The Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) asked Beijing yesterday to punish those responsible for hitting two Taiwanese students in Xiamen and to assist the pair in seeking compensation.
The foundation issued a statement following a story in the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister paper) yesterday that two Taiwanese studying at Xiamen University were beaten up at a barbecue restaurant near the campus around midnight on Monday.
A freshman, surnamed Liao, suffered multiple cuts and received 100 stitches, while a sophomore, surnamed Shueh, suffered a fractured nose bone, the Liberty Times said.
Their friends told the paper that they had to nowhere to go but to seek help from the Taiwanese media. They said the university had turned a deaf ear to their complaints and asked them to settle the matter privately.
The report said Liao and Shueh were among a group of six celebrating a birthday at the barbecue joint. Customers at the next table thought the group was making too much noise and began hitting them with broken beer bottles.
Another student, surnamed Lee, suffered a broken right hand, the paper said.
The report said one of the attackers claimed to be a teacher and threatened to have the students expelled.
The university told the Liberty Times that it was investigating the claim that a teacher was involved and that it had helped the injured reach a local hospital.
The foundation expressed regret over the incident and said it had made four demands to its Chinese counterpart, the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, via their emergency hot line. The demands included making sure the injured students receive proper medical treatment and investigating the incident thoroughly.
The foundation said it had also asked the Taiwanese businessmen’s association in Xiamen to visit the two injured students and offer consolation money.
The foundation urged Taiwanese students studying in China to be extra careful with their personal safety.
Those who need emergency assistance can call a 24-hour hot line at 02-2712-9292, the foundation said.
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