Hearing on tax evasion case. While it should have been an open hearing, the government announced that it would be a closed hearing instead. 

Liu Yanping reported news about Liu Zhenggang on Twitter:

1. He has already left the hospital, but is still not free.

2. During the detention, he had a heart attack and almost died.

3. He said that tax evasion is a myth, there is no such issue for Fake Ltd. 

4. He asked to see a lawyer.

5. Taxes have already been paid for several dozens of Fake’s projects.

6. He will persevere, regardless of how much he has to suffer. Please believe in him. 

Fake Ltd. submitted an appeal to the tax bureau for an open explanation of the reasons and evidences for the company’s tax evasion case. 

Despite claims that they are released, the studio has not been able to get in touch with Fake Ltd. manager Liu Zhenggang and accountant Hu Mingfen. Liu Zhenggang had a heart attack during interrogation and is now held at the Lanzhou military hospital. 

Lawyers Pu Zhiqiang and Xia Lin are officially representing Fake Ltd. in tax evasion case.

Officers from the Tax Bureau has arrived at the door of Ai Weiwei’s studio house this day and asked him to sign an agreement to pay $12million RMB in evaded taxes and penalties. Since Ai is unable to get in touch with Liu Zhenggang and accountant Hu Mingfen, he refused to sign the document. (Source: Liu Yanping @duyanpili)

On Twitter, Liu Yanping (@duyanpili) claimed that Ai Weiwei is unable to get in touch with Liu Zhenggang. He had also received news that Liu had a heart attack during interrogation and has remained at the Lanzhou military hospital since. He is not allowed to have any outside contact. Liu’s family members said that he had no history of heart problems. 

Ai Weiwei’s friend, Wen Tao, has been released.

Designer Liu Zhenggang and accountant Hu Mingfen are said to be released.

Ai Weiwei’s personal videographer, Zhao Zhao, was informed that they can no longer work together, because Zhao was listed in a government order as one of the people that Ai is not allowed to work with any longer. 

Ai Weiwei’s cousin/driver Zhang Jinsong was also released.

Ai Weiwei released on bail.

French artist Daniel Buren decided to cancel show at the Ullens Center of Arts in Beijing in “solidarity” with Ai Weiwei.

British artist Anish Kapoor decided to cancel plans to show his work at the National Museum of China in Beijing in support of Ai Weiwei.

Ai Weiwei’s wife, Lu Qing, and family members of missing associates sent a joint letter to public security departments of Beijing to urge investigations into their kidnaps and disappearances. At time of writing, the associates remain missing.

Read the letter in English: http://www.scribd.com/doc/58150935/June-11-Joint-Letter

Reports claimed that Chinese police has accused Ai Weiwei’s company of evading large sums of taxes and destroying accounting evidence.

Lu Qing, Ai Weiwei’s wife, was allowed to visit the artist briefly for the first time after 43 days.

37 days have passed since Ai Weiwei’s detainment at the Beijing Capital International Airport. This is the date that he should be released unless there is an official charge. No official notifications have been given regarding his whereabouts or reason for the detainment.

30 days have passed since Ai Weiwei’s detainment at the Beijing Capital International Airport. No official notifications have been given regarding his whereabouts or reason for the detainment.

Twitter reports that Zuxiao Zuzhou is fine and will return to Beijing the next day.

Reports on Twitter claim that musician Zuoxiao Zuzhou, also a friend of Ai Weiwei’s has been detained at the Shanghai airport, along with his wife Xiaoli. 

Liu Xiaoyuan, Ai Weiwei’s lawyer, reappeared in Beijing after missing for five days.

Ai Weiwei Studio’s staff, family and volunteers published an open letter urging the authorities to follow the law and appropriate procedures in handling Ai Weiwei’s case, and to investigate into the disappearance of the associates.

A lawyer working closely with Ai Weiwei, Liu Xiaoyuan, reported on Sina Weibo that he was followed by strangers. He has lost contact since.

Beijing-backed Hong Kong newspaper Wen Wei Po reported Ai Weiwei as under investigation for tax evasion, bigamy and “spreading porn”. His family denied the allegations.

Architect/designer and manager for Fake Design, Liu Zhenggang’s family confirmed that at around 11:00pm on April 9, 2011, Liu was taken away by two police cars. They did not show any proof of proper procedures nor identities. He has now lost contact for 60 hours. 

Hong Kong radio RTHK reported that Ai Weiwei’s wife, Lu Qing, received notice from the Beijing Taxation Bureau and was asked to assist in their investigation. She was also asked to bring tax-related documents that the authorities have already confiscated. She still has not received any notice about Ai Weiwei, and depending on the content of the interrogation, she expressed that she may follow up on Ai’s whereabouts.

