VOA常速英语2017--美国反对马杜罗政府设置制宪大会

Since President Donald Trump¹ took office, he has made clear that the United States stands with the people of Venezuela in their fight for democratic governance, human rights, and the rule of law in the face of efforts by the regime of President Nicolas Maduro to undermine them.

自特朗普总统任职以来，他就已明确表示，美国支持委内瑞拉人民为民主治理、人权、法治而战，对抗委内瑞拉总统古拉斯 马杜罗(Nicolas Maduro)政权企图破坏这一切的勾当。

In February, the U.S. designated the executive vice² president of Venezuela Tareck El Aissami for his well-established narcotics³ trafficking, as well as on his primary front man Samark Jose Lopez Bello.

今年2月份，美国指定委内瑞拉副总统塔雷克 埃尔 艾萨米(Tareck El Aissami)为毒枭，因其与其主要代理人贝罗(Jose Lopez Bello)从事的毒品走私交易已得到确认。

In May, the U.S. sanctioned eight members of Venezuela's Supreme⁴ Court of Justice after they attempted to usurp⁵ the powers of the democratically elected National Assembly, a stronghold of the political opposition⁶ to President Maduro.

5月份，美国制裁了委内瑞拉最高法院的8名成员，因为他们企图篡夺经过民主方式选举产生的国民大会的权力，而国民大会正是总统马杜罗政敌的一个据点。

On July 26, the United States announced new designations of thirteen other individuals, current and former officials of the government, who are associated with political, economic and social crises currently unfolding in Venezuela.

7月26日，美国再次宣布指定另外13名个人、委内瑞拉政府现任以及往任官员，这些人都与委内瑞拉正在遭遇的政治、经济和社会危机有关。

On July 31, the United States announced the designation of President Maduro. Maduro has been directly responsible for Venezuela's descent and for the destruction of democracy. Adding Maduro to OFAC's list of Specially⁷ Designated Nationals reflects our commitment to not stand by idly as Venezuela continues to crumble⁸ under the regime's abuses.

7月31日，美国宣布指定马杜罗总统。马杜罗与委内瑞拉的衰退和民主的破坏有直接关系。将马杜罗添加进美国财政部海外资产控制办公室的特别指定国民名单反映出我们不会袖手旁观的承诺，不会任凭委内瑞拉继续在马杜罗的暴行之下艰难生存。

Nations from across the region and the globe have publically condemned⁹ his government's actions, including calling for an end to the Constituent¹⁰ Assembly process, violence against protestors, and for national dialogue.

该地区和全球的一些国家都曾公开谴责过马杜罗政府的行径，包括结束制宪大会进程以及对抗议示威者的暴力行径，同时呼吁国家层面的对话。

For months the Venezuelan people have taken to the streets to protest the erosion of democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and prosperity in their country. The government has responded with repression¹¹ and violence. The Venezuelan opposition estimates that up to 15,000 civilians¹² have been wounded and some 100 killed, with more than 3,000 arrested and over 400 political prisoners in detention¹³ without a fair trial.

几个月以来，委内瑞拉人民走上街头抗议自己的祖国多个方面腐化不堪：民主、人权、法治，繁荣也遭到了侵蚀。委内瑞拉政府却以暴力压制作为应对的方式。据委内瑞拉反对派估计，有多达1.5万名平民受伤，近100人被杀，3000多人北部，400多人沦为政治犯，没有经过公正的审讯就受到了关押。

Each of the recently sanctioned individuals has been associated with either corruption¹⁴, rampant¹⁵ violence against opposition protesters, human rights abuses, or the erosion of democratic governance in Venezuela.

最近制裁的这些人中，每个人都与贪污、残暴镇压反对派示威者、践踏人权亦或委内瑞拉的民主治理有关。

In a statement, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley noted¹⁶ that the U.S. made a promise to the Venezuelan people to not stand by and watch the Maduro regime continue to brutalize its citizens and destroy their democracy. We keep that promise through sanctions on individuals associated with corruption and violence against the Venezuelan people, said Ambassador Haley. We will keep all options on the table... and continue to have the backs of the Venezuelan people as they fight to save their once prosperous democracy.

在一份声明中，美国驻联合国大使妮基 海利表示，美国已向委内瑞拉人民承诺，不会袖手旁观，不会任凭马杜罗政权继续残忍对待委内瑞拉人民并破坏民主。我们坚守着这一承诺，方式是制裁那些与针对委内瑞拉人民的腐败和暴力有关的个人，妮基 海利如是说道。我们会开诚布公……并继续支持委内瑞拉人民为挽救曾经辉煌的民主文明而战。

1 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 narcotics   

n.麻醉药( narcotic的名词复数 )；毒品；毒

参考例句：

• The use of narcotics by teenagers is a problem in many countries. 青少年服用麻醉药在许多国家中都是一个问题。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Police shook down the club, looking for narcotics. 警方彻底搜查了这个俱乐部，寻找麻醉品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

5 usurp   

vt.篡夺，霸占；vi.篡位

参考例句：

• Their position enabled them to usurp power.他们所处的地位使其得以篡权。
• You must not allow it to usurp a disproportionate share of your interest.你不应让它过多地占据你的兴趣。

6 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。

7 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

8 crumble   

vi.碎裂，崩溃；vt.弄碎，摧毁

参考例句：

• Opposition more or less crumbled away.反对势力差不多都瓦解了。
• Even if the seas go dry and rocks crumble,my will will remain firm.纵然海枯石烂，意志永不动摇。

9 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

10 constituent   

n.选民；成分，组分；adj.组成的，构成的

参考例句：

• Sugar is the main constituent of candy.食糖是糖果的主要成分。
• Fibre is a natural constituent of a healthy diet.纤维是健康饮食的天然组成部分。

11 repression   

n.镇压，抑制，抑压

参考例句：

• The repression of your true feelings is harmful to your health.压抑你的真实感情有害健康。
• This touched off a new storm against violent repression.这引起了反对暴力镇压的新风暴。

12 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。

13 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。

14 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。

15 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

16 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。