VOA常速英语2007年-Philippines Convicts 14 Abu Sayyaf Militants Li
时间：2019-02-06 作者：英语课 分类：VOA常速英语2007年（十二月）
Manila
06 December 2007
A Philippine court has convicted 14 militants 2 of kidnapping 20 people in a 2001 incident that eventually left two Americans dead, including one who was beheaded. Douglas Bakshian reports from Manila.
A Manila court Thursday sentenced 14 members of the Abu Sayyaf group to life in prison for their part in the crime. Four other suspects were acquitted 3.
Robert Courtney, a U.S. Justice Department attaché at the Manila embassy, praised the ruling, saying it sends a strong message about dealing 4 with terrorism.
The kidnapping drama began in 2001 on the western resort island of Palawan, and ended a year later in the jungles of the southern Philippines.
A few weeks after being abducted 5 American Guillermo Sobero was beheaded. The militants moved the hostages around for one year while negotiating for ransom 6. American missionary 7 Martin Burnham and Filipino nurse Deborah Yap were later killed in an army rescue operation in 2002. Burnham's wife, Gracia, survived.
In a book about the ordeal 8, entitled "In the Presence of My Enemies", she alleged 9 that an unnamed Filipino general tried to keep part of the money raised for ransom for the hostages, and that soldiers had delivered supplies to the guerrillas.
The kidnapping captured the attention of the international community and gave the United States the opportunity to send troops to the Philippines to train the military in counter terrorism.
Rommel Banlaoi, of the Philippine Institute for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, believes the incident was a key event in the U.S.-led War on Terror.
"Because of the incident the United States invigorated its security alliance with the Philippines in order to crush the Abu Sayyaf group which is believed to be linked with the Al Qaida organization of Osama Bin 10 Laden 11, and even has strong links with [the regional militant 1 group] Jemmah Islamiya," said Banlaoi.
U.S.-backed operations with Philippine troops several years ago dislodged Abu Sayyaf guerrillas from bases on Basilan island. In the last year-and-a-half Philippine forces also killed several key leaders of the group on Jolo island.
Security officials estimate there are about 300 Abu Sayyaf guerrillas left in the southern Philippines, down from a peak of around one thousand.
Abu Sayyaf is a small but deadly militant group, known for bloody 12 kidnappings and bombings.
- Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
- He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。
- 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。
- The jury acquitted him of murder. 陪审团裁决他谋杀罪不成立。
- Five months ago she was acquitted on a shoplifting charge. 五个月前她被宣判未犯入店行窃罪。
- This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
- His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
- Detectives have not ruled out the possibility that she was abducted. 侦探尚未排除她被绑架的可能性。
- The kid was abducted at the gate of kindergarten. 那小孩在幼儿园大门口被绑架走了。
- We'd better arrange the ransom right away.我们最好马上把索取赎金的事安排好。
- The kidnappers exacted a ransom of 10000 from the family.绑架者向这家人家勒索10000英镑的赎金。
- She taught in a missionary school for a couple of years.她在一所教会学校教了两年书。
- I hope every member understands the value of missionary work. 我希望教友都了解传教工作的价值。
- She managed to keep her sanity throughout the ordeal.在那场磨难中她始终保持神志正常。
- Being lost in the wilderness for a week was an ordeal for me.在荒野里迷路一星期对我来说真是一场磨难。
- It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
- alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为
- He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
- He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。
- He is laden with heavy responsibility.他肩负重任。
- Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat.将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。