BEIJING, Feb.9 -- Premier Wen Jiabao has asked
Cambridge University to forgive the student who threw a shoe at him during his
speech there this month, the Chinese ambassador to the UK said on Saturday.
In a press release on the Foreign Ministry's website,
Ambassador Fu Ying said: "I would like to convey the following from Premier Wen:
Education is the best help for a young student. It is hoped the university will
give the student an opportunity to continue his studies."
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao delivers a
speech at University of Cambridge in Cambridge of Britain Feb. 2, 2009.
(Chinese media/Yao Dawei)
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Martin Jahnke, 27, a student in pathology from
Germany, threw a shoe at Premier Wen and yelled towards the end of his lecture
on February 2.
Wen was not hit and continued the speech..
The move irritated the audience and many shouted
"shame on you" as Jahnke was escorted away by the police. And Fu said the
inappropriate behavior was also met with strong indignation among the Chinese
people.
"From the words and actions of this student, it could
be seen how he lacks knowledge about China," she said.
"It has also affected the image and reputation of
Cambridge in China."
Jahnke was charged with disorderly conduct and will
appear before magistrates in Cambridge tomorrow. British authorities said he
faces six months in prison or a 5,000-pound fine.
The student, who had been working on research into
diabetes and arthritis, also faces suspension from the university, with China
News Agency reporting some of his fellow students were "strongly demanding the
university dismiss him".
According to United Press International, Jahnke has
gone into hiding after footage of the incident was watched more than a million
times on the Internet site YouTube.
On February 4, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown
personally apologized to Wen for the incident in a letter, while the
vice-chancellor of Cambridge University visited Fu Ying in London last Friday to
offer a formal apology.
The university also forwarded an apology written by
Jahnke. According to a press release by the Foreign Ministry, the student said
in the letter "his behavior lacked the respect and courtesy due to a guest of
the university".
"As a Chinese saying goes, it is more precious than
gold for a young person to turn around and redress mistakes," Fu said in the
press release on behalf of Premier Wen.
"It is hoped this student will see his mistake and
seek to understand a real and developing China," she said.
(Source: China Daily)
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