04-30-08

美關注西藏抗議者被判監禁 (US Concerned About Prison Terms for Tibet Protesters)

美國說，對中國當局本星期把30名被控參與最近西藏騷亂的人判刑表示關注。白宮發言人佩裏諾星期三在華盛頓對記者說，美國儘管認為任何人都不應違反法律，但同時信奉言論和集會自由。

佩裏諾說，中國上週末提出與流亡國外的西藏精神領袖達賴喇嘛的代表對話，美國為此感到鼓舞。她還表示，她相信達賴喇嘛能夠幫助中國緩和西藏的緊張局勢。

星期二，西藏的一個法院判處被控參與動亂的30名藏族人徒刑，刑期從三年到終身監禁不等。

The United States says it is concerned about China's sentencing of 30 people to prison this week over their alleged involvement in recent Tibetan unrest. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters in Washington (Wednesday) that while the United States does not think anyone should break the law, it also believes in freedom of expression and assembly.

Perino says the U.S. is encouraged by China's offer late last week to open dialogue with representatives of Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. She also says she believes the Dalai Lama could help China calm tensions in the area.

On Tuesday, a court in Tibet sentenced 30 Tibetans from three years to life in prison for taking part in the unrest.

中國當局指火車相撞與奧運建設有關 (Chinese Authorities Link Train Crash to Olympic Construction)

中國官員說，2008年北京奧運之前的鐵路建設與中國東部本星期發生致命火車相撞事故存有些關聯。那次事故造成71死亡，400多受傷。

調查人員說，其中一列火車在脫軌並撞上另一列火車時，時速超過131公里。淄博市政府發言人今天(星期三)對記者說，在北京奧運前，當地這段鐵路正在進行提升工然b。

他表示，一條新鐵路將大大加快濟南和沿海城市青島之間的交通。北京奧運的帆船比賽將在青島舉行。

政府調查人員對中國官方媒體說，事故發生前，在事故發生前，火車司機曾被告知在這段整修路段上減速。

Chinese officials say railway construction ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics played a role in a deadly train crash this week in eastern China that killed 71 people and injured more than 400.

Investigators say one of the trains was traveling more than 131 kilometers-per-hour when it derailed (near the city of Zibo in Shandong province) and rammed into another train. A Zibo city spokesman (Li Chenggang) told reporters today (Wednesday) that the railway line in the area is being upgraded ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games.

He said a new line will make the traffic between Jinan and the coastal city of Qingdao much faster. Qingdao is the site of the sailing competition for the Summer Games.

Government investigators tell Chinese state media that train operators were told to slow down at the section of the track under construction before the accident took place.