VOA常速英语:Venezuela Must Release Josh Holt

The safety and security of Americans overseas is one of the United States’ top priorities. That’s why the U.S. has expressed its grave concern regarding the continued incarceration of Josh Holt by the Venezuelan government.
保障美国海外公民安全是美国的首要任务之一。正因如此，美国对乔什·霍尔特被委内瑞拉政府长期监禁的问题表达了严重关切。

On December 12, U.S. citizen Josh Holt was charged after more than 17 months of detention and many court delays. U.S. Embassy personnel were denied access to Mr. Holt’s court hearing and to a visit scheduled that day."The United States remains extremely concerned for Mr. Holt’s health and welfare,which continues to deteriorate under the custody of SEBIN, the Venezuelan intelligence agency,” said State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert.
12月12日，在经历了17个月的拘禁及多次庭审延期后，美国公民乔什·霍尔特终于出庭受审。委内瑞纳拒绝了美国使馆人员参与霍尔特庭审及当日访问安排的要求。“美国仍然十分担心霍尔特先生的身体健康和生活质量，委内瑞拉情报局的监禁使得霍尔特的情况每况愈下，”美国国务院发言人希瑟·诺尔特说。

Venezuela is legally obligated in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations to permit U.S. consular officers to visit U.S. citizens detained there.But “too often,” said Ms. Nauert, “access is only belatedly granted, only to be canceled, withdrawn, or simply ignored, as was the case on December 12.”
根据《维也纳领事关系公约》，委内瑞拉应允许美国领事官员探访被拘禁的美国公民。然而“绝大多数情况下，”诺尔特表示，“美国的探访要求只会被一拖再拖，最后结果总是被取消、撤回、或者完全被无视，就像12月12日的情况一样。”

The United States calls on the Venezuelan government to grant immediate consular access to Mr. Holt. Pursuant to its international obligations, Venezuela must guarantee Mr. Holt a fair trial. His life should not be jeopardized under SEBIN’s custody.During his time in prison, Holt’s mother, Laurie, says that her son has been forced to undergo extremely inhumane treatment.
美国呼吁委内瑞拉政府立即准许美国领事官员探访霍尔特先生。根据其国际义务，委内瑞拉必须保证霍尔特先生得到公平的审判。在委内瑞拉情报局监禁期间，霍尔特不应受到任何生命威胁。在霍尔特被监禁期间，霍尔特的母亲劳里说，她的儿子遭受了极度不人道的待遇。

Mr. Holt was arrested after traveling to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon and Venezuelan citizen whom he had met on the internet. He had planned to spend several months in Caracas with her and her two daughters to secure visas for them so they could move to the U.S.
霍尔特先生在前往委内瑞拉与Thamara Caleno结婚后就遭到逮捕。他的妻子是委内瑞拉摩门教徒，两人于网上相识。他原计划在加拉加斯（委内瑞拉首都）与妻子和她的两个女儿共度几个月的时间，为她们取得签证，以便移居美国。

Mr. Holt was arrested under questionable circumstances.The U.S. continues to call for his release on humanitarian grounds.Spokesperson Nauert urged “the government of Venezuela to grant Mr. Holt immediate release and return him to the United States.”
霍尔特先生被捕的情况十分可疑。美国继续要求以人道主义理由呼吁委内瑞拉释放霍尔特。诺尔特敦促“委内瑞拉政府立即释放霍尔特先生，并允许他返回美国。”