VOA常速英语2018--刚果遭遇政治危机 总统为留任不择手段（在线收听）

President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or DRC, has served the twoterms permitted under the country's Constitution. It is someone else's turn to seek office.

刚果民主共和国总统约瑟夫 卡比拉(Joseph Kabila)在符合宪法规定的情况下担任了两届总统，是时候换届选举了。

A crisis ensued when Kabila failed to organize timely elections and step down. Followingnegotiations, Kabila's ruling party and the opposition coalition signed the St. Sylvestreaccord. President Kabila agreed not to seek a third term or change the constitution. He wouldremain in office until the installation of his successor following elections which would be held bythe end of December 2017.But there were no elections in the DRC last year, nor will any beheld until December 2018 at the earliest. And now, President Kabila's party is talking aboutchanging the Constitution to allow him to run for another term.

由于卡比拉没能及时组织选举并准备卸任工作，一场危机随之而来。在谈判过后，卡比拉的执政党和反对派联盟签署了《圣维斯特维尔协议》。卡比拉总统同意不再担任第三届总统，也不会修改宪法。只不过，在2017年12月底之前选举决出的下一任总统上任之前，卡比拉不会卸任。但去年一整年，刚果都没有进行任何选举，2018年12月之后才有可能进行选举。而现在，卡比拉的执政党又说要修改宪法，允许其连任三届。

The President's refusal to step down and the political machinations that have delayed electionsover and over again, have caused a political crisis, heightened insecurity, and triggered aseries of street protests in which scores of people have been killed.

由于卡比拉拒绝卸任，政治阴谋一再使得选举推迟，刚果已经出现了政治危机、危险性升级，其导致的一系列街头抗议已经造成数十人死亡。

On December 31, the Catholic Lay Coordinating Committee organized peacefuldemonstrations where security forces used excessive force against unarmed participants. Another peaceful protest was scheduled for Sunday, January 21st. Authorities prepared forthe demonstration by pre-emptively shutting down internet and SMS services and forbadegatherings of more than five people. When the peaceful protest nonetheless took place, theyshot teargas and live ammunition into the crowd, killing at least 7 people, injuring nearlyanother hundred and arresting dozens.

12月31日，天主教协调委员会组织了和平示威，但安全部队却对手无寸铁的示威者武力相向。1月21日的周日又发生了一次和平示威。政府对此有所准备，先手关闭了互联网和短信服务，并禁止五人以上聚集在一起。和平示威最终还是打响了，政府对人群发射了催泪弹和实弹，导致至少7人死亡，另有近100人受伤，数十人被捕。

We condemn in the strongest terms the violence perpetrated by DRC security forces onJanuary 21 against church-led peaceful protests, said State Department Spokesperson HeatherNauret in a written statement.

我们极尽犀利之词谴责1月21日刚果安全部队对由教堂领导的和平示威行动所采取的暴力，国务院发言人希瑟 诺尔特(Heather Nauret)在一份纸质声明中这样写道。

We are appalled that the DRC government, including President Kabila, would employrepressive tactics and disproportionate use of lethal force against civilians -- includingreligious leaders and children -- exercising their democratic rights to call for credible andinclusive elections, she said.

令我们震惊的是，包括卡比拉在内的刚果政府竟能对平民采用压制性的策略，并大量使用致命武力——这些平民中还有领袖和儿童——这些人只是在行使自己的民主权利，以呼吁进行可信包容的选举，诺尔特这样说道。

The use of lethal force against Congolese citizens, and the cutting of internet and SMS service, undermine the democratic process, obstruct implementation of the St. Sylvestre Accordand contravene international human rights norms.

对刚果人民使用致命武力以及切断互联网和短信服务的行为破坏了民主进行，阻碍了《圣维斯特维尔协议》的实施，违反了国际人权规范。

We call on President Kabila to hold accountable security force members who fired on civilians orordered the use of lethal force and urge him and his government to ensure a peaceful andopen electoral process so that credible elections are held as scheduled in December 2018.

我们呼吁卡比拉总统将那些对平民开火或者下令使用致命武力的安全部队士兵绳之以法，我们敦促卡比拉及其政府确保和平公开的选举进程。只有这样，可信的选举才能于2018年12月如期进行。