s*********8
发帖数: 901 | 1 Multiple police visits in the week before renowned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei
was detained triggered foreboding that this harassment was different, his
wife said, as state media reported police were investigating Ai for
suspected economic crimes.
"He felt a premonition that he would be detained," Lu Qing said in an
interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday. "He told me something
might happen to him."
Ai, an internationally famed avant-garde artist who also has been an
outspoken government critic, was last seen early Sunday in police custody
after he was barred from boarding a flight to Hong Kong from a Beijing
airport.
Police later seized computers and money at their home but refused to give Lu
an explanation. She said she has heard nothing from him since.
The official Xinhua News Agency said in a one-sentence report early Thursday
that Ai was under investigation for "suspected economic crimes." Chinese
authorities sometimes try to silence or intimidate government critics by
pursuing them for alleged tax violations or other non-political crimes.
Ai is a successful international artist, and earns a substantial living from
gallery installations and artwork sales.
He is the most prominent target so far in China's massive crackdown against
dozens of lawyers, writers and activists following online calls for protests
here similar to those in the Middle East and North Africa. No protests have
emerged here.
Ai has had past run-ins with authorities, in particular for his advocacy for
victims of the devastating 2008 Sichuan earthquake, but his wife said the
current situation was worse. Though he has courted trouble with his activism
in the past, it appears that he crossed a line in China's latest crackdown
against critics.
"This is very serious. So many people searching the house and it's been more
than 48 hours since I've heard from him. I'm very worried about his
situation, especially his health," said Lu, who added that the 53-year-old
Ai suffers from multiple illnesses for which he takes medication.
Lu said the two had discussed the possibility of something happening to him,
but she never dreamed the reality would mean electricity being cut from
their home and bank accounts being frozen.
"We have spoken about this in the past but I never imagined it would be like
this — that they would come to our house, search through our private
things, with 40-50 policemen coming in and out," she said.
Amid growing concern over Ai's fate, U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman mentioned
the artist among other activists who "challenge the Chinese government to
serve the public in all cases and at all times."
"The United States will never stop supporting human rights because we
believe in the fundamental struggle for human dignity and justice wherever
it may occur," Huntsman, who leaves his post later this month, said in a
speech in the commercial hub of Shanghai.
Among China's best-known artists internationally, Ai recently exhibited at
the Tate Modern gallery in London.
His apparent detention has sent a chill through the activist community and
prompted many to rally for his release online by posting supportive Twitter
messages or blog postings.
Zhao Lianhai, a Beijing writer jailed last year for protesting a massive
tainted milk scandal, released a video on YouTube saying how the crackdown
on activists had left him "in a very agonized state of mind."
"In particular, a few days ago we found out that Ai Weiwei, our Old Ai, has
also been made to disappear and so far there has been no clear declaration
from the authorities about it." | n******7
发帖数: 5678 | 2 英国金融时报称其为most famous artist in China. | m**********n
发帖数: 27535 | 3 太恶心了，丢中国的脸
【在 n******7 的大作中提到】
: 英国金融时报称其为most famous artist in China.
| c****y
发帖数: 1207 | 4 谁在乎不要脸的英帝,给不给脸?
【在 m**********n 的大作中提到】
: 太恶心了，丢中国的脸
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