VOA常速英语2007年-Pakistani Experts Warn End of Emergency Rule Mi

By Ravi Khanna
Washington
13 December 2007
 

Pakistani journalists are accusing the government of trying to silence the free media, after authorities barred them from airing live broadcasts. The accusation¹ follows Pakistan's Electronic Media Regulatory Authority warning to broadcasters not to air live coverage², or they could face prison time and a large fine. Though the government promises to end emergency rule this weekend [December 15th], analysts³ say some restrictions⁴ will continue and opposition⁵ leaders warn the upcoming election could be rigged. VOA's Ravi Khanna looks at the issues.

Pakistani government officials say nearly six weeks of emergency rule will end this Saturday [December 15th], three weeks before parliamentary elections [January 8th]. President Pervez Musharraf suspended the constitution, replaced the judiciary and imposed restrictions on political gatherings⁶ and news reporting. Some American and Pakistani analysts argue the end of emergency rule will not end such repression⁷.

Ahmed Rashid, Author of New York Times Best Selling Book on Taliban. He says, "There are already so many laws in place outside the emergency. For example, there is the Army Act under which civilians⁸ can be tried in an army court and charged with treason and can be executed. Now, if you still got laws like that in place, yes you can get rid of the emergency, but you can still maintain the same system of repression."

Steve Coll of the nonpatisan New America Foundation agrees. "Clearly there are still restrictions on place on some of the TV channels. Geo TV has not resolved its relationship with the government. There have been managed cases in the court that have disqualified politicians like Nawaz Sharif and others. The patterns of the tension, the arrests and the management of the elections, all of that is just unclear as to how it is going to unfold," he said.

In a show of unity⁹, Pakistani opposition leaders Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif met in early December to discuss demands for a free and fair election. Though the two former prime ministers did not reach agreement, Hassan Abbas of Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government says such dialogue is a good sign. "That is the political process. That's how democracy got itself established in the western world in India and other countries in the world, so if political leaders are sitting together coming up to a common consensus¹⁰, asking for certain demands which are all pro-democracy, that is a good sign."

Bhutto warned this week January's parliamentary election will be rigged by President Musharraf in an effort to boost the popularity of his political party.

The author Rashid warns a parliament favorable to Mr. Musharraf could ratify¹¹ the president's emergency restrictions, and save him from any future criminal charges.

"I fear very much that there will be a much bigger crisis in Pakistan after the elections because there is going to be charges of rigging, I think they will not be able to form a government, and there will be increased demonstrations¹² against President Musharraf," Rashid said.

Though army officials claim progress in their effort to retake the Swat Valley [in the country's northern tribal¹³ regions] from pro-Taliban forces, just last week a suicide bomber¹⁴ struck. Security officials say ten people were killed at a police checkpoint.

Analysts warn rigged elections could lead to a bigger crisis if tribal militants¹⁵ and terrorists try to take advantage of the situation.

1 accusation   

n.控告，指责，谴责

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。

2 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

3 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。

4 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

5 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。

6 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

7 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。

8 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。

9 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

10 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

11 ratify   

v.批准，认可，追认

参考例句：

• The heads of two governments met to ratify the peace treaty.两国政府首脑会晤批准和平条约。
• The agreement have to be ratify by the board.该协议必须由董事会批准。

12 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

13 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

14 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

15 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。