10-28-09

 

10-28-09

中国驳斥美国务院报告批评中国压制宗教自由 (China Criticizes U.S. Report on Religious Freedoms)

中国政府批评美国有关全世界宗教自由的报告，报告中批评了中国。外交部发言人马朝旭说，中国各民族的宗教信仰自由都是受法律保护的。马朝旭星期三告诉记者说，美国的报告无视事实，并且干涉中国内政。

美国国务院在星期一发表的年度报告中批评北京严重压制了西藏佛教徒和新疆穆斯林的宗教信仰自由。 报告还对中国据说试图强行遣返几名住在其他国家的穆斯林表示关注，这些穆斯林因宗教活动而受到报复。马朝旭敦促美国停止这类的批评，做一些有利于中美关系的事情。

The Chinese government has criticized a U.S. report on religious freedom around the world, which is critical of China.Foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said the freedom of religious beliefs of all ethnic groups in China is protected by law. Ma told journalists Wednesday that the U.S. report ignored facts and interfered in China's internal affairs.

The U.S. State Department said in its annual report Monday that Beijing severely represses the religious freedom of Buddhists in Tibet and Muslims in Xinjiang.It also expressed concern over allegations that China sought the forcible return of several Muslims living in other countries in retribution for their religious activism.Ma urged the United States to stop such criticism and instead do things that benefit U.S.-China relations.

in‧ter‧fere / ˌɪntəˈfɪə $ -tərˈfɪr / verb [ intransitive ]

to deliberately get involved in a situation where you are not wanted or needed [= meddle ] :

My daughter-in-law said that I was interfering, but I was only trying to help.

interfere in

It’s not the church’s job to interfere in politics.

 

re‧press / rɪˈpres / verb [ transitive ]

1 to stop yourself from doing something you want to do :

Brenda repressed the urge to shout at him.

I repressed a smile.

2 if someone represses upsetting feelings, memories etc, they do not allow themselves to express or think about them :

He had long ago repressed the painful memories of his childhood.

3 to control a group of people by force → suppress , oppress :

The police were widely criticized for their role in repressing the protest movement.

 

for‧ci‧ble / ˈfɔːsəb ə l, ˈfɔːsɪb ə l $ ˈfɔːr- / adjective

done using physical force :

the forcible overthrow of the government

signs of forcible entry into the building

 

ret‧ri‧bu‧tion / ˌretrəˈbjuːʃ ə n, ˌretrɪˈbjuːʃ ə n / noun [ singular, uncountable ]

severe punishment for something very serious

retribution for

Victims are demanding retribution for the terrorist attacks.

divine retribution (= punishment by God )

 

人权组织呼吁中国停止在缅甸境内修建输油管道 (Rights Groups Call On China to Halt Pipeline Construction in Burma)

来自20个国家的100多个组织签署了一项请愿书，要求中国停止在缅甸境内修建一条主要的输油管道，因为他们说这样做会对当地人民造成伤害。请愿的组织机构瑞气田运动说，修建输油管道会给环境和区域安全带来严重威胁。它还说，这个项目会给中国带来一次金融风险，并且破坏中国的国际形象。

这一条长达980公里的天然气管道将连通缅甸的若开邦和中国的云南省。批评人士说，这个项目将为缅甸军政府领导人在未来30年内提供至少290亿美元。

More than 100 organizations from 20 countries have signed a petition urging China to halt a major pipeline project in Burma, which they say would harm local people.The petition organized by the Shwe Gas Movement says the project will pose serious risks to the environment and to regional security. It says the project could also pose a financial risk to China and hurt its image.

The 980-kilometer Shwe pipeline project will run from Burma's Arkan state to China's Yunnan province. It will transfer oil from the Middle East and Africa as well as natural gas from Burma's Shwe fields.Critics say the project could provide Burma's military leaders with at least $29 billion over 30 years.

pe‧ti‧tion 1 / pəˈtɪʃ ə n, pɪˈtɪʃ ə n / noun [ countable ]

1 a written request signed by a lot of people, asking someone in authority to do something or change something

petition for/against

a petition against the new road

They wanted me to sign a petition against experiments on animals.

Local residents have drawn up a petition to protest the hospital closure.

petition drive American English (= an attempt to get a lot of people to sign a petition )

2 law an official letter to a law court, asking for a legal case to be considered

petition for

She is threatening to file a petition for divorce.

3 formal a formal prayer or request to someone in authority or to God