Edward Snowden Whereabouts Unknown

　　The mystery surrounding the whereabouts of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden is continuing to grow.

 

　　Disappointed journalists in Russia have been left empty handed, after Snowden failed to appear on a flight from Moscow to Cuba.

 

　　We get more from CRI's Zhang Shuangfeng.

 

　　Wikileaks founder¹ Julian Assange says Snowden and his council, who is accompanying him, are 'safe and healthy.'

 

　　"Edward Snowden left Hong Kong on the 23rd of June bound for Ecuador via a safe path through Russia and other states. Mr. Snowden has submitted an asylum² to Ecuador and possibly to other countries. Mr. Snowden requested that WikiLeaks use its legal expertise³ and experience to secure his safety. The current status of Mr. Snowden and Ms. Harrison both are healthy and safe."

 

　　Assange is refusing to disclose Snowden's whereabouts.

 

　　Meanwhile, the government of Ecuador says it is now reviewing the asylum request by Snowden, saying the decision has to do with freedom of expression and with the security of citizens around the world.

 

　　The former NSA contractor⁴ has not been seen since he arrived in Moscow on Sunday from Hong Kong, where he had been hiding after revealing classified NSA surveillance programs.

 

　　The U.S government says it is now following legal channels to try to bring Snowden back to the U.S.

 

　　The US side has also registered objections to the authorities in Hong Kong for letting Snowden leave the city.

 

　　In response, Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying says there was no legal basis to hold Snowden.

 

　　"We were asking the United States government for further important information on the case and there was no legal basis to stop Mr Snowden from leaving Hong Kong. This is a good example to illustrate⁵ 'one country, two systems', Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong, and the high degree of autonomy that we have. It is also a good example to illustrate the rule of law that we uphold and the procedural fairness and justice that we uphold."

 

　　Russia also says it has no grounds to expel Snowden, noting he hasn't committed any crimes on Russian territory.

 

　　Snowden is believed to be planning to travel to Cuba en route to Ecuador.

 

　　However, the Cuban government has not publicly acknowledged this.

 

　　The United States does not have an extradition⁶ treaty with Russia, but does with Cuba, Venezuela and Ecuador.

 

　　However, even with an extradition agreement, any country can still give Snowden a political exemption⁷.

 

　　Doctor Jin Canrong from China's Renmin University explains why Snowden and Assange have both tapped Ecuador for shelter.

 

　　"After the death of Venezuela president Hugo Chavez after suffering from cancer, the left-wing force in Latin America needs a new leader. The current Ecuador President Rafael Correa seems interested in becoming that leader, and he's been holding the anti-US flag up high. So as long as he's in power, I think Assange and Snowden will probably be safe."

 

　　The 29-year old whistleblower has been charged with theft of government property, unauthorized communication of national defense⁸ information and willful communication of classified intelligence.

 

　　Each of the charges carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence.

 

　　For CRI, I'm Zhang Shuangfeng.

1 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

2 asylum   

n.避难所，庇护所，避难

参考例句：

• The people ask for political asylum.人们请求政治避难。
• Having sought asylum in the West for many years,they were eventually granted it.他们最终获得了在西方寻求多年的避难权。

3 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

4 contractor   

n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌

参考例句：

• The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $ 6000 back as commission.那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。
• The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.承包商所建房屋的式样，有几分要看地势而定。

5 illustrate   

v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图

参考例句：

• The company's bank statements illustrate its success.这家公司的银行报表说明了它的成功。
• This diagram will illustrate what I mean.这个图表可说明我的意思。

6 extradition   

n.引渡（逃犯）

参考例句：

• The smuggler is in prison tonight,awaiting extradition to Britain.这名走私犯今晚在监狱，等待引渡到英国。
• He began to trouble concerning the extradition laws.他开始费尽心思地去想关于引渡法的问题。

7 exemption   

n.豁免，免税额，免除

参考例句：

• You may be able to apply for exemption from local taxes.你可能符合资格申请免除地方税。
• These goods are subject to exemption from tax.这些货物可以免税。

8 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。