2007年VOA标准英语-US Tones Down Criticism of Egypt's Constitution

By Challiss McDonough
Cairo
25 March 2007

A day before Egyptians are to vote in a controversial referendum on constitutional changes, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice says she told Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak about her concerns over the progress of democratic reform in Egypt.  VOA Correspondent Challiss McDonough reports from Cairo opponents of the Mubarak government say the proposed constitutional amendments³ would shrink protections on human rights and limit peaceful political activity.

Before leaving on her Middle East trip, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice said she was concerned and disappointed over Egypt's proposed constitutional amendments.  President Mubarak and his foreign minister responded sharply, saying it was an Egyptian matter that should be decided⁴ by Egyptians.

 
Condoleezza Rice meets with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, right, in Aswan, 25 March 2007
After meeting with the Egyptian leaders in Aswan, Rice toned down her criticism, focusing most of her comments on Egypt's key role in promoting Middle East peace and speaking only in general terms about Egypt's domestic issues.

"We have had a discussion," she said. "I have made my concerns known as well as my hopes for continued reform here in Egypt.  I think what I said is the process of reform is one that is difficult.  It is going to have its ups and downs, and we always discuss these things in a way that is respectful, mutually respectful, but I have made my concerns known and we have had a good discussion."

 
Condoleezza Rice with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, right, during a press conference in Aswan, 25 Mar¹ 2007  
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit defended the constitutional changes, calling them necessary to ensure Egypt's security and stability. 

He said we hope that with the approval of these amendments, we will reach a stage that allows the Egyptian people more democracy and will pave the way to more in the future.

Critics say the amendments are actually a consolidation⁵ of the ruling party's control of the state, thinly disguised as political reforms.

International human rights groups and local activists⁶ have long criticized Egypt's restrictive Emergency Laws, which have been in effect as temporary measures for decades, renewed every few years.  Analysts⁷ say the proposed amendments would go even further than the Emergency Laws in eroding⁸ protection for human rights, and would make those provisions permanent. 

The group Amnesty International said the amendments will perpetuate⁹ existing abuses and the culture of impunity¹⁰, and will also entrench¹¹ them in the country's constitution.

Fadi Al-Qadi of Human Rights Watch said the Mubarak government is failing in its promises during the past two years to make changes that would benefit the Egyptian people.

"Those amendments put the larger and broader freedoms of all Egyptians - and we are not talking here about opposition¹² and the government, or even one single segment of the society, we are talking about a broad risk of threat to the freedoms of general common Egyptians on the line over here," he said.

The proposed changes would allow civilians¹³ to be tried in military courts, and allow people to be arrested and imprisoned¹⁴ without warrants.  They would also bar political party based on religion, a move aimed at the banned Muslim Brotherhood¹⁵.  One amendment² would severely¹⁶ reduce the judicial¹⁷ oversight¹⁸ of elections, and another would give the president the power to dissolve Parliament more easily.

Although Rice has expressed her concerns about the provisions, human rights and opposition activists here consider the U.S. response to the proposed changes to be tepid¹⁹ at best, especially considering that only a few years ago the Bush administration was publicly pushing for more democratization in the region. 

Fadi Al-Qadi said Egypt should be moving toward a more free, open and democratic system, but instead is moving in the opposite direction.

"The sad part about it is that the American foreign policy does not see that as a threat," he said.  "On the contrary, I think and I believe that by blinding their eyes to what is going on in Egypt in that context, is basically supporting the Egyptian regime in its serious transformation²⁰ into what people say is a police state."

In addition to concerns about the amendments, activists and opposition members have criticized the timing²¹ of the referendum.  The vote is being held only a week after Parliament approved the amendments, and they say few people will have had time to even read them. 

Most political opposition groups are calling for a boycott²² of Monday's vote. 

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

3 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 consolidation   

n.合并,巩固

参考例句：

• The denser population necessitates closer consolidation both for internal and external action. 住得日益稠密的居民，对内和对外都不得不更紧密地团结起来。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• The state ensures the consolidation and growth of the state economy. 国家保障国营经济的巩固和发展。 来自汉英非文学 - 中国宪法

6 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》

7 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

8 eroding   

侵蚀，腐蚀( erode的现在分词 )； 逐渐毁坏，削弱，损害

参考例句：

• The coast is slowly eroding. 海岸正慢慢地被侵蚀。
• Another new development is eroding the age-old stereotype of the male warrior. 另一个新现象是，久已形成的男人皆武士的形象正逐渐消失。

9 perpetuate   

v.使永存，使永记不忘

参考例句：

• This monument was built to perpetuate the memory of the national hero.这个纪念碑建造的意义在于纪念民族英雄永垂不朽。
• We must perpetuate the system.我们必须将此制度永久保持。

10 impunity   

n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除

参考例句：

• You will not escape with impunity.你不可能逃脱惩罚。
• The impunity what compulsory insurance sets does not include escapement.交强险规定的免责范围不包括逃逸。

11 entrench   

v.使根深蒂固；n.壕沟；防御设施

参考例句：

• A series of measures were designed to entrench democracy and the rule of law.采取一系列措施旨在巩固民主和法制。
• These dictators have entrenched themselves politically and are difficult to move.这些独裁者在政治上已经站稳了脚跟，很难推翻他们。

12 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。

13 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。

14 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。

15 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

16 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

17 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

18 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。

19 tepid   

adj.微温的，温热的，不太热心的

参考例句：

• She bent her mouth to the tap and drank the tepid water.她把嘴伸到水龙头底下去喝那微温的水。
• Her feet firmly planted on the tepid rough brick of the floor.她一双脚稳固地立在微温而粗糙的砖地上。

20 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

21 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

22 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。