Artist is held over 'economic crimes'
Source: Agencies |
April 8, 2011, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA confirmed yesterday that it has detained a renowned artist who had been missing for four days but insisted his case involves "economic crimes" and not human rights.
Ai Weiwei, an internationally famed avant-garde artist, was last seen early Sunday in police custody after he was barred from boarding a flight to Hong Kong at a Beijing airport.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular news conference yesterday that police were investigating Ai for unspecified economic crimes.
"It has nothing to do with human rights or freedom of expression," Hong said.
"Ai Weiwei is suspected of economic crimes, and the public security authorities are conducting an investigation. China is a country under the rule of law, and relevant authorities will work according to the law," he said.
Hong did not answer questions on what exact crime Ai is accused of, and he gave no other details.
Ai is among China's best-known artists internationally and recently exhibited at the Tate Modern gallery in London.
In a letter to the Beijing police yesterday, his wife, Lu Qing, demanded to know why her husband had been detained, his whereabouts and condition, and also whether police would be giving her legal documents on his detention.
Under Chinese law, police are supposed to notify families when detaining a suspect for longer than 24 hours.
"As of 8am today, it has been 96 hours since Ai Weiwei was taken away, and I haven't heard a single word about him," she wrote.
Ai Weiwei, an internationally famed avant-garde artist, was last seen early Sunday in police custody after he was barred from boarding a flight to Hong Kong at a Beijing airport.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular news conference yesterday that police were investigating Ai for unspecified economic crimes.
"It has nothing to do with human rights or freedom of expression," Hong said.
"Ai Weiwei is suspected of economic crimes, and the public security authorities are conducting an investigation. China is a country under the rule of law, and relevant authorities will work according to the law," he said.
Hong did not answer questions on what exact crime Ai is accused of, and he gave no other details.
Ai is among China's best-known artists internationally and recently exhibited at the Tate Modern gallery in London.
In a letter to the Beijing police yesterday, his wife, Lu Qing, demanded to know why her husband had been detained, his whereabouts and condition, and also whether police would be giving her legal documents on his detention.
Under Chinese law, police are supposed to notify families when detaining a suspect for longer than 24 hours.
"As of 8am today, it has been 96 hours since Ai Weiwei was taken away, and I haven't heard a single word about him," she wrote.
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