VOA标准英语2010年-Amnesty Lawyer Calls On US, Other Lead

This week, Amnesty International issued its annual human rights report and a top official with the organization says it captures the soaring highs and crushing lows in the world of international justice. 

For first time, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for a sitting head of state -- Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. Mr. Bashir remains¹ free and recently won re-election. But Amnesty lawyer T. Kumar says the message is clear.

"An arrest warrant was issued to the sitting president which by itself is a remarkable² step," Kumar noted³.

There were other highlights. In January, Bosnia-Herzegovina issued indictments⁴ on charges of genocide in Srebrenica in 1995, where Bosnian Serb forces killed about 8,000 Muslim males in what was supposed to have been a U.N. safe haven⁵.

And just last month, Argentina sentenced its last military president, Reynaldo Bignone, to 25 years in prison for crimes committed during his military rule some 30 years ago.

 "The national judicial⁶ systems have taken over and they have proven they can actually go after their own former president and convict not for political reasons but for humanitarian⁷ and crimes against humanity he took during his tenure," he said.

But Kumar says the international community, and its leaders, have suffered big failures.

He says a year after a 22-day conflict in Gaza and southern Israel, there is little interest in investigating alleged⁸ war crimes.

Another chilling account can be found in the forward of Amnesty's 400-page report.  It's the story of hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans trapped between retreating Tamil Tigers and advancing Sri Lankan soldiers.  Amnesty says at least 7,000 people died. This week, Sri Lanka again told the United Nations there is no need to investigate.

Kumar and other human rights activists⁹ urge the U.S. and other world leaders to sign onto the International Criminal Court. 

"Their fear is that some of their officials may get charged or arrested," Kumar explained. "But the bigger line is no one should be above the law.  if your officials are involved then you should prosecute¹⁰ them."

Amnesty's report this year chronicled torture and ill treatment in more than 100 countries.

 

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

3 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。

4 indictments   

n.（制度、社会等的）衰败迹象( indictment的名词复数 )；刑事起诉书；公诉书；控告

参考例句：

• A New York jury brought criminal indictments against the founder of the organization. 纽约的一个陪审团对这个组织的创始人提起了多项刑事诉讼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• These two indictments are self-evident and require no elaboration. 这两条意义自明，无须多说。 来自互联网

5 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

6 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

7 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

8 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

9 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》

10 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？