VOA常速英语2007-Niger Government Threatens Further Media Shutdow

By Phuong Tran
Dakar
19 October 2007

In Niger, journalists are preparing to publicly denounce what they call a government blackout on reports of a rebellion in the north. The government say reporting on the rebellion has limits and it has detained some journalists whose reporting it considers pro¹ rebellion. Phuong Tran has more from VOA's West Africa bureau in Dakar.

After initially² being denied permission earlier this week, Nigerien journalists have received approval to demonstrate this Saturday in Niger's capital, Niamey.

They plan to gather journalists and members of civil society to publicly protest what they call a lack of press freedom in covering an ongoing³ rebellion in the north.

Mamane Mamadou, a member of a governmental agency that sets rules for the press, says the sensitive nature of the rebellion requires careful and objective reporting.

Mamadou tells the VOA that journalists are free to cover all sides, but within limits.

He says press freedom exists in Niger, but the zone where fighting is taking place is under a state of alert. He says if someone has the means to speak to the rebels, and air their views, they are free do so.

But the government is accusing some journalists of colluding with the rebels.

Mamadou cites Radio Saraounia, a private Nigerien radio station run by now-detained journalist Moussa Kaka.

The station invited rebels to speak in its broadcasts. Now the government is accusing Kaka of collusion.

The government recently suspended broadcasts of Radio France International for one month. Kaka also worked there.

Officials have also shut down the Air Info newspaper for three months. The government says RFI and Air Info have not been objective in their coverage⁴ of the rebellion.

The journalists say their reports were fair and that they are victims of censorship.

Moussa Kaka and and another journalist, Ibrahim Manzo Diallo, have been detained. Kaka is being held on charges of colluding with the rebels, while Diallo has not been charged.

Rebel spokesman Mohamed Ajidal denies any ties with the journalists. The fighter says the journalists did what journalists are supposed, namely conduct interviews and check facts.

International civil society organizations and journalist associations have condemned⁵ the journalists' arrests and detentions⁶.

In February, ethnic⁷ Tuareg fighters escalated⁸ the violence against the government with landmine⁹ attacks and hostage takings. They complain of government neglect.

President Mamadou Tandja refuses to acknowledge the fighting as a political rebellion, dismissing the armed opposition¹⁰ as bandits.

Rebel spokesman Ajidal says now that the month-long rebel ceasefire for the Muslim fasting holiday of Ramadan has ended, the rebels are preparing to re-launch attacks until the government recognizes their demands.

1 pro   

n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者

参考例句：

• The two debating teams argued the question pro and con.辩论的两组从赞成与反对两方面辩这一问题。
• Are you pro or con nuclear disarmament?你是赞成还是反对核裁军？

2 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

3 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

4 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

5 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。

6 detentions   

拘留( detention的名词复数 )； 扣押； 监禁； 放学后留校

参考例句：

• Teachers may assign detention tasks as they wish and some detentions have been actually dangerous. 老师可能随心所欲指派关禁闭的形式，有些禁闭事实上很危险。
• Intimidation, beatings and administrative detentions are often enough to prevent them from trying again. 恐吓，拷打和行政拘留足以阻止请愿者二次进京的脚步。

7 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

8 escalated   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The fighting escalated into a full-scale war. 这场交战逐步扩大为全面战争。
• The demonstration escalated into a pitched battle with the police. 示威逐步升级，演变成了一场同警察的混战。

9 landmine   

n.地雷

参考例句：

• A landmine is a kind of weapon used in war.地雷是一种运用于战争的武器。
• The treaty bans the use,production and trade of landmine.那条约禁止使用生产和交易雷。

10 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。