2007年VOA标准英语-Report: Iraq Most Dangerous Country for Journal

By Stephanie Ho
Washington
01 February 2007

The group Reporters Without Borders says the number of journalists and media workers killed or imprisoned¹ around the world in 2006 was the highest in more than a decade.  In its annual report, the organization calls for democratic countries to take more action to defend freedom of speech and the press.  VOA's Stephanie Ho reports from Washington.

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This promotional poster from RSF reads, 'At the rate they're killing journalists in Iraq, you'll have to go there and get the news yourself'

Reporters Without Borders' (RSF) Washington representative Lucie Morillon says the group's report focuses on what she calls the "most flagrant violations³ of press freedom" in more than 90 countries.  She described North Korea, Eritrea, Cuba and Turkmenistan as "especially major perpetrators."

The group says 110 journalists and media workers were killed last year, which Morillon added was the highest toll⁴ since 1994.

"A disturbing, record number of journalists and media workers were killed in 2006, and we are also very concerned with 2007," she said.  "Six journalists and four media assistants have already been killed this year."

The most dangerous country for journalists was Iraq, where 65 reporters, most of them local journalists, were killed and 20 were kidnapped, in 2006.  Iraqi reporter Huda Ahmed, who is the United States on a fellowship, said for her colleagues, doing their jobs is always dangerous.

"They do not have bodyguards," he noted⁵.  "They do not live in secure areas.  They do not drive in armored cars.  They do not have the help of American forces, if they get attacked or assaulted anywhere.  They have to do it on their own."

The report says the second most deadly country in the world last year was Mexico, where nine journalists were murdered and three went missing.  Mexican journalist Jose Carreno pointed⁶ out that his country is not at war, in the traditional sense.

"It is an aggression⁷ being waged by criminal organizations, especially drug trafficking, against society," he explained.  "And the government, the law enforcement authorities at different levels, appear to be until now either unable, incapable⁸ or disinterested⁹ to face that challenge."

Reporters Without Borders calls China the world's largest prison for journalists.  Watson Meng runs a U.S.-based independent Website that focuses on news about China. 

"According to RSF's latest report, China has 52 people in jail because of Internet expression.  This actual number is unknown because it is a state secret," he said.

The report accuses the Chinese government of withholding¹⁰ information and forcing Chinese media to self-censor.  But Reporters Without Borders' Morillon says her group holds out hope, following recent meetings with Chinese government officials in Beijing. 

"We held talks with the authorities and raised the issue of press freedom and how to improve it," she added.  "Government officials said they were ready to reconsider the status of journalists and Internet users currently in jail in the country."

Morillon says Reporters without Borders welcomes the Chinese government's promises of greater media freedom, but will be closely watching to see if Beijing follows-up on its commitment.  She adds that the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing present an opportunity for the international community to, in her words, "pressure Chinese authorities on human rights and freedom issues."

1 imprisoned   

下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was imprisoned for two concurrent terms of 30 months and 18 months. 他被判处30个月和18个月的监禁，合并执行。
• They were imprisoned for possession of drugs. 他们因拥有毒品而被监禁。

2 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

3 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

4 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

7 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

8 incapable   

adj.无能力的，不能做某事的

参考例句：

• He would be incapable of committing such a cruel deed.他不会做出这么残忍的事。
• Computers are incapable of creative thought.计算机不会创造性地思维。

9 disinterested   

adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的

参考例句：

• He is impartial and disinterested.他公正无私。
• He's always on the make,I have never known him do a disinterested action.他这个人一贯都是唯利是图，我从来不知道他有什么无私的行动。

10 withholding   

扣缴税款

参考例句：

• She was accused of withholding information from the police. 她被指控对警方知情不报。
• The judge suspected the witness was withholding information. 法官怀疑见证人在隐瞒情况。