The 220 Clan

The revision of article 220 of the Criminal Procedure Law granted the police unlimited power to secretly detain human rights activists and political dissidents alike. They could be put into confinement without legal proceedings and without informing their families. The revision was made after the international society called foul when the authority secretly detained artist Ai Weiwei and his entire team, including accountants, drivers, interns for months without telling any of their families members their whereabouts. Ai Weiwei was last seen at Beijing Airport before taken away from public eyes. Therefore, his family could figure he must be detained although the authority never admitted. For his team members, they were taken separately so for a long period their families could not figure out what had happened to them.

Following scholars and professors endorsed the revision, which was a.k.a. Article 220.

♣♣♣♣ Professor Wu Fatian of the China University of Law and Political Sciences;
♣ Wang Minyuan of Chinese Social Science Academy
♣ Professor Song Yinghui of Beijing Normal University
♣♣ Professor Xie Youping of Fudan University