2007年VOA标准英语-Kenya's President Considers Law Limiting Press

By Caroline Sawyer
Nairobi
07 August 2007

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki is reviewing a controversial amendment¹ to the country's media law that, if approved, could send reporters to jail for refusing to reveal their sources. Caroline Sawyer has details from our East Africa office in Nairobi.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, 01 June 2007

Critics say the controversial amendment to Kenya's Media Bill, under review by the president, will not just affect journalists, but it will also mean the war on corruption² is threatened because confidential³ sources will no longer be protected by anonymity⁴.

The Africa director for press watchdog Reporters without Borders, Leonard Vincent, says he believes the proposed amendment will damage much more than Kenya's reputation for having a relatively⁵ free press.

"This is something that is against all democratic principles and all the rules of journalism," said Vincent. "We do not understand this move, this late amendment, and we do not understand why the government let this amendment go because it jeopardizes⁶ all the good things that could have been passed through this bill."

The of tension between Kenya's media and the government has been mounting for the last 18 months. The most dramatic incident occurred in March, 2006, when police raided the offices of Kenya Television Network and the local Standard newspaper, after information was leaked to the media about a secret meeting between President Kibaki and a member of the opposition⁷ party.

Many Kenyans believe this new move by the government is meant to prevent media reports on political deals being made prior to Kenya's general elections, which are scheduled for December.

Leonard Vincent says there are press freedom problems around the world, including in the United States, but this latest move by the Kenyans is a step backwards⁸.

"There is another aspect of the bill that is concerning us, is that there is a provision that says that the journalist who would refuse to comply with the commissions requirement could be fined to fines not exceeding 50,000 shillings or prison terms and this is something that we cannot understand, that a journalist should be sent to prison for refusing to comply with the media council," said Vincent.

President Kibaki, who won a landslide⁹ victory in Kenya's first free democratic elections in 2002, is preparing to run in this year's elections.

Since taking over from former president Daniel arap Moi, President Kibaki has vowed¹⁰ to improve press freedom and human rights as well as fight corruption. He also promised to step down after one term in power. The Kenyan leader has until October to decide whether to sign the new amendment into law or to return it to Parliament.

1 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

2 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

3 confidential   

adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的

参考例句：

• He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。
• We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。

4 anonymity   

n.the condition of being anonymous

参考例句：

• Names of people in the book were changed to preserve anonymity. 为了姓名保密，书中的人用的都是化名。
• Our company promises to preserve the anonymity of all its clients. 我们公司承诺不公开客户的姓名。

5 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

6 jeopardizes   

危及，损害( jeopardize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• If your reckless behavior jeopardizes this mission, you're out! 如果你不注意你的言行，会危及到这次任务你也会被开除！
• Factionalism now seriously jeopardizes our overall interest. 现在闹派性已经严重地妨害我们的大局。

7 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。

8 backwards   

adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地

参考例句：

• He turned on the light and began to pace backwards and forwards.他打开电灯并开始走来走去。
• All the girls fell over backwards to get the party ready.姑娘们迫不及待地为聚会做准备。

9 landslide   

n.(竞选中)压倒多数的选票；一面倒的胜利

参考例句：

• Our candidate is predicated to win by a landslide.我们的候选人被预言将以绝对优势取胜。
• An electoral landslide put the Labour Party into power in 1945.1945年工党以压倒多数的胜利当选执政。

10 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。