Chinese Dissident Ai Weiwei Detained
KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: Welcome to NEWS STREAM, where news and technology meet. I'm Kristie Lu Stout, in Hong Kong. Now, China speaks out about the detention of artist and activist Ai Weiwei, saying it has nothing to do with human rights. A CNN exclusive. Alleged Libyan rape victim Eman al-Obeidy tells her story to CNN. And after an earthquake, tsunami, fires, now radioactive seawater. Japan's fishing industry struggles to cope with the impact of the country's multiple disasters. Now, the family of famed Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei say that they still have not heard from him. His whereabouts have been unknown since Sunday, but Beijing has confirmed that Ai Weiwei is in custody. The government says he's being held for suspected economic crimes, but offer no details on those charges.</s>HONG LEI, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER SPOKESMAN (through translator): Mr. Ai Weiwei is under investigation on suspicion of economic crimes. It has nothing to do with human rights or freedom of expression.</s>STOUT: Now, China has strongly rejected foreign criticism regarding Ai Weiwei's arrest. Eunice Yoon joins us now live from CNN Beijing. And Eunice, what more did the Foreign Ministry say about Ai Weiwei? And what tone did the spokesman take during the briefing?</s>EUNICE YOON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kristie, the ministry really did address the international outrage, saying that other countries should respect China's laws. The ministry spokesperson's tone was relatively neutral and polite, but the spokesperson just wouldn't engage in any more conversation about Ai Weiwei. And that really suggests that the ministry is not ready to go beyond the stated talking points -- Kristie.</s>STOUT: You also spoke to Ai Weiwei's mother and lawyer. What is their reaction to his detention?</s>YOON: Well, we also spoke to the wife as well, and the family, as you had said earlier, hasn't heard from him at all. His wife is demanding answers. She went down and visited the Public Security Bureau in Beijing and asked police to show her the legal documents that would allow them to hold her husband for so long. The lawyer also said that he hasn't heard any details about these charges. And we did speak to his mother, who said that she thought that these charges were ridiculous. She said that the government was playing tricks, and she said that she's also very concerned about her son's welfare because, she told us, that he's a very stubborn person.</s>STOUT: Interesting reaction there. Now, why is Beijing investigating him for economic, as opposed to political, crimes? Is this a strategy to somehow shift the world's focus away from him?</s>YOON: Well, what people who follow the dissident community have told me is that this is actually a very typical practice. When officials have difficulty building a case against an activist for political reasons, they often opt for economic crimes such as tax evasion, fraud, or corruption, for instance, in order to try to discredit that activist publicly. Ai's lawyer, as well his family, though, say that he has no financial issues. And his lawyer, in fact, told us that even if he did have financial issues, the charges shouldn't have been lodged in this way, that he believes that the government actually is not following legal procedures despite what the ministry spokesperson today said, that the investigation is proceeding according to Chinese law -- Kristie.</s>STOUT: All right, Eunice. Thank you for that. Eunice Yoon, joining us live from Beijing. Now, CNN reports on Ai Weiwei are being blacked out in China by censors. And they have also blocked many mentions of his name in online forums. Now, this right here, it spells his name, "Ai Weiwei." And the characters look very similar to these, which reads in Chinese as "Ai Weilai (ph)." That means "love the future," and that became a popular way to refer to the artist until the censors caught on. So, what are people in China using right now to talk about Ai Weiwei? Well, here are a few substitutes: "Ai," meaning "sigh." And others are using Ai Weiwei's father, his name, instead. Ai Qing was a famous communist poet. Now, this one, it doesn't actually meaning anything, "Ai Weiwei." But it sounds just like his name. And some poets (ph) refer to a baker of sunflower seeds, and that's a reference to Ai Weiwei's recent art exhibition at the Tate Modern in London. Now, Moammar Gadhafi's political allies continue to seek a diplomatic end to the country's crisis, while the Libyan leader himself has been largely quiet. But he did send a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama with a fairly blunt message: end the NATO bombing of Libya. Now, a Libyan official told reporters that a British air strike had hit an oil pipeline, but Reuters news agency reports a rebel oil official saying that it was Gadhafi's forces that attacked the Savir (ph) oil field on Wednesday. A U.S. official said that the White House was not taking Gadhafi's letter seriously. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton weighed in, saying it is Gadhafi who must relent.</s>HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: I don't think there is any mystery about what is expected from Mr. Gadhafi at this time. That is an international assessment. And the sooner that occurs, and the bloodshed ends, the better it will be for everyone.</s>STOUT: Now, the tone of Gadhafi's letter to the U.S. president bordered strangely on the compassionate. "Despite all this," the Libyan leader wrote, "you will always remain my son." But there has been little compassion shown by government troops in cities such as Misrata. The U.N. secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, says he is deeply concerned about conditions there, adding that the population is trapped and unable to receive basic supplies. And away from the bloodshed and ruin, one small note for optimism. Now, this tanker carrying crude oil left the eastern port of Tobruk on Wednesday. Now, it is the first known export of oil by the struggling opposition since this crisis began. Now, he is under siege but holding out. While time is running out for Ivory Coast's self-declared president, Laurent Gbagbo, forces loyal to the internationally-recognized president-elect, Alassane Ouattara, stormed Gbagbo's residence Wednesday after reported negotiations for a surrender failed. Now, a spokesman says Gbagbo is in the basement of his residence, despite being surrounded by opposition troops. Now, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says it is time for him to step out from the shadows.</s>BAN KI-MOON, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: It is totally unacceptable that Mr. Gbagbo is still persisting against the will of a total international community. He should know that there is nobody in this world to support him. Now, he must cede his power peacefully.</s>STOUT: And we've got some dramatic rescue footage for you now. You're watching an overnight operation. It was conducted by French and U.N. peacekeeping forces to rescue Japan's ambassador to Ivory Coast. Now, helicopters flew in after forces believed loyal to Laurent Gbagbo broke into the ambassador's house and used it as a base for heavy weapons. Seven staff members and a security guard were evacuated. So, let's map some of this out for you. Now, the helicopter rescue, it took place in the Abidjan suburb of Cocody. Now, Gbagbo's forces are believed to have stormed the property. Now, that despite it being some distance from the presidential palace, where Ouattara's forces believe Gbagbo is holed up. Now, they're not certain, but a Gbagbo spokesman says the embattled leader is in the basement of his besieged residence. Now, still ahead here on NEWS STREAM, she has come to define the brutal nature of the conflict in Libya. We'll bring you Nic Robertson's exclusive interview with alleged rape victim Eman al-Obeidy. And adding insult to injuries. We hear from a fisherman who claims Japanese nuclear bosses are damaging an industry already crippled by last month's natural disasters. Plus, a long farewell. A former CNN sports anchor is making sure he stays a part of his daughter's life despite terminal cancer.