VOA慢速英语2015--叛逃者的折衷故事滥用朝鲜提出问题

 

AS IT IS 2015-01-24 Defector's Story Raised Questions on Report of Abuse in North Korea 叛逃者的折衷故事滥用朝鲜提出问题

Recent comments of a man who fled North Korea are raising questions about the U.N. report on human rights abuses in the country. The man gave information to U.N. investigators¹. He has now admitted that parts of what he told them about his life in North Korean prison camps were untrue.

U.N. officials say even though the man’s story is not completely true, it does not mean the results of the investigation² should be disputed.

The man's story demonstrates the difficulty of confirming information in one of the world’s most secretive countries.

Shin Dong-hyuk was one of many people who gave evidence to the U.N. Commission of Inquiry³ into North Korea. His statements helped document a system of political prisons in North Korea and abuses that include murder, enslavement and torture.

But his recent admission that parts of his story are untrue has led North Korea to raise questions about the Commission’s report. North Korea’s state-operated news agency said “the admission of his lies goes to prove that everything told by those who claim to be ‘defectors from the North’ cannot be trusted.”

The Commission’s chairman has said the man’s misleading statements do not damage the report’s believability. The chairman noted⁴ the report includes evidence from hundreds of witnesses.

Ahn Chan-il also defends the report. He fled North Korea. He is now president of the World Institute of North Korea Studies.

He says human rights violations⁵ are continuing in North Korea. He says the violations are 10 or even 100 times worse than what Shin Dong-hyuk and other defectors have reported.

Shin Dong-hyuk says the important details of his torture in North Korean camps are true. He says he was hung over a fire and did witness the execution of his mother and brother. But he admits he misled investigators about some dates and other details. He failed to say that he had escaped two times to China, where he was caught and returned to North Korea. He also falsely said he was tortured for escaping at the age of 13. He was 20 when the torture happened.

Choi Yong-sang works at the Network for Democracy and Human Rights in North Korea. He says it can be difficult at times to convince defectors to give complete and truthful⁶ reports about their experiences. Some may withhold⁷ details to protect family members in the North. Others may repress painful memories. And, he says, some may overstate their stories, especially if they are being paid to talk to the media.

He says the media often reports on defectors who tell more sensational⁸ and interesting stories. He says such stories are directly connected to money.

North Korea greatly restricts visitor travel and communication in the country. Outside groups have to depend on those who escaped to confirm reports of abuse.

Rights groups say even though Shin Dong-hyuk’s story has proven not to be completely true, there is still evidence to support the U.N. Commission’s decision to urge the International Criminal Court to consider the issue of human rights in North Korea.

Words in This Story

overstate – v. to say that (something) is larger or greater than it really is

sensational – adj. causing very great excitement or interest with shocking details

1 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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。

3 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

4 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。

5 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

6 truthful   

adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的

参考例句：

• You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心，他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
• I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。

7 withhold   

v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡

参考例句：

• It was unscrupulous of their lawyer to withhold evidence.他们的律师隐瞒证据是不道德的。
• I couldn't withhold giving some loose to my indignation.我忍不住要发泄一点我的愤怒。

8 sensational   

adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的

参考例句：

• Papers of this kind are full of sensational news reports.这类报纸满是耸人听闻的新闻报道。
• Their performance was sensational.他们的演出妙极了。