VOA标准英语2009年-New Law Tightens Press Freedom in Togo

By Ricci Shryock
Dakar
09 November 2009

 Legislation recently passed in Togo gives the government power to seize equipment, suspend and even organize hearings against media professionals that make what it deems "serious errors". Media rights activists¹ say this is an attempt to stifle² press freedom before next year's presidential elections. 

The Togolese government has passed a new law, which media rights advocates say threatens the freedom of journalists. The Africa Director for the International Federation³ of Journalists, Gabriel Baglo, says Togo's state-operated commission, the High Authority of Audio-visual and Communication, now has too much power to muzzle⁴ journalists.

"This media commission, at any time they think that the media outlet⁵ or the media organization have breached⁶ any, or have committed any libel, they can just withdraw the license⁷ without even giving it to the courts. Because normally it should be a court decision," Baglo said.

According to the International Federation of Journalists, after the High Authority makes a public injunction against a news organization, they can then proceed to seize the organization's equipment as well as suspend the publication for six months.

Baglo says he thinks this is a way to stifle freedom of expression before the country's upcoming presidential elections

"Having this kind of law at the, some months before the elections, for us is a way of muzzling⁸ the media," Baglo said.

Baglo adds the International Federation of Journalists has called for Togo's government to change the law before the elections that are scheduled for March, 2010.

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 stifle   

vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止

参考例句：

• She tried hard to stifle her laughter.她强忍住笑。
• It was an uninteresting conversation and I had to stifle a yawn.那是一次枯燥无味的交谈，我不得不强忍住自己的呵欠。

3 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

4 muzzle   

n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默

参考例句：

• He placed the muzzle of the pistol between his teeth.他把手枪的枪口放在牙齿中间。
• The President wanted to muzzle the press.总统企图遏制新闻自由。

5 outlet   

n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄

参考例句：

• The outlet of a water pipe was blocked.水管的出水口堵住了。
• Running is a good outlet for his energy.跑步是他发泄过剩精力的好方法。

6 breached   

攻破( breach的现在分词 )； 破坏，违反

参考例句：

• These commitments have already been breached. 这些承诺已遭背弃。
• Our tanks have breached the enemy defences. 我方坦克车突破了敌人的防线。

7 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

8 muzzling   

给（狗等）戴口套( muzzle的现在分词 )； 使缄默，钳制…言论

参考例句：

• They accused the government of muzzling the press. 他们指责政府压制新闻自由。