Liu Zhenggang, Ai Weiwei’s partner in Fake Studio and an architect, has been reported as missing since Saturday.

Ai Weiwei’s driver, Zhang Jingsong (Xiaopang) has gone missing. Police officers went to find him at the studio at 11:00pm on April 9, but Zhang went out with a friend and did not carry his mobile phone. His friend claimed that he returned to Caochangdi alone at 1:00am but he has not been seen for the entire day, yet his car was parked at the door. A car was parked outside the studio late last night, suspected to be related to the incident.

Studio staff claimed that Fake Design’s accountant is missing. 

The accounting office of Fake studio has been searched by police officers from the Beijing Public Security Bureau. No reason was specified. Confiscated items include accounting office computer, book-keeping records, over 20,000 Yuan in cash stored in the safe, cash register, seals, cheques, etc. Officers aggressively threatened Fake’s doorman to assist in investigation. The search lasted for almost 3 hours, the inventory of confiscated items spanned four pages.

Lu Qing drafts a notice addressed to the police regarding Ai Weiwei’s detention. 

At a routine press meeting, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei confirms that Ai Weiwei is being detained for “economic crimes” and warns other countries not to interfere with the case. Hours later, the foreign ministry issues an official transcript of the meeting that has removed all mentions of Ai Weiwei.

Xinhua News publishes a report claiming that Ai Weiwei is “under investigation for suspected economic crimes.” The report is deleted soon afterwards.

Chinese newspaper Global Times publishes an editorial entitled “Law Will Not Concede Before Maverick.” It is the first state-controlled media organization in China that responds to Ai Weiwei’s detention.

Human rights activiist Zhao Lianhai, who has remained silent after being released from jail on medical parole in Jaunary, released a statement, calling concern for Ai Weiwei’s disappearance. Zhao’s child is one of many children who were affected during the 2008 melamine-tainted milk scandal in China. 

Shi Jing, Wen Tao’s girlfriend, files a report with the Beijing Nangao police for Wen Tao’s disappearance, but the request is rejected with no reason given.

The EU and US urges China for the release of Ai Weiwei.

Ai Weiwei’s mother, Gao Ying, and sister, Gao Ge, file a “missing person notice.” 

Lu Qing makes a public call to request for legal help.

After going to Wen Tao’s home to care for his dog, his girlfriend Shi Jing discovers traces of his home being searched.

Germany, France and the UK express concern for Ai Weiwei’s detention and China’s crackdown on dissidents.

At this point, only Ai Weiwei and his friend Wen Tao are still missing.

Ai Weiwei’s wife, Lu Qing, and all of the assistants are released and allowed to return to the studio. A detailed list of confiscated items is given to Lu, with over 100 items been taken away.

Four officers return to search the studio and leave after midnight.

While the studio is being searched, Ai Weiwei’s 2-year-old son’s home is also investigated by the police.

Police tape off the front and back doors of the studio. Neither people nor cars are allowed to enter.

Jonathan Watts, reporter from the UK newspaper The Guardian, bikes past the studio and takes pictures, but is immediately blocked by plainclothes poice officers. His mobile phone is taken away and all pictures are deleted.

Police raid the studio with search warrants. Eight assistants are taken into Beijing Nangao police station for questioning, and computers and hard drives are confiscated from the studio. Police question Ai Weiwei’s wife alone at the studio, while officers surround the building and ban people from entering or exiting. Power is cut off from the studio.

Wen Tao, former reporter and a friend of Ai Weiwei’s, has been taken away from his girlfriend’s place in Caochangdi by four to five plain clothes officers. He has also disappeared since.

Date and Time: June 4^th, 2011       4:30pm – 6:30pm   Open for media interviews

Place: Liberty Square in the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Organizer: Bei Ling (friend of Ai Weiwei, Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs 2011 Artist Resident at Grass Mountain Chateau) 

Confirmed Participants: International artists, local artists, college students, foreign students

Invited Participants: Everyone

Technical Support: Tendency, Inc.

Activity Schedule on June 4^th, 2011:

4:00pm – 4:30pm: Set the outline of “Ai Weiwei”

4:30pm – 6:00pm: Place together the chairs

5:30pm – 6:30pm: Admission of media, photography, and audio-visual groups

6:04pm:        Completion of the chair arrangement                  

6:30pm:       Conclusion of event

Telephone inquiries: 02-2932-9980 (Tendency  Inc.)

Email: penchinese2009@gmail.com

For media contacts: Organizer Bei Ling, 8862-2862-3594 (02-2862-3594)

Note: If Ai Weiwei is released before 4:00pm on June 4^th, this event will be cancelled

References:

http://news.chinatimes.com/reading/11051301/112011051600138.html
http://news.chinatimes.com/reading/11051301/112011051700179.html