VOA标准英语2009年-Honduras Shuts Down Broadcasters, Some Con

By Brian Wagner
Tegucigalpa
29 September 2009

The interim¹ government in Honduras has closed two news broadcasters and suspended some constitutional rights in response to the country's ongoing² political crisis. In Tegucigal, officials say they are concerned that supporters of ousted³ President Manuel Zelaya, who has taken refuge in the Brazilian embassy, might seek to destabilize the country.

 
Soldiers, police officers stand guard outside Globo radio station after its closure in Tegucigalpa, 28 Sep 2009 
Honduran security forces shut down Cholusat TV and Globo radio after conducting raids on their offices in Tegucigalpa early Monday. The interim government says the stations are closely tied to ousted President Zelaya and accused them of seeking to provoke rebellion and unrest.

Globo radio's Internet Web site posted a recording⁴ of its final moments on the air.

The announcer said police were trying to take the station off the air in what he called an "attack" on the office.

The interim government also announced a ban on what it called press reports that threaten law and order in the country. The measure is part of a decree that suspends for 45 days some constitutional rights of Hondurans. Unauthorized meetings are banned. And authorities are allowed to conduct arrests without warrants.

Honduran lawmakers called on interim President Roberto Micheletti to reconsider the order. Mr. Micheletti met with several top lawmakers late Monday, including Antonio Rivera Callejas of the National Party.

Callejas said some lawmakers disagree with the limits on personal freedoms, especially because the move might taint⁵ the presidential elections scheduled for November.

Congress has the power to approve, modify or reject the president's order. But lawmakers say they have not yet received the appropriate legislation.

In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley expressed concern that limits on personal freedoms are hurting the Honduran people and the upcoming vote.

"We have said clearly to the de facto regime that because of the environment on the ground, we will not recognize the election as free and fair under the current circumstances," Crowley said.

Interim President Micheletti said he will consult with the nation's Supreme⁶ Court about possibly reversing the order on constitutional freedoms before the 45-day period expires. The de facto leader says his main concern is maintaining peace, amid calls from Mr. Zelaya's supporters to hold mass protests aimed at forcing the government out of power.

Mr. Micheletti said the decree will be reversed when officials are confident that conditions will remain peaceful, and that all presidential candidates and voters can take part in the elections.

The interim president has called on Brazil to resolve Mr. Zelaya's status. The ousted president took refuge in the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa after secretly returning to the country last week. Mr. Zelaya says the interim government should step aside and allow him to complete his remaining months in office. Mr. Zelaya faces 18 criminal charges, since he was removed from office and flown out of the country in June.

1 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

2 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

3 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

4 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

5 taint   

n.污点；感染；腐坏；v.使感染；污染

参考例句：

• Everything possible should be done to free them from the economic taint.应尽可能把他们从经济的腐蚀中解脱出来。
• Moral taint has spread among young people.道德的败坏在年轻人之间蔓延。

6 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。