VOA常速英语2016--美国指责赞比亚限制言论自由（在线收听）

美国指责赞比亚限制言论自由

Many in the international community held high hopes that the 2016 elections in Zambia would signal yet another win for democracy in Africa.

国际社会的很多人都对赞比亚2016年的选举抱以厚望，希望这次选举能预示非洲民主的又一次胜利。

But the run-up to the elections, as well as the post-election environment, were marred by violence, intimidation, and an environment that tilted the playing field unfairly in favor of the ruling party. This included the closure of the country's most popular and one of its few independent newspapers.

然而，无论是选举前的准备阶段，还是选举后的国内环境，都因暴力、恐吓以及倾向执政党的不正义天平而蒙羞。其中包括赞比亚最受欢迎的少数独立报纸之一遭到封杀关闭。

The Post Newspaper was shut down by the government revenue service on claims of $6 million worth of unpaid taxes, while government news outlets and other entities that reportedly also owed substantial amounts to the government revenue service remained open.

赞比亚政府税收部门以赞比亚《邮报》拖欠600万税款为名将其关闭。而与之对比的是，据称同样拖欠政府税收部门大量款项的其他一些新闻机构却安然无恙。

After the election, Zambia's broadcasting regulation entity, the Independent Broadcasting Authority, suspended the licenses of an additional three private media outlets, citing un-professional conduct and unspecified national security grounds. The closure of independent media outlets, without warning, on ill-defined national security grounds carries with it the potential to muzzle all non-government controlled media outlets and creates a chilling effect on freedom of speech.

赞比亚大选后，其广播监管部门——独立广播局，又以举动不专业以及安全背景不明为由，暂停了另外3家私有媒体机构的营业执照。这几家独立媒体机构毫无征兆地因安全背景不明而被关闭，或许意味着所有非政府控制的媒体机构都将要三缄其口，让自由言论唇亡齿寒。

This is not the way a multiparty democracy operates; it is not the way to help the country unify after a close election; is not the way to give confidence to the international community and outside investors that the rule of law is respected and carried out in a consistent manner in Zambia.

这绝不是多党民主制国家应该有的样子；这绝不是帮助赞比亚在大选之后凝聚在一起的良策；这也绝不能让国际社会以及海外投资者相信赞比亚是一个敬畏法律的国度，是一个言行始终如一的国度。

“The United States is disappointed that politically motivated violence and constraints on media freedom have continued after Zambia's August 11 general election,” said State Department Spokesperson John Kirby in a written statement.

美国国务院发言人约翰在一则书面声明中这样写道，“美国对于赞比亚8月11日大选后，对媒体以政治为目的的暴力和约束依然肆虐的情况非常失望”。

“We are especially concerned about the Independent Broadcaster Association's August 22 suspension of three broadcasting licenses, which is a continuation of a troubling pre-electoral trend of restrictions on independent media voices and freedom of peaceful assembly. Zambia's proud democratic traditions are not enhanced by such restrictions, nor will they help the country to unite and move forward.”

我们对于赞比亚独立广播局8月22日暂停3家独立媒体机构营业执照之事尤为关切，赞比亚政府此举与选举前限制媒体言论与和平集会自由的前科别无两样。这种约束和管制并不能让赞比亚延续其光辉的民主历史，也不能帮助赞比亚凝聚起来，向前发展。

Zambia's election is over, and judicial authorities have carried out their constitutional duties to rule on the challenge to the election results. The United States Government urges the Government of the Republic of Zambia to work with the Zambian Revenue Authority and the Independent Broadcasting Authority to find a way forward that allows all media outlets to freely report.

赞比亚的选举结束了，司法部门已经开始执行其宪法义务，根据选举结果应对相应挑战。美国政府敦促赞比亚政府与赞比亚税收部门和独立广播局一道，寻求媒体自由言论的出口。

The free flow of information is an essential element of a democracy. The United States calls on all political actors to meet and seek reconciliation in a display of leadership.

信息自由流动是民主的关键因素之一。美国呼吁所有政治行动者寻求折中的解决办法，展现领导风范。