英国卫报:绑架为何成了一门生意(5)

In 1986, the issue of K&R insurance was debated in parliament, which passed a motion expressing concern.

1986年，议会就绑架和赎金保险问题进行了辩论，通过了一项表示关注的动议。

There was even talk of working through European institutions to impose a ban on K&R insurance throughout the European Union.

甚至有人说要通过欧洲机构在整个欧盟范围内禁止绑架和赎金保险。

Recognising that its existence was under threat, the security industry rallied,

在意识到自身的存在受到威胁后，安全行业团结起来，

arguing that since the policies were kept secret, it was clear that people were not being kidnapped because they had insurance.

争辩说，由于该保险是保密的，很明显，人们不是因为他们有保险而被绑架。

Rather, they were being taken hostage because they had resources – and banning insurance would not change this.

相反，他们被绑架是因为他们有财力——禁止保险不会改变这一点。

Since the policies only provided reimbursement¹ and were always written for amounts less than the net worth of the policyholder,

因为该保险仅仅是提供补偿，而且其提供的数额往往比投保人的净资产要少。

the industry also argued that insurance did not drive up the amount of payment.

所以该行业还辩称，该保险并没有推高支付金额。

What’s more, the industry pointed² out that the availability of K&R insurance helped international businesses to manage risk,

另外，该行业还指出，绑架和赎金保险可帮助国际企业管理风险，

which in turn allowed companies – including British and European companies –

这反过来又让公司得以，包括英国和欧洲公司，

to operate in dangerous environments while exercising appropriate “duty of care” toward their employees.

在对他们的员工承担合适的“注意义务”时，在危险的环境中运营。

While the British and European debate eventually wound down without new legislation being introduced,

虽然英国和欧洲的辩论最终在没有引入新立法的情况下结束了，

individual countries throughout the world continued to wrestle³ with how best to respond to kidnapping.

但是世界各国仍在为如何最好地应对绑架而角力。

Italy, for example, passed a law in 1991 that banned the payment of ransom⁴ and the sale of K&R insurance.

比如，意大利在1991年通过了一项法律，禁止支付赎金和销售绑架和赎金保险。

(One consequence was that the families of kidnapped Italian citizens simply stopped reporting the crimes to the authorities.)

（一个后果就是，被绑架的意大利公民的家人不再向当局报案。）

Meanwhile, Colombia banned ransom payments, then unbanned, then banned them again.

同时，哥伦比亚禁止支付赎金，然后又允许，然后又禁止支付赎金。

Spain operates a very different policy, where its intelligence services are told to bring hostages home at all costs.

西班牙实行了一个非常不同的政策，要求它的情报部门不惜一切代价将人质带回家。

Because of its willingness to pay, the country has a tremendous record of success.

因为西班牙愿意支付赎金，所以该国有非常惊人的成功记录。

1 reimbursement   

n.偿还，退还

参考例句：

• He received reimbursement for his travel expenses.由于出差的花费他可以得到公司的补偿。
• Which forms do I need to complete for my travel reimbursement?我需要填什么表来报我的旅费？

2 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。

3 wrestle   

vi.摔跤，角力；搏斗；全力对付

参考例句：

• He taught his little brother how to wrestle.他教他小弟弟如何摔跤。
• We have to wrestle with difficulties.我们必须同困难作斗争。

4 ransom   

n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救

参考例句：

• We'd better arrange the ransom right away.我们最好马上把索取赎金的事安排好。
• The kidnappers exacted a ransom of 10000 from the family.绑架者向这家人家勒索10000英镑的赎金。