Ai Weiweis Mother Speaks About Sons Detention
On April 3, Chinese dissident and artist Ai Weiwei was arrested in Beijing airport as he prepared to board a plane for a flight to Hong Kong. He was later charged with tax evasiona charge his supporters believe was merely a pretext for silencing him.
While Ai Weiwei was held, no Chinese official deigned to explain to his family where he was being held, much less provided the opportunity to visit him.
This uncertainty added to the ordeal Ai Weiweis 77-year old mother Gao Ying faced. In her interview with NTD, she thanks the media around the world for their support while her son was detained.
She says the 81 days that Ai was detained has been the most painful period of her life, but the media attention from around the world gave her strength and made her feel she was not alone.
The interview follows:
Reporter: Please talk about how you will continue from now on, because Ai still needs to face the authorities charges. You can choose the topics to discuss. Thank you.
Gao Ying: Let me tell you, I can say whatever I have to say in any situation, I feel what I have to say is all correct and I have no hesitation.
I dont know any of the media, but I believe all media have a sense of justice. So I feel, after this happened to my son Ai Weiwei, to be honest, a lot of media have spoken up. I really feel that I am not alone. To have so many media speaking out for justice is very comforting to me.
At that time, I couldnt see the government, and nobody paid attention to me even though I lost my son and couldnt find him. So when all these media gave me information, I saw the different forms by! which t he media have sought justice for my son. I have heard their voices. Also, there were so many people who protested this suppression of my son, calling for his release. So I dont feel alone in this.
Between his arrest and before his release, no police, procuratorate or judicial officers, or anyone who arrested him, or any government office told me where my son was; why he was detained; why hes not released and the reason for his detention. I was not clear at all. I just heard all sorts of information, especially by the state-run media which said one thing today, and another tomorrow. I couldnt tell what was true and false.
But in my heart I know. I know what my son has done is correct. He speaks for the people and is defending their rights. Hes not trying to get justice for our family, but for the people. So this led to his incarceration. So now, he was released on June 22. This was a day we were waiting for. We didnt know it would come so quick, although I was still mentally prepared. I did expect to wait indefinitely, but I had this confidence that they would release him, and when that happens hell have the chance to speak, right?
So when he was suddenly released, I felt it was like a dream, I didnt know if it was true or not, because there were always rumors. But I felt since a lot of mediabefore the state-run Xinhua released its report, other media knewso they called me, they mustve had some insider information. So I felt it might be true, but still, it wasnt official and couldnt be trusted. Only when I saw my son did I believe thisthat this is real and he is coming out. I was very happy. I believe all these media who have upheld justice, his friends and his fans and online friends are all very happy, and would have many stories to tell. Theyre more excited than I am.Reporter: Whats his health like? How is his mood?
Gao Ying: Its like this, when he was released he had to agree to certain restrictions. He! cant le ave the country or leave Beijing. He cant contact the media. There were conditions imposed before his release. So a lot of media wanted to approach him and interview him but this is not possible. So what about his mood? Well, think about it, he hasnt seen his family for 81 days, he doesnt know the changes that have happened in the world, or whats happened because of his arrest. He has no idea. He didnt even know that his driver Zhang Jinsong was arrested.Reporter: He had no idea?
Gao Ying: No, no idea. He was just in a room. The room was guarded by public security officers. Inside, actually he was treated well, he was fed well and doctors monitored his health every day and he took his medicine. He just didnt have freedom.
Reporter: What about these charges theyve laid against them?
Gao Ying: Well see about those. I cant say anything else right? We havent seen anything so far about what its all about, and were unclear.
Reporter: Did he know about this, when he was inside?
Gao Ying: He didnt really understand. He asked what was this all about? Whats all this that authorities have reported about him? Lets let time tell, okay? As a mother, I cant comment without knowing the facts. Is that okay?Reporter: You also told the media that this is just the beginning.
Gao Ying: If youre asking me to speak, I just hope that the media will still pay attention to my son. Also I feel, as a mother, so many media have approached me during this 81-day period. I really did not expect it, so many media, all over the world, wanting to do phone interviews.
I believe the media is really concerned for my son. So Id like to use this opportunity in our interview here that, I want to tell everyone I am very grateful, very grateful. Because the media has not only allowed the p! ublic to find out about this, theyve also allowed me to understand what kind of a person my son is. As a mother, I didnt really used to know him much, but through these 81 days, and through my contacts with so many media, I believe all of this is basically truthful. So I am very, very grateful to the media.Reporter: Ai Weiwei has had a big effect on defending the rights of the public inside the country.
Gao Ying: Yes. This is what I think. I feel Ai Weiwei is paying attention to society, to the people. He is criticizing the negative trends in society, and offering his opinion in defending the peoples rights. This should not be a crime. This behavior should be allowed to stand, and should be promoted. So, I feel that as long as its correct, I hope the media will support it.
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I hope theres no more trouble. If theres more trouble, this elderly mother is near death. Truly, these 81 days has been immense torture for me. I have not cried so many tears in my life. Truly, its been a very painful 81 days, its really been this way. My health has also suffered.
I need to bravely accept reality. Please be assured, I am still very strong.Interview first published by NTD Television.Original audio file.
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