"Disgraceful" court decision against artist Ai Weiwei
Beijing (AsiaNews)
- The Court of Chaoyang District has
refused to consider an appeal of the artist and dissident Ai Weiwei, who
refuses to pay 15 million Yuan
(1.5 million euro) for tax evasion. An earlier appeal was rejected in
July. The artist has branded
the attitude of the judges as "disgraceful" because they make any
defense against abuses by the government
impossible. The case is seen by many as an attempt to cement and destroy the
artist, who has always been strongly critical of the Party's policies and the social conditions of the Chinese
population.
Ai Weiwei is one
of the designers of the "Bird's Nest" stadium, which became famous during the Beijing Olympics. Last year he disappeared in
police custody for three months. As
soon as he reappeared, he was
accused of tax evasion.
The efforts of the government to silence
Ai Weiwei however are leading to greater publicity for his already great reputation. As soon as he
was sentenced to pay the huge
fine, at least 30 thousand people
in China offered him money as a sign of their support, even throwing bundles
of notes in the courtyard of his
house.
After his "disappearance",
the police placed him under house arrest
and ordered him not to talk to the media.
Ai has always maintained contact with his supporters via Internet and webcam, until the authorities removed them also. Ai
is banned from leaving the country.
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09/05/2012
