VOA标准英语2018--美国制裁尼加拉瓜官员

U.S. Sanctions Nicaraguan Officials

The United States has imposed sanctions on three Nicaraguan individuals with connections to the government who are involved in serious human rights abuses and corruption¹. The actions were taken in connection with the ongoing² crisis in Nicaragua, including the horrific violence perpetrated by security forces against demonstrators.

Protests against the government of President Daniel Ortega have been taking place since April 18. According to the U.S. Treasury³ Department, the violent response by the government has resulted in the death of at least 220 demonstrators, and injuries to nearly 1500. It also included “beating of journalists, attacks against local TV and radio stations, and assaults on mothers mourning the deaths of their children.”

The three designated individuals are Nicaraguan National Police Commissioner⁴ Francisco Javier Diaz Madriz; Fidel Antonio Moreno Briones, who serves as the main link between municipal governments and the Sandinista National Liberation Front, known as the FSLN; and Jose Francisco Lopez Centeno, president of the state-owned oil company Petronic and vice-president of ALBANISA, a private company that imports Venezuelan petroleum⁵ products. He also serves as Treasurer⁶ of the Ruling FSLN party.

U.S. Under Secretary of Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Sigal Mandelker said in a statement that “President Ortega and his inner circle continue to violate basic freedoms of innocent civilians⁷ while ignoring the Nicaraguan people's calls for the democratic reforms they demand, including free, fair, and transparent⁸ elections.”

The U.S. sanctions, she declared “are part of the U.S.'s ongoing campaign under the Global Magnitsky program to hold individuals who engage in human rights abuses and corruption to account.” The sanctions mean that any property or assets these individuals hold in the United States are blocked, and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

In a separate statement, State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said that the sanctions show “the United States will expose and hold accountable those responsible for the Nicaraguan government's ongoing violence and intimidation⁹ campaign against its people. These actions must end.”

Ms. Nauert said the United States “support[s] the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua's efforts to advance negotiations¹⁰ to resolve the crisis, and urge[s] full implementation¹¹ of the June 15 National Dialogue agreement on human rights as a critical component¹². The United States,” she added, “also supports calls for early, free, fair and transparent elections. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and take additional actions as events warrant.”

1 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

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 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

4 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

5 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

6 treasurer   

n.司库，财务主管

参考例句：

• Mr. Smith was succeeded by Mrs.Jones as treasurer.琼斯夫人继史密斯先生任会计。
• The treasurer was arrested for trying to manipulate the company's financial records.财务主管由于试图窜改公司财政帐目而被拘留。

7 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。

8 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

9 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。

10 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

11 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

12 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。