Washington DC,November 10. Dear Members of the Norweigian Nobel Committee: We, the undersigned members of the U.S. Congress, respectfully nominate Wei Jingsheng for the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize. We strongly believe that Wei would be a highly distinguished Nobel Peace Laureate, and that by honoring him the Committee would recognize his courageous stand for democracy and human rights over the past fifteen years. Wei Jingsheng has been an intellectual catalyst and an important symbol for a generation of Chinese citizens, first inspired by his example during the "Democracy Wall" movement in 1978-79. His controversial articles and involvement in the publication of an unofficial journal led to his imprisonment for nearly fifteen years starting in October 1979. During his confinement, he was repeatedly beaten and isolated from other prisoners, but refused to give up his beliefs and principles. Following Wei's release from prison in September 1993, he conitued to speak out for human rights as a necessary corollary to

economic development. As he wrote last March, "No country or society can dispense with legal protections...if it is to upgrade its economy. As the standard of the authority and the justice in the leagal system of all countries is improved, the rights of the people will be better guaranteed, and their economic capabilities will be enhanced." Wei almost singel-handedly brought new life to the dormant pro-democracy movement in China. For this, he paid a high price the loss of his liberty once again. Since his detention on April 1, 1994, Wei Jingsheng's whereabouts remain unknown. We hope that the Nobel Committee will choose to acknowledge Wei Jingsheng's unique historical contribution and his deep commitment to fundamental ingredients for China's peaceful transition over the coming decade.

Nancy Pelosi, Bill Bradley, Richard A. Gephardt, Paul Simon, David E. Bonior, Max Baucus, et al. (EuroTibet News nr.5)