VOA标准英语2009-Late Sri Lankan Journalist Wins World Press Free

Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge has been posthumously¹ awarded the World Press Freedom Prize. At conference in the Gulf² state, Qatar, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization emphasized the need for journalists to be able to work in an environment free of intimidation³.
　
Elderly Sri Lankan women hold photograph of the Sunday Leader newspaper editor Lasantha Wickrematunge during his funeral procession in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 12 Jan 2009

Natali Samarasinghe accepted the World Press Freedom award on behalf of her uncle, Lasantha Wickrematunge. The Sri Lankan journalist was an open critic of government military action. He was assassinated⁴ in January.

He knew his work put him at risk and went so far as to write an editorial to be published if he was murdered. In it, he said it was his conscience would not let him stop working. In accepting the award, his niece read a note from his widow, who was unable to attend.

"By recognizing his life and his work as you have done today, you send an important message to tyrants⁵ everywhere that killing⁶ the messenger is not the solution," she said. "The human spirit cannot be subdued⁷ by violence, not even by murder and so it is even in death Lasantha's name draws more hits on Google than the prime minister of Sri Lanka."

Hajar Smouni is with the Doha Center for Media Freedom. She says she hopes award will help improve reporting in Sri Lanka.

"It is important to recognize these local heroes, because he was a hero in his own manner," she said. "It is important for his family, for his colleagues but also freedom of the press in Sri Lanka."

The UNESCO World Press Freedom conference was held in Qatar, the first time in an Arab country. The event discussed the dangers journalists face in their field. According to UNESCO, more than a thousand journalists were killed in the line of duty, in the past decade. And, 95 percent of the crimes against journalists are not resolved. Tunisian journalist Sihem Bensedrin says she, has been beaten, tortured and imprisoned⁸, but says violence is not the greatest threat to reporters.

She says the greatest danger for journalists is not being able to work. She says to be informed is as important as eating -- fundamental right that she says she will defend with her life.

She says killing journalists is the worst form of censorship and she hopes the UNESCO Press Freedom prize will not only highlight the murder of Wickrematunge but also promote a culture of protection for the media.

1 posthumously   

adv.于死后，于身后；于著作者死后出版地

参考例句：

• He was confirmed posthumously as a member of the Chinese Communist Party. 他被追认为中国共产党党员。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Her last book was published posthumously in 1948. 她最后的一本书在她死后于1948 年出版了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

3 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

4 assassinated   

v.暗杀( assassinate的过去式和过去分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏

参考例句：

• The prime minister was assassinated by extremists. 首相遭极端分子暗杀。
• Then, just two days later, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. 跟着在两天以后，肯尼迪总统在达拉斯被人暗杀。 来自辞典例句

5 tyrants   

专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物

参考例句：

• The country was ruled by a succession of tyrants. 这个国家接连遭受暴君的统治。
• The people suffered under foreign tyrants. 人民在异族暴君的统治下受苦受难。

6 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

7 subdued   

adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。
• I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候，我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。

8 imprisoned   

下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was imprisoned for two concurrent terms of 30 months and 18 months. 他被判处30个月和18个月的监禁，合并执行。
• They were imprisoned for possession of drugs. 他们因拥有毒品而被监禁。