2007年VOA标准英语-Philippines Signs Anti-Terror Law at Six-Nation

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Jakarta
06 March 2007

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo¹ signed an anti-terrorism bill into law as six Asia-Pacific nations, including the Philippines, wrapped up a two-day meeting in Jakarta aimed at increased cooperation in fighting militants² in the region.  VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins in Jakarta has more.

Protesters hold slogans during a rally against the newly signed anti-terrorism law in Manila on Tuesday 6 March 2007

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed into law an anti-terrorism bill that has long been sought by lawmakers, but which has raised concerns of abuses by civil rights activists³.

The Human Security Act upholds the right of the authorities to detain suspects for three days without charge, instead of the 30 days sought by police, and allows court-authorized surveillance of suspected terrorists.

It compels the state to pay compensation of more than $10,000 a day to any person wrongfully detained.  And it exempts⁴ journalists, doctors, and lawyers from disclosing details about terrorists.  It also bans extraordinary rendition - the practice by the CIA of arresting foreign terror suspects and sending them to a third country for interrogation.

As the law was being signed in Manila, an anti-terrorism meeting in Jakarta attended by the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and co-host Australia wrapped up with pledges of closer cooperation in fighting terrorism.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda warned the region against complacency.

"We must not be complacent⁵ as we have not yet won the struggle," he said. "Terrorism remains⁶ a clear and present threat and the terrorists are still capable of inflicting⁷ severe damage to our communities.  They are still recruiting new operatives and developing new strategies and tactics.  We must therefore gird ourselves for wider and intensified⁸ struggle."

The Indonesian foreign minister said countries had agreed to intensify⁹ law enforcement to prevent trans-border terrorist movements, and would explore further ways to counter extremism in a seminar in the near future.

Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer praised the conference, saying regional cooperation was essential to prevent further terrorist attacks.

"I think this has been a really successful exercise reflecting the strength of cooperation that there is in the sub-region and there needs to be," he said. "I mean let us make it perfectly¹⁰ clear that the cooperation is essential if we are going to be successful in countering terrorism."

During the past few years, Indonesia has suffered a series of deadly bombings blamed on the al-Qaida linked regional terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah.  The Philippines has experienced several terrorist attacks by the Jemaah Islamiyah-linked Abu Sayyaf.

1 arroyo   

n.干涸的河床，小河

参考例句：

• She continued along the path until she came to the arroyo.她沿着小路一直走到小河边。
• They had a picnic by the arroyo.他们在干枯的河床边野餐过。

2 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。

3 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》

4 exempts   

使免除[豁免]( exempt的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• This privilege, however, exempts only predecisional documents. 然而，此特权只免除那些文件在作出决定之前的披露责任。
• Function effectiveness: After then special-purpose, exempts the flushing formula. 功能效用：便后专用，免冲洗配方。

5 complacent   

adj.自满的；自鸣得意的

参考例句：

• We must not become complacent the moment we have some success.我们决不能一见成绩就自满起来。
• She was complacent about her achievements.她对自己的成绩沾沾自喜。

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 inflicting   

把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm. 他被控蓄意严重伤害他人身体。
• It's impossible to do research without inflicting some pain on animals. 搞研究不让动物遭点罪是不可能的。

8 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 intensify   

vt.加强；变强；加剧

参考例句：

• We must intensify our educational work among our own troops.我们必须加强自己部队的教育工作。
• They were ordered to intensify their patrols to protect our air space.他们奉命加强巡逻，保卫我国的领空。

10 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。