2006年VOA标准英语-US Urges Ethiopia to Drop Charges Against

By Kay Maddux
Washington
05 January 2006

A top U.S. diplomat¹ in Ethiopia says the government there should drop treason, genocide and other charges against five Ethiopian-born journalists working for the Voice of America.

The U.S. embassy's charge d'affaires, Vicki Huddleston, told reporters that Ethiopia should have directly discussed with the U.S. government any concerns it had about the work of the five journalists - instead of charging them in court.

The five have been charged in absentia because they are based in Washington. The journalists are Negussie Mengesha, Addisu Abebe, Tizita Belachew, Adanech Fessehaye and Solomon Kifle.

They are among the 129 opposition² leaders, journalists, and aid workers who have also been charged with treason and plotting to overthrow³ Ethiopia's government. The charges were filed in response to the deadly violence that erupted following disputed parliamentary elections in May that kept Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in power.

Some of the charges carry the death penalty.

Ms. Huddleston says the U.S. has banned future sales of military vehicles (Humvees) to Ethiopia because some equipment sold to the government for counter-terrorism operations was used to quell⁴ violent demonstrations⁵ in June and November.

In Washington, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Donald Yamamoto told VOA the United States is deeply engaged in resolving Ethiopia's political tensions, saying he has raised the issue directly with Prime Minister Meles. "We made it very clear we want very open and transparent⁶ trials," he said. "We want representations.  We want access by lawyers and family members - and that is something we have emphasized."

Mr. Yamamoto says the Ethiopian government has assured the United States it will protect human rights and due process of law during the trials.

Scores of anti-government supporters alleging⁷ electoral fraud were shot and killed by security forces during anti-government protests in Ethiopia last year. Mr. Yamamoto described the violence as horrible, but he said the United States has concerns about how the government responded. "We have strong concerns about the violence that has taken place and . . . how that violence was responded to," he said.

Mr. Yamamoto also had a message for the opposition in Ethiopia, where some opposition members of parliament have refused to take up their seats in protest. "We are also asking the opposition, however, that no matter how serious or grave some of things they believe are, with at least 25 top level parliamentarians in jail, we say they need to also focus on what's the future of Ethiopia going to be?" he said. "Are we going to stay and say, 'yes, these are important issues?' We also need to help them focus on other important issues as well. And that is the reform of the political system."

Mr. Yamamoto dismissed allegations that any counter-terrorism relationship the U.S. has with Ethiopia is driving its policy on the election dispute and efforts to promote democracy and good governance.

He repeatedly stressed that all sides - the government and opposition members of parliament - must be involved in the process of reconciliation⁸. Mr. Yamamoto added that ultimately, with a vibrant⁹ opposition and free press, democracy in Ethiopia will be greatly enhanced.

1 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

2 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。

3 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

4 quell   

v.压制，平息，减轻

参考例句：

• Soldiers were sent in to quell the riots.士兵们被派去平息骚乱。
• The armed force had to be called out to quell violence.不得不出动军队来镇压暴力行动。

5 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。

6 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

7 alleging   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• His reputation was blemished by a newspaper article alleging he'd evaded his taxes. 由于报上一篇文章声称他曾逃税，他的名誉受到损害。
• This our Peeress declined as unnecessary, alleging that her cousin Thornhill's recommendation would be sufficient. 那位贵人不肯，还说不必，只要有她老表唐希尔保荐就够了。

8 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

9 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。