2006年VOA标准英语-Egyptian Journalists Protest Proposed Press Law

By Challiss McDonough
Cairo
09 July 2006

Not a single opposition¹ or independent newspaper was for sale Sunday in Cairo because of a strike over a controversial proposed press law. The same issue brought hundreds of journalists into the streets to protest what they see as an attempt to restrict press freedom.

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An Egyptian journalist, with symbolic² chains on her hands takes part in a rally protesting against a new press law   
  
Several hundred journalists and twice as many riot police clogged³ the sidewalk outside parliament, as lawmakers debated Egypt's controversial press law.

The past few years have seen an upsurge in the number of opposition and independent newspapers for sale on the streets of Cairo. But on Sunday, there were none. At least 25 independent and opposition papers observed a one-day strike to protest the proposed press law, which local journalists see as tightening⁴ restrictions⁵ on the media.

"Freedom of the press has been just a big lie in Egypt for years," said Ahmed Abul-Shadi.

Veteran freelance journalist Ahmed Abul-Shadi says, during last year's election campaign, President Hosni Mubarak promised to increase freedom of the press, and do away with prison sentences for journalists charged with crimes, such as libel or slander⁶.

"A law has been put together that does exactly the opposite," he said. "It does restrict freedom of the press, and it does threaten people who write about corruption⁷. And this is why we are here today, to protest the retreat from the little freedom that we have had and the promise that the president has made."

Under the new press law, defamation⁸ charges would still carry up to a two-year prison sentence, and the maximum fine has been increased. In one section, the draft law allows the jailing of journalists, who accuse government officials of financial corruption.

That section worries many Egyptian journalists, including reporter Jano Charbel of the German news agency, DPA.

"So, if they ban people from writing about corruption today, then tomorrow, they will put further restrictions on what journalists can write and what they cannot," said Jano Charbel.

During the past six months, reform-minded opposition activists⁹ have accused the Egyptian government of backtracking on promises of political reforms, including judicial¹⁰ independence, freedom of expression and the repeal¹¹ of the notorious emergency law. Bahey El-Din Hassan of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies says they are all connected.

"The question is not only what happens with the press law," said Bahey El-Din Hassan. "The press law is one step back, and it is an indication of what is the reality of the political will concerning the claims of political reform."

A surprising number of journalists from state-owned and pro-government newspapers took part in the protest against the proposed press law - a sign of how controversial it is. One woman wore her hands tied together with chains, to symbolize¹² the muzzling¹³ of the free press.

But few of the protesters seemed to think that their demonstration¹⁴ would actually stop the passage of the bill that was being debated just a few meters away. The ruling National Democratic Party has an overwhelming majority in parliament, so even though a number of ruling party members are believed to oppose the press law, it seemed likely to pass easily.

The head of the Egyptian Journalists' Syndicate, Galal Aref, says, "If it is approved as it is, we will keep opposing it; we will keep working to defeat it." He says, "We will keep fighting for a just law that will allow the press to fulfill¹⁵ its role."

1 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。

2 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

3 clogged   

（使）阻碍( clog的过去式和过去分词 )； 淤滞

参考例句：

• The narrow streets were clogged with traffic. 狭窄的街道上交通堵塞。
• The intake of gasoline was stopped by a clogged fuel line. 汽油的注入由于管道阻塞而停止了。

4 tightening   

上紧，固定，紧密

参考例句：

• Make sure the washer is firmly seated before tightening the pipe. 旋紧水管之前，检查一下洗衣机是否已牢牢地固定在底座上了。
• It needs tightening up a little. 它还需要再收紧些。

5 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

6 slander   

n./v.诽谤，污蔑

参考例句：

• The article is a slander on ordinary working people.那篇文章是对普通劳动大众的诋毁。
• He threatened to go public with the slander.他威胁要把丑闻宣扬出去。

7 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。

8 defamation   

n.诽谤；中伤

参考例句：

• Character defamation can be either oral or written.人格诽谤既可以是口头的也可以是书面的。
• The company sued for defamation.这个公司因受到诽谤而提起诉讼。

9 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》

10 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。

11 repeal   

n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消

参考例句：

• He plans to repeal a number of current policies.他计划废除一些当前的政策。
• He has made out a strong case for the repeal of the law.他提出强有力的理由，赞成废除该法令。

12 symbolize   

vt.作为...的象征，用符号代表

参考例句：

• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。
• Dolphins symbolize the breath of life.海豚象征着生命的气息。

13 muzzling   

给（狗等）戴口套( muzzle的现在分词 )； 使缄默，钳制…言论

参考例句：

• They accused the government of muzzling the press. 他们指责政府压制新闻自由。

14 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

15 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。