2006年VOA标准英语-Press Group Says Ethiopia Censors Internet

By Cathy Majtenyi
Nairobi
24 May 2006

  
  
An international press-freedom organization accuses the Ethiopian government of blocking personal Internet Web sites known as blogs that are critical of the government, a charge the authorities deny.  

Paris-based Reporters Without Borders says at least 10 opposition¹ blogs are among thousands of sites that Ethiopians have not been able to access in Ethiopia since May 17.

The head of the organization's internet freedom section, Julien Pain, says he suspects that the Ethiopian government has blocked the Internet sites.

"We found out that many opposition Web sites and web blogs have been blocked in Ethiopia," Pain says. "We cannot prove that it is because of government's decision, but we believe it is very likely because they were accessible three weeks ago and all of a sudden they just disappeared from the internet.  The Web sites are not shut down.  They are blocked, and obviously filtered in Ethiopia and still accessible in the rest of the world."

Pain says the Web sites' blocking will increase political tensions in the country, and that that he thinks many Ethiopians will suffer because of the blockages².

"We all know that the private media are under pressure by the government, and that the state media are totally controlled by the authorities, so the internet was the only way for the opposition and for independent journalists to express themselves," Pain says. "The debates on the internet were very, very important for Ethiopian politics."

Ethiopian authorities say such censorship is against government policy.

Information minister Berhan Hailu explains.

"I do not know which Web sites are blocked, but the government has no intention to do that," Berhan says. "We know that there are illegal and unethical media here in Ethiopia, but the government has no intention to do such a reaction."

Berhan rejects the view that media in Ethiopia are not free, saying that the media are able to be critical of the government.

"There are many media here critical about the government," Berhan says. "So we believe that the freedom of the information and relevant things are going well in Ethiopia.  Those (journalists) who are critical are still working in Ethiopia."

More than 100 journalists, opposition politicians and supporters, activists³ and others face treason and genocide charges incurred⁴ during protests over last May's elections in Ethiopia.

They accused the ruling party of committing electoral fraud to win last year's elections.

Their imprisonment⁵ and trials have been condemned⁶ recently by U.N. Commissioner⁷ for Human Rights Louise Arbour and other international groups.

For its part, the Ethiopian government says the journalists and others in jail are guilty of fomenting⁸ violence and trying to overthrow⁹ the government.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 blockages   

n.堵塞物( blockage的名词复数 )；堵塞，阻塞

参考例句：

• The storms could increase the risks posed by river blockages. 暴风雨会增加因河道堵塞所造成的危险。 来自互联网
• An angiogram shows the location and severity of blockages in blood vessels. 冠状动脉造影能够显示血管内的阻塞位置以及阻塞的严重程度。 来自互联网

3 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 incurred   

[医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式

参考例句：

• She had incurred the wrath of her father by marrying without his consent 她未经父亲同意就结婚，使父亲震怒。
• We will reimburse any expenses incurred. 我们将付还所有相关费用。

5 imprisonment   

n.关押，监禁，坐牢

参考例句：

• His sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment.他的判决由死刑减为无期徒刑。
• He was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for committing bigamy.他因为犯重婚罪被判入狱一年。

6 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

7 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

8 fomenting   

v.激起，煽动（麻烦等）( foment的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They accused him of fomenting political unrest. 他们指控他煽动政治动乱。
• Three sailors were fomenting a mutiny on the ship. 三个水手正在船上煽动叛变。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

9 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。