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07 Apr 2011 13:19

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World: China insists Ai Weiwei’s arrest isn’t about freedom

  • [It is my] understanding the public security authorities are investigating Ai Weiwei according to law on suspicion of economic crimes… This has nothing to do with human rights or freedom of expression.
  • Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei • Seeking to dismiss claims that his government arrested famed artist and dissident Ai Weiwei for political reasons, at a news conference. Weiwei’s family (in addition, frankly, to most everyone else) isn’t buying it. Chinese law states that officials must notify the family of an arrested citizen within 24 hours of the detention, and Ai’s wife has heard nothing: “As of 8 A.M. today, it has been 96 hours since Ai Weiwei was taken away from Beijing airport, and I haven’t heard a single word about him.” source

15 Feb 2011 13:52

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Politics: Secretary Clinton throws U.S. weight behind Iran’s protesters

  • What we see happening in Iran today is a testament to the courage of the Iranian people, and an indictment of the hypocrisy of the Iranian regime – a regime which over the last three weeks has constantly hailed what went on in Egypt.
  • U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton • The American official issued a strong statement of support for the protests currently taking place in Iran. It will be interesting to see what tact the Obama administration takes towards these new protests in light of the criticisms of fence-sitting they absorbed during the Egypt affair, as well as their relative inaction during the protests of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s fradulent election two years ago. The line then was that vocal American support would undermine the Iranian opposition’s appeal to their own people, implying a western interference. But now tasting some revolutionary blood, will the U.S. try to fan the flames against the Iranian ruling authorities? Can’t think of a better time to try, right? source