非洲—苏丹：和平的代价

Sudan: The Price of Peace

苏丹：和平的代价

 

The agreement reached on January 9th between the Khartoum government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, or S.P.L.M., heralds² an unprecedented³ era of cooperation between the Islamic regime in the north and the mostly animist and Christian⁴ south. It provides for a six-year interim⁵ period of autonomy, followed by a referendum that would give southerners the choice of joining a federation⁶ with Khartoum or declaring independence.

 

This notion does not alarm Sudan's Ambassador to the United States, Khidir Haroun Ahmed, who voices a certain resignation.

 

Khidir Haroun Ahmed: The idea of this six interim period, in which the south will be an integral part of the federal government -- and according to the agreement we share the oil revenues evenly -- should be attractive to the southern Sudanese to remain within a united Sudan. That's our hope. But if our brothers and sisters in the south opt⁷ differently, it will be painful. But we will respect their decision.

 

But John Andruga, the S.P.L.M. Representative to the European Union, says that for years southerners have been marginalized economically, politically and culturally, and that it is now up to Khartoum to convince them to vote for unity⁸.

 

John Andruga: We want the country to remain united, but the problem here is that we cannot force unity on the people of southern Sudan or the Sudanese people. We would like the Sudanese to unite in a free and fair unity. So my point to you is that the outcome of the referendum in southern Sudan will be determined⁹ by the people there themselves.

 

Some analysts¹⁰ say that secession by the south is not imminent¹¹, although it remains¹² possible in the long run.

 

Ali Dinar, Director of the University of Pennsylvania's African Studies Center points out that the resource-rich south struggled for independence since the beginning of Sudan's civil war in 1955.

 

Ali Dinar: If I am from the south, I don't see why I will choose to be in a state in which I will be treated as a second-class citizen while I have an option of establishing my own government, my own state and, at the same time, also I have my own resources because most of the oil being discovered now is in the south.

 

But most experts agree that a southern secession does not necessarily mean that rebels in the east, and in the western region of Darfur and will follow suit. Some argue that these disparate factions¹³ do not share the same goals, and tend to be more interested in a reformed and democratized central government than in breaking away from Khartoum.

 

While analysts generally agree that it is too early to predict the outcome, Steve Morrison of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. says the country's other conflicts could derail the accord. Such divisions, he says, are not good for Africa or the West.

 

Steve Morrison: The West was willing to stand by the North-South Peace Agreement which lays open the possibility of the secession of the south. But I think the West's general sentiment is in favor of preserving the unity of Khartoum under reformed governance that is more inclusive and democratic.

 

Darfur and human rights activists¹⁴ are skeptical¹⁵ of Khartoum's intentions. They question whether the government has the political will to implement¹⁶ reforms, and some say it will only do so under pressure.

 

But Sudan's Ambassador to the U.S., Khidir Ahmad, insists his government is serious about peace, reform, and unity. A divided Sudan, he notes, does not serve the interests of the Sudanese people, Africa, or the world.

 

Khidir Ahmad: So this will not be in the interest of international security and peace, and security at the O.A.U. I don't think it will benefit the Africans themselves. People will end up in landlocked countries with so many limited resources.

 

Most observers note that the road ahead is fraught¹⁷ with danger, and that smooth implementation¹⁸ of the peace accord is not guaranteed.

 

The United Nations' special envoy¹⁹ to Sudan, Jan Pronk, recently called upon the Sudanese people to consider unity as an option. During a recent visit to Khartoum, he warned that a divided Sudan would pose a threat to the region, and to international peace and security.

 

For now, both sides say they remain committed to the spirit and letter of the accord.

 

For focus, I’m Bob Doughty²⁰.

 

注释：

herald¹ [5herEld] vt. 传达，欢呼

autonomy [C:5tCnEmi] n. 自治

referendum [7refE5rendEm] n. 公民投票

secession [si5seFEn] n. 脱离

disparate [5dispErEt] adj. 异类的；不同的

derail [di5reil] vt. 出轨；脱轨

sentiment [5sentimEnt] n. 感情；情绪

skeptical [5skeptik(E)l] adj. 怀疑的

O.A.U. 非洲统一组织（Organization of African Unity），简称非统

landlocked [5lAndlRkt] adj. 为陆地所包围的

fraught [frC:t] adj. 充满……的

envoy [5envCi] n. 外交使节，特使

1 herald   

vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎

参考例句：

• In England, the cuckoo is the herald of spring.在英国杜鹃鸟是报春的使者。
• Dawn is the herald of day.曙光是白昼的先驱。

2 heralds   

n.使者( herald的名词复数 )；预报者；预兆；传令官v.预示( herald的第三人称单数 )；宣布（好或重要）

参考例句：

• The song of birds heralds the approach of spring. 百鸟齐鸣报春到。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The wind sweeping through the tower heralds a rising storm in the mountain. 山雨欲来风满楼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

4 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

5 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

6 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

7 opt   

vi.选择，决定做某事

参考例句：

• They opt for more holiday instead of more pay.他们选择了延长假期而不是增加工资。
• Will individual schools be given the right to opt out of the local school authority?各个学校可能有权选择退出地方教育局吗？

8 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

9 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

10 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

11 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

12 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

13 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

14 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》

15 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

16 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

17 fraught   

adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的

参考例句：

• The coming months will be fraught with fateful decisions.未来数月将充满重大的决定。
• There's no need to look so fraught!用不着那么愁眉苦脸的！

18 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

19 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

20 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。