VOA标准英语2010年-Survey: Africa 'Bleakest' in Freedom

African Union Official Hopes for a More Peaceful and Democratic Continent in 2010
The U.S. human rights monitoring group Freedom House says Africa ranks as the "bleakest²" region in a bleak¹ year in terms of political rights and civil liberties in 2009.  But positive developments did take place in one country, often cited as among the world's least free.

Freedom House Research Director Arch Puddington says Africa fared very poorly in its latest survey.

"This past year, the year 2009, Africa declined more than any other region in the world.  There were a total of 16 countries in Africa that showed declines and the number of improvements was considerably³ smaller than that," he said.

Coups⁴, constitutional changes to extend presidential terms, repression⁵, poor governance and a lack of the rule of law marked many parts of Africa last year.

A 02 Oct 2009 file photo showing people viewing bodies of family members and friends put on display days after security forces opened fire on pro-democracy protesters at a Sept. 28 rally in Conakry, Guinea

Puddington says the data Freedom House collected is worrisome because erosions of freedom were recorded in what had been reform-minded countries such as Lesotho, Botswana and Mozambique, and regional heavyweights like Nigeria and Kenya as well as in some of the lowest ranked countries like Guinea, Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Despite massive United Nations and international foreign assistance, Puddington says the Democratic Republic of Congo remains⁶ in very bad shape in terms of freedom.

"We have seen very little evidence of improvement there.  This past year, there were many threats against journalists.  There were threats against opposition⁷ political candidates.  We did not see things moving in the right direction," he said.

According to Puddington, a rare spot of improvement was often-derided Zimbabwe.

"This past year, we did see evidence of improvement.  We saw the coalition⁸ government," said Puddington   "It is not terribly successful, but there have been some positive developments.  There is less violence.  There is less violence against the political opposition.  You have got a sitting parliament now that is dominated by the political opposition.  You have got Morgan Tsvangirai as the number two man in the government.  So all these things do lead to improvements in their political rights situation and we hope they can build on those in the future."

But Puddington cautions that Zimbabwe remains one of the world's most repressive countries. And according to the Freedom House survey, it has more company on the African continent than in recent years.

 

1 bleak   

adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的

参考例句：

• They showed me into a bleak waiting room.他们引我来到一间阴冷的会客室。
• The company's prospects look pretty bleak.这家公司的前景异常暗淡。

2 bleakest   

阴冷的( bleak的最高级 )； （状况）无望的； 没有希望的； 光秃的

参考例句：

• This is the bleakest novel I've ever read. 这是我读过的小说中最乏味的一本。
• Relax! When things appear at their bleakest. 放松！当情况显得凄凉的时候。

3 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

4 coups   

n.意外而成功的行动( coup的名词复数 )；政变；努力办到难办的事

参考例句：

• China has seen many political coups within the ruling class. 中国统治阶级内部发生过很多政变。 来自互联网
• Thailand has had eighteen coups or coup attendance since nineteen thirty-two. 泰国1932年以来有18次政变或参加政变。 来自互联网

5 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。

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

7 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。

8 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。