2007年VOA标准英语-Journalists Demonstrate at Gaza Border for Rele

By Jim Teeple
Jerusalem
25 April 2007

Foreign and Palestinian journalists demonstrated on both sides of the Israel-Gaza border Wednesday calling for the release of BBC Gaza Correspondent Alan Johnston, kidnapped more than six weeks ago. VOA's Jim Teeple has details from our Jerusalem bureau.

Alan Johnston's colleagues called for his release on Wednesday, 45 days after he was abducted¹ by gunmen in the Gaza Strip. More than 100 members of the Foreign Press Association traveled to the Erez Crossing on the Israel-Gaza border for the demonstration².

Palestinian journalist hold posters of kidnapped BBC correspondent Alan Johnston during a protest calling for his release, 25 Apr 2007

Dozens of Palestinian journalists held a similar demonstration on the other side of the crossing.

FPA chairman Simon McGregor-Wood noted³ that since Johnston's kidnapping most foreign journalists have avoided Gaza.

"This place is as far as many of us feel safe to go since Alan's abduction. We need to go to Gaza," he said.  "We need to be able to cover this important story, to understand what's going on and to tell people's stories. We need the kidnappings to stop."

Alan Johnston was the only foreign correspondent permanently⁴ based in the Gaza Strip. He was kidnapped just days before his three-year posting was scheduled to end. Nothing has been heard from him since, and fears have been raised about his safety.

Last week, an unknown Palestinian militant⁵ group said Johnston was killed because Israel refused to release Palestinian prisoners. Just a few days ago, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he had good information that Johnston is alive and well, but he gave no indication about when he might be released.

Media reports say Johnston is being held by a large Gaza clan⁶ said to be involved in smuggling⁷ and other criminal activities.

Jonathan Miller⁸, the BBC's deputy head of newsgathering, appealed again on Wednesday to those holding Johnston to release him, saying his colleague has paid a heavy price for trying to bring the Palestinian story to the rest of the world.

"And we make a plea directly to those who are holding Alan, to set him free," he said. "His only offense⁹ was to expose himself to personal danger of because of a strong desire to bring the story of Gaza to the outside world. He has paid a heavy and undeserved price for his commitment. He has suffered enough. Let him go."

More than a dozen foreign journalists and aid workers have been kidnapped in Gaza in recent months, although nearly all have been released after being held for only a short period of time.

1 abducted   

劫持，诱拐( abduct的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（肢体等）外展

参考例句：

• Detectives have not ruled out the possibility that she was abducted. 侦探尚未排除她被绑架的可能性。
• The kid was abducted at the gate of kindergarten. 那小孩在幼儿园大门口被绑架走了。

2 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

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 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

5 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

6 clan   

n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派

参考例句：

• She ranks as my junior in the clan.她的辈分比我小。
• The Chinese Christians,therefore,practically excommunicate themselves from their own clan.所以，中国的基督徒简直是被逐出了自己的家族了。

7 smuggling   

n.走私

参考例句：

• Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
• The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。

8 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

9 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。