2006年VOA标准英语-International Red Cross Committee Chief Critici

By Carolyn Weaver¹
Washington, DC
20 October 2006 

The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross says the group has concerns about a new American law for the treatment and trials of detainees in the war on terror.  Despite noting some positive steps, he made it clear the ICRC is not satisfied that detainees in U.S. custody² are being accorded all the minimum protections guaranteed by international law.

 
Jakob Kellenberger
Jakob Kellenberger is president of the 80-year-old International Committee of the Red Cross, a neutral organization that works to protect civilians³, and that also takes impartial⁴ action for prisoners. He told an audience at Washington’s Georgetown University that the Geneva Conventions set minimum, universal standards for the treatment of detainees, including those captured in the global war on terror.

"Internees must, among other things, be informed of the reasons for their detention⁵, and a procedure provided for them to effectively challenge it,” Kellenberger said. “The reasons for detention need to be evaluated by an independent and impartial body with the authority to order release if the reasons for internment⁶ no longer exist. Other requirements of humane⁷ treatment, such as contacts with family members, must also be implemented⁸.  In no case may persons be held in unacknowledged detention."

 
U.S. officials have said that following the recent transfer of 14 high-profile terrorism suspects to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, there are no longer any detainees being held in secret CIA prisons. The ICRC was allowed to visit those 14 prisoners at Guantanamo last week. They are being held with about 435 others, most of them deemed unlawful enemy combatants. But Kellenberger said the ICRC has concerns about a new U.S. law, which sets out procedures for the treatment and trial of terror suspects. President Bush said it will be used to put on trial those who planned the September 11 attacks, and also those responsible for the attack on the USS Cole six years ago.

"This nation will call evil by its name, we will answer brutal⁹ murder with patient justice,” he said at a signing ceremony at the White House. “Those who kill the innocent will be held to account.”

But ICRC chief Kellenberger noted¹⁰ the new law will not grant trials to the vast majority of Guantanamo detainee who have not been charged, and who will have no right to challenge their detention in a court of law. He said the fate of those prisoners, and the procedures for defining unlawful combatants, remain unclear. 

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Defense¹¹ released several detainees this week to other countries. About 110 detainees out of the remaining 435 are also eligible¹² for transfer or release, according to defense officials, pending¹³ negotiations¹⁴ with the countries that would receive them.

1 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。

2 custody   

n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留

参考例句：

• He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
• He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。

3 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

4 impartial   

adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的

参考例句：

• He gave an impartial view of the state of affairs in Ireland.他对爱尔兰的事态发表了公正的看法。
• Careers officers offer impartial advice to all pupils.就业指导员向所有学生提供公正无私的建议。

5 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

6 internment   

n.拘留

参考例句：

• Certainly the recent attacks against the internment camps are evidence enough. 很明显，最近营地遭受到的攻击就是一个足好的证明。 来自互联网
• The chapters on the internment are Both readaBle and well researched. 这些关于拘留的章节不仅具可读性而且研究得很透彻。 来自互联网

7 humane   

adj.人道的，富有同情心的

参考例句：

• Is it humane to kill animals for food?宰杀牲畜来吃合乎人道吗？
• Their aim is for a more just and humane society.他们的目标是建立一个更加公正、博爱的社会。

8 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

9 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

10 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。

11 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

12 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

13 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

14 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。