2007年VOA标准英语-Venezuela to Launch TV Channel, Replacing Priva

By Brian Wagner
Caracas
27 May 2007

Supporters of television station Radio Caracas Television, RCTV, protest in Caracas, 26 May 2007

Venezuelan officials are readying to launch a new television station that will replace the nation's oldest private broadcaster. In Caracas, VOA's Brian Wagner reports officials have ordered the private channel off the air over allegations of backing a 2002 coup¹.

Pro-government supporters and community groups began erecting² stages and audiovisual equipment early Sunday across Caracas to celebrate the launch of the new state-backed TV channel. Organizers hung banners that hailed the creation of Venezuelan Social Television, and said President Hugo Chavez guarantees the freedom of expression.

Officials say Venezuelan Social Television is to begin broadcasting at midnight, using the same frequency occupied by Radio Caracas Television, the nation's oldest private station.

Saturday, tens of thousands of RCTV supporters marched to the private station's headquarters to condemn³ what they see as a government attempt to silence opposition⁴ views.

Government officials say the decision not to renew RCTV's license⁵ is fully⁶ backed by the constitution and laws on social responsibility for media outlets⁷ in the country. They also say the new channel will help democratize the media and enhance the freedom of speech.

The director of social responsibility laws for the Communications Ministry⁸, Maria Alejandra Diaz, chastised⁹ some unnamed media outlets for suggesting the decision against RCTV was unlawful.

Diaz says journalists and broadcasters have a social responsibility to avoid calls to crime, hate, and discrimination.

Scores of police and military troops are stationed across the Venezuelan capital to guard against possible disturbances¹⁰.

A delegation¹¹ from the U.S.-based Inter-American Press Society traveled to Caracas this weekend to express the group's concerns about the decision against RCTV. The chair of the group's press freedom committee, Gonzalo Marroquin, said many voices in Venezuela are being excluded.

Marroquin says the media environment should embrace diversity and different opinions in order to strengthen democracy. He also expressed disappointment that President Chavez has refused to listen to appeals in the case.

RCTV has rejected government allegations that it backed a 2002 coup against President Chavez. Executives for the station have filed legal challenges to the government's decision and have vowed¹² to continue fighting the shut down after 53 years on the air.

1 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

2 erecting   

v.使直立，竖起( erect的现在分词 )；建立

参考例句：

• Nations can restrict their foreign trade by erecting barriers to exports as well as imports. 象设置进口壁垒那样，各国可以通过设置出口壁垒来限制对外贸易。 来自辞典例句
• Could you tell me the specific lift-slab procedure for erecting buildings? 能否告之用升板法安装楼房的具体程序？ 来自互联网

3 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

6 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

7 outlets   

n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店

参考例句：

• The dumping of foreign cotton blocked outlets for locally grown cotton. 外国棉花的倾销阻滞了当地生产的棉花的销路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They must find outlets for their products. 他们必须为自己的产品寻找出路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

9 chastised   

v.严惩（某人）（尤指责打）( chastise的过去式 )

参考例句：

• He chastised the team for their lack of commitment. 他指责队伍未竭尽全力。
• The Securities Commission chastised the firm but imposed no fine. 证券委员会严厉批评了那家公司，不过没有处以罚款。 来自辞典例句

10 disturbances   

n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍

参考例句：

• The government has set up a commission of inquiry into the disturbances at the prison. 政府成立了一个委员会来调查监狱骚乱事件。
• Extra police were called in to quell the disturbances. 已调集了增援警力来平定骚乱。

11 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

12 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。