Efforts in Zimbabwe to write a new constitution

 

From VOA Learning English, welcome to AS IT IS. I’m your host Mario Ritter.

All over the world, people have a desire to have their voice heard in their communities.  Today we report on efforts in Zimbabwe to write a new constitution. And we hear the concerns of activists¹ and human rights lawyers about the use of a dangerous chemical against civilians² by officials in Burma.

A group of lawyers and activists is calling for action against Burmese officials who permitted the use of a skin-burning chemical against peaceful protesters. The demonstration³ took place last November at the Letpedaung copper⁴ mine in northwest Burma.  Since then, lawyers and activists have been investigating the incident. June Simms has the story.

Last week, the Burma Lawyers Network and the rights group Justice Trust announced the results of their joint⁵ investigation⁶.  They said Burmese officials forced villagers to give up rights to their farmland by having them sign legal documents they had never read.

Hundreds of villagers protested plans to expand the cooper mine. The groups said police used shells containing white phosphorus to break up the demonstration. The use of white phosphorus can be legal under some battle field conditions. But the activists say it should not be used against civilians.

Roger Normand, director of Justice Trust, says the chemical severely⁷ injured more than 150 protesters.

“It’s used by militaries for smoke screen and for illumination. But it’s a chemical. And so, it essentially⁸ has a dual⁹ purpose which would be against military personnel, against soldiers. And, for that it’s illegal.”

Burmese officials have apologized for the raid, but denied the use of white phosphorus. The report says the use of such chemicals against peaceful demonstrators raises questions about who gave the orders.

In December, President Thein Sein appointed opposition¹⁰ leader Aung San Suu Kyi as head of a committee to investigate the copper mine incident. She met with all sides. She surprised many people when she declared support for the rights of villagers. Yet she also said Burma needs to honor its responsibilities.

Roger Normand describes her appointment as a good sign because she is seen as being honest.

“On the other hand, the committee has to have the mandate¹¹ and the power to be able to investigate.”

Her committee has yet to release its official report on the copper mine. It is not clear when the results will be made public. I’m June Simms.

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe announced last week that Zimbabweans will vote on a proposed constitution on March 16th.   The proposed document has created a debate both inside and outside the nation.  Steve Ember has more.

The document’s creators say the proposed constitution includes several improvements. But they also recognize it is the result of a political compromise. Opponents say they believe the process was unfair.  They say the new law still gives too much power to the president.

The proposed constitution must be voted on before the general election that President Mugabe wants to hold this year. The eighty-eight year old leader plans to run for office again. He has led the nation since independence in nineteen eighty.

Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, a minister and secretary-general of the Movement for Democratic Change, says the proposed document is not perfect.  But she says the document she helped write is an improvement on the current constitution.

The minister says the proposal gives women more rights, and that it limits presidential powers.  The document introduces presidential term limits to two five-year terms.  However, the law would only be effective immediately and would not consider past elections.  That means Mr. Mugabe could legally serve another two terms before having to resign.

The proposed constitution appears to limit the presidential powers.  It also brings the Central Intelligence Organization under the supervision¹² of the government.

But Constitutional opponent Lovemore Madhuku says the writing of the proposed document was not fair.  He says there should have been greater participation¹³ from the average Zimbabwean in creating the document, instead of just accepting what top officials wrote. Mr. Madhuku leads the National Constitutional Assembly, a coalition¹⁴ of pro-democracy groups.

"Our major problem in Zimbabwe has been the concentration of power in the president.”

No matter what the results of the vote on the proposed document, the constitution is only as strong as the government that follows it.I’m Mario Ritter.

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

3 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

4 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

5 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

6 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

7 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

8 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

9 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

10 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

11 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

12 supervision   

n.监督，管理

参考例句：

• The work was done under my supervision.这项工作是在我的监督之下完成的。
• The old man's will was executed under the personal supervision of the lawyer.老人的遗嘱是在律师的亲自监督下执行的。

13 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

14 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。