2006年VOA标准英语-Attempt to Restrict Afghan News Media Prompts O

By Benjamin Sand
Islamabad
21 June 2006

Afghan journalists are denouncing efforts by the country's intelligence officials to impose guidelines laying out what the officials consider acceptable topics for publication. The official want to place restrictions¹ on such topics as criticism of international security forces in the country and the new Afghan National Army.

-----------------

Local reporters say they were given the two-page guidelines earlier this week during a closed-door meeting with Afghanistan's intelligence services.

The document, marked not for distribution, details more than 20 banned subjects.

Interviews with so-called "terrorist commanders" are prohibited, as are reports suggesting that the national army is weak or vulnerable.

Reporters were also told not to criticize the government's foreign policy or foreign troops deployed² inside Afghanistan.

Wednesday, local journalists led a protest rally through the capital demanding the government rescind³ the controversial guidelines.

Rahimullah Samander, who heads Afghanistan's Association of Independent Journalists, says the document is a clear-cut case of censorship. But he says Afghan journalists will not back down, and unless the government rescinds⁵ the order, reporters will stage more protests throughout the country.

A free and open press is protected by Afghanistan's new constitution, and the government is adamantly⁶ rejecting charges that it wants to censor⁴ the media.

President Hamid Karzai issued a statement Tuesday saying the government has only asked reporters to avoid glorifying⁷ terrorism.

The proposed guidelines themselves indicate no penalties for disobeying them, and it is still unclear who authorized⁸ their distribution.

Independent media have grown significantly across Afghanistan since the Islamist Taleban regime was ousted⁹ in 2001.

But local reporters say cases of intimidation and even physical abuse of journalists by local government officials are on the rise

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

3 rescind   

v.废除，取消

参考例句：

• They accepted his advice and rescinded the original plan.他们听从了他的劝告，撤销了原计划。
• Trade Union leaders have demanded the government rescind the price rise.工会领导已经要求政府阻止价格上涨。

4 censor   

n./vt.审查，审查员；删改

参考例句：

• The film has not been viewed by the censor.这部影片还未经审查人员审查。
• The play was banned by the censor.该剧本被查禁了。

5 rescinds   

v.废除，取消( rescind的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The committee rescinds its earlier resolution on the use of council premises. 该委员会取消了它早些时候对使用委员会房屋土地所作的决议。 来自互联网

6 adamantly   

adv.坚决地，坚定不移地，坚强不屈地

参考例句：

• "Come over here,"he told her adamantly. “到这边来，”他对她坚定地说。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His family were adamantly opposed to the marriage. 他的家人坚决反对这门亲事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 glorifying   

赞美( glorify的现在分词 )； 颂扬； 美化； 使光荣

参考例句：

• I had no intention of either glorifying or belittling Christianity, merely the desire to understand it. 我并没有赞扬基督教或蔑视它的立意，我所想的只是了解它。
• You are glorifying a rather mediocre building. 你正在美化一栋普普通通的建筑。

8 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

9 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。