VOA标准英语--美国限制尼加拉瓜人权侵犯者的签证

U.S. Restricts Visa of Nicaraguan Rights Abusers

The United States recently imposed visa restrictions¹ that will be applied² to Nicaraguan police and other officials linked to violence that has left more than 140 people dead.

The Nicaraguan government violently crushed peaceful Mother's Day marches in Managua and other cities on May 30, including assaults on mothers mourning their children killed since protests began April 18.

In addition, journalists have been beaten and local TV and radio stations attacked. According to the United Nations High Commissioner³ for Human Rights, Nicaraguan authorities have also detained some six human rights defenders⁴. Moreover, there have been reports of death threats, acts of violence and intimidation⁵ against journalists, students, human rights activists⁶, and members of the Catholic Church, among others.

State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert condemned⁷ the “political violence by police and pro-government thugs against the people of Nicaragua, particularly university students,” saying it “shows a blatant⁸ disregard for human rights and is unacceptable.”

As a consequence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo decided⁹ to impose U.S. visa restrictions on individuals responsible for human rights abuses or undermining democracy in Nicaragua. These restrictions will bar their entry into the United States.

Affected¹⁰ individuals include National Police officials, municipal government officials, and a Ministry¹¹ of Health official. Visa restrictions are aimed specifically at those directing or overseeing violence against Nicaraguans exercising their rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.

These officials, said Ms. Nauert, “have operated with impunity¹² across the country, including in Managua, León, Estelí, and Matagalpa. In certain circumstances, family members of those individuals will also be subject to visa restrictions.”

The U.S. will not publicly identify these individuals due to U.S. visa confidentiality¹³ laws, but is nevertheless sending a clear message that human rights abusers and those who undermine democracy are not welcome in the United States.

Ms. Nauert stressed that these visa restrictions are specific to certain officials and not directed at the Nicaraguan people. “We will continue to monitor the situation and take additional steps as necessary,” she said. The United States continues to call for an end to violence and supports peaceful negotiations¹⁴ to end this crisis.

1 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

2 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

3 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。

4 defenders   

n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者

参考例句：

• The defenders were outnumbered and had to give in. 抵抗者寡不敌众，只能投降。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After hard fighting,the defenders were still masters of the city. 守军经过奋战仍然控制着城市。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 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。

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 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

8 blatant   

adj.厚颜无耻的；显眼的；炫耀的

参考例句：

• I cannot believe that so blatant a comedy can hoodwink anybody.我无法相信这么显眼的一出喜剧能够欺骗谁。
• His treatment of his secretary was a blatant example of managerial arrogance.他管理的傲慢作风在他对待秘书的态度上表露无遗。

9 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。

10 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

11 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

12 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。

13 confidentiality   

n.秘而不宣，保密

参考例句：

• They signed a confidentiality agreement. 他们签署了一份保守机密的协议。
• Cryptography is the foundation of supporting authentication, integrality and confidentiality. 而密码学是支持认证、完整性和机密性机制的基础。

14 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。