U.S. strongly condemns attack on Maldivian journalists

 　　COLOMBO, Feb. 24 ((Xinhua) -- The United States on Sunday strongly condemned² the attacks on Maldivian media personnel after three journalists were attacked in capital Male on Friday, officials said.

　　The U.S. Embassy in Colombo, in a statement said that they urged all Maldivians to refrain from violence, and urged protesters and police to respect the right of all media outlets³ who cover demonstrations⁴ or other public events.

　　"Freedom of expression is a fundamental democratic right, and we strongly condemn¹ these attacks," the embassy said.

　　Three journalists were attacked in Male on Friday night and one of them is said to be in critical condition, the Maldivian Journalists Association said.

　　Raajje TV journalist Ibrahim Waheed was attacked near' Artificial Beach'with an iron rod by an unidentified man.

　　He received serious head injuries and was flown to Sri Lanka on Saturday for urgent medical treatment after he was attacked in the Maldivian capital, officials added.

　　Meanwhile, the Maldives media reported that during an opposition⁵ Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) protest on Friday night, two State television journalists who were covering the protest were also injured when a packet filled with paint thinner was thrown at them from the crowd.

　　Both journalists received serious body and facial injuries.

　　Hours after the attack, President Mohammed Hassan Waheed condemned the attacks saying that there was no justification⁶ for brutal⁷ acts of terror.

　　Former Maldivian President Mohammed Nasheed, who left the Indian High Commission on Saturday after seeking asylum⁸ inside the premises⁹ for 11 days, also strongly condemned the attacks and called upon the authorities to conduct a "swift and thorough investigation¹⁰" to bring the perpetrators to justice, regardless of their political affiliation¹¹.

1 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。

2 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。

3 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》

4 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

5 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。

6 justification   

n.正当的理由；辩解的理由

参考例句：

• There's no justification for dividing the company into smaller units. 没有理由把公司划分成小单位。
• In the young there is a justification for this feeling. 在年轻人中有这种感觉是有理由的。

7 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。

8 asylum   

n.避难所，庇护所，避难

参考例句：

• The people ask for political asylum.人们请求政治避难。
• Having sought asylum in the West for many years,they were eventually granted it.他们最终获得了在西方寻求多年的避难权。

9 premises   

n.建筑物，房屋

参考例句：

• According to the rules,no alcohol can be consumed on the premises.按照规定，场内不准饮酒。
• All repairs are done on the premises and not put out.全部修缮都在家里进行，不用送到外面去做。

10 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

11 affiliation   

n.联系，联合

参考例句：

• There is no affiliation between our organization and theirs,even though our names are similar.尽管两个组织的名称相似，但我们之间并没有关系。
• The kidnappers had no affiliation with any militant group.这些绑架者与任何军事组织都没有紧密联系。