a dear friend to the Tibetan people and had great respect for His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Richard Gere, Chairman of the Board of the International Campaign for Tibet said, “Harry was fearless, tenacious, and completely committed. This was his life’s work. He survived years of torture in Laogai to become one of the fiercest international champions of human rights and democracy everywhere. He informed the world, in horrifying personal detail, that the brutal Chinese penal system was focused on political prisoners and “troublemakers” like him. ICT offices in the US and Europe have enjoyed the honor of working with Harry Wu for many years and we remember his steadfast commitment to fighting brutality and injustice in China and beyond. His landmark work at the Laogai Research Foundation is valuable representation of his legacy. He will be sorely missed.”
To learn more about Harry Wu, please visit www.laogai.org and www.laogaimuseum.org.