French President Nicolas Sarkozy sent his personal support yesterday to a wheelchair-bound Chinese athlete who has become a symbol of national outrage at protests over the Olympic torch relay.
In a letter delivered by the visiting French Senate president, Sarkozy said he condemned the attacks on Jin Jing (金晶), who was forced to shield the torch from pro-Tibet protesters during the chaotic Paris leg of the relay.
It was given to Jin as China sought yesterday to dampen anti-French sentiment triggered in part by that incident, and which flared up over the weekend into a series of demonstrations in cities across the country.
“I was shocked to see what happened during the torch relay,” French Senate President Christian Poncelet said in Shanghai, quoting from Sarkozy’s letter. “It is understandable that the Chinese people feel hurt. I hereby strongly condemn what they did.”
Jin, who is a fencer, was attacked when protesters repeatedly disrupted the April 7 relay, and had to fend off attempts to grab the flame.
Sarkozy invited her to France, saying those behind “this painful incident” did not represent the feelings of friendship between the nations.
Meanwhile, the Paris City Council was set yesterday to award honorary citizenship to the Dalai Lama in a move sure to stoke tensions with China following anti-French protests over the weekend.
While the right-wing national government has not expressed support for the Socialist mayor’s move, it is calling for dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama to settle the conflict over Tibet
The Dalai Lama is to visit France in August.
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