VOA标准英语2009-Indonesia Deports Greenpeace Activists, Jour

By Brian Padden
Jakarta
18 November 2009

 
In Indonesia, foreign activists² with the environmental group Greenpeace and two foreign journalists are being deported³. The activists were involved in conservation efforts and protests to publicize the environmental damage caused by deforestation. The Indonesian government says they misused⁵ their visas.

Tom Keunen, a Belgian activist¹ with the environmental group Greenpeace, says the Indonesian police who detained him at first accused him of being a spy. They also kept changing the name of the department they represent.

"The first time I met them, they were from immigration," Keunen said. "The second time I met them, they presented themselves as secret service. The third time I met them, they presented themselves as some other police. And yesterday, finally it came out that they are actually reconnaissance intelligence from the Jakarta national police."

Keunen is one of two Greenpeace activists and two journalists being deported from Indonesia. In October the environmental group brought activists from a around the world to the island of Sumatra to publicize how clearing forests may contribute to global warming. They also built a dam to help restore an area affected⁶ by deforestation and they invited journalists to see how logging companies clear vast sections of land.

But the activists got into trouble when they demonstrated against companies they say cause significant environmental damage. Foreign Ministry⁷ spokesman Teuku Faizasyah says they violated the terms of their visas.

"We were informed that some foreign nationals were deported because they conducted activities which are contrary to their obtained visa, which is a misuse⁴ of visa," Faizasyah explained. "They are supposedly involved in a business activity or as a tourist, but they are involved in political activities."

The two journalists, one from India and one from Italy, were picked up by police while looking at a recently cleared forest. Faizasyah says they are being deported because they failed to declare their true purpose when applying for their visas.

Nur Hidayati, the Indonesia Greenpeace country representative, says the organization was involved in demonstrations⁸. But she says, deporting⁹ activists and journalists on these technicalities brings more attention to their cause and depicts¹⁰ the government of Indonesia as undemocratic.

"Legal does not always mean good," Hidayati noted¹¹. "When the law does not open up the opportunity of civilians¹² to show freedom of expression, it is only showing more repression¹³ and it is going to be a bad image for the Indonesian government."

Because of the burning of its forests, climate experts say Indonesia is the third largest emitter of CO2, a greenhouse gas that many scientists think accelerates global warming. Faizasyah says the government recognizes the problem and is working to save its forests.
 
"We are all concerned with the environmental issue," Faizasyah admitted. "The government is also very active these days to insure we are limiting deforestation. We are very much in line with the interests of global international campaigns."

But he says Greenpeace and other foreign environmental activists must work within the law.

1 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

2 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》

3 deported   

v.将…驱逐出境( deport的过去式和过去分词 )；举止

参考例句：

• They stripped me of my citizenship and deported me. 他们剥夺我的公民资格，将我驱逐出境。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The convicts were deported to a deserted island. 罪犯们被流放到一个荒岛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 misuse   

n.误用，滥用；vt.误用，滥用

参考例句：

• It disturbs me profoundly that you so misuse your talents.你如此滥用自己的才能，使我深感不安。
• He was sacked for computer misuse.他因滥用计算机而被解雇了。

5 misused   

v.使用…不当( misuse的过去式和过去分词 )；把…派作不正当的用途；虐待；滥用

参考例句：

• He misused his dog shamefully. 他可耻地虐待自己的狗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had grossly misused his power. 他严重滥用职权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

7 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

8 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。

9 deporting   

v.将…驱逐出境( deport的现在分词 )；举止

参考例句：

10 depicts   

描绘，描画( depict的第三人称单数 )； 描述

参考例句：

• The book vividly depicts French society of the 1930s. 这本书生动地描绘了20 世纪30 年代的法国社会。
• He depicts the sordid and vulgar sides of life exclusively. 他只描写人生肮脏和庸俗的一面。

11 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。

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 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。