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Words in the News
Ai Weiwei's tax bill
7th November 2011
Thousands of people have donated money to Chinese artist Ai Weiwei to help him pay a
tax bill of $2.4 million. Many, including the artist himself, believe he's been served with
the bill because of his outspoken criticism of the government rather than his financial
affairs. This report is from Michael Bristow:
Nearly 20,000 people have donated. They've used bank transfers, sent postal orders
or simply handed over cash in person. Some have folded money into paper planes and
flown them over the wall of the artist's Beijing compound.
Ai Weiwei says the campaign to help him isn't just about the money. He says it's an
expression of people's feelings about the way he's been treated.
The authorities accuse him of tax evasion and want him to pay $2.4 million. But many
believe this is just a cover to punish a fierce government critic.
Officials, they say, don't like his dogged pursuit of controversial issues.
Ai Weiwei says he hasn't decided whether to pay the tax bill. If he does, and uses this
donated money, there could still be problems. One newspaper suggested it amounted to
illegal fundraising.
More evidence, his supporters might say, that the authorities are simply trying to get at
the artist any way they can.
Michael Bristow, BBC News
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2011
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Vocabulary and definitions
bank transfers a method of moving money from one bank account to
another
postal orders official documents with an amount of money printed on
them which can be exchanged at a post office for real
money
paper planes toy aeroplanes made from folded paper
compound a property or group of buildings protected by fences
and security
tax evasion the crime of not paying money owed to a tax-raising
authority
a cover an official excuse which disguises the true reason
a fierce government critic a person with strong public opinions against the
government
dogged pursuit very determined following of
illegal fundraising collecting money in a way which is against the law
to get at to criticise
More on this story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15616576
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/11/111107_witn_ai_weiwei.shtml
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2011
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