2006年VOA标准英语-Voters Go to Polls in Controversial Nepale

By Patricia Nunan
Kathmandu
08 February 2006

Polls have closed in Nepal's controversial municipal elections, which King Gyanendra said would be the first step toward restoring democratic freedoms across the country.  But voter turnout appeared to be low after political parties boycotted¹ the polls and communist insurgents² threatened to use violence to disrupt them.

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Nepalese-born Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala, center, casts her vote during the municipal elections at Biratnagar, Nepal, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006  
  

A slow trickle³ of voters made their way to a polling station in Jawalakha, a district of the capital Kathmandu.  Some say they turned out to show their support for King Gyanendra, who called the controversial election.

Seven mainstream⁴ political parties boycotted the poll.  They say it is undemocratic since the king called the election after he took control of the government last year, dismissing parliament and arresting political opponents.

King Gyanendra said he had to act because the political parties failed to organize elections or to quell⁵ a Maoist insurgency⁶.

This voter, a university student, says she agrees with the king. "We do not believe [the] political parties at all.  They have been ruling for so many years, but as a result, only Maoist proliferation and everything [has taken place].  But finally, the king has done quite well."

The elections are for roughly 4,100 positions for mayors and municipal councils across Nepal - but more than half the openings had no candidates.  While many local leaders are boycotting⁷ the election, others dropped out of races because of threats of violence.

The communist insurgents - who model their movement on the teachings of the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong - have waged a violent 10-year campaign to overturn Nepal's monarchy⁸.  More than 12000 people have died in the conflict. The group threatened to use violence to disrupt the election, although voting appeared to be relatively⁹ peaceful.  

In central Kathmandu, scores of people could be found passing through historic Durbar Square, but few lined up at its polling station. 

This man was among those refusing to participate.

He says, from what he has read in the media, the United States, United Kingdom and the United Nations have said the election is not really democratic.  He says he believes in democracy, so he is not taking part. 

 
King Gyanendra (file photo) 
  
Washington says it remains¹⁰ concerned about both the political situation in Nepal and the Maoist insurgency.  The State Department has called for King Gyanendra to initiate¹¹ a dialogue with the political parties and for them to work together to address the violence. 

Few were out on the streets of the capital after the government ordered its offices closed and banned most cars from the roads.  Hundreds of security personnel also stood guard along the roads and at polling stations.

Many businesses also remain closed for the fourth day after threats by Maoist rebels, who ordered a seven-day strike around the country.

The rebels killed two and took 10 people hostage late Tuesday in the eastern town of Dhankuta.  Also in the east, police arrested 30 anti-government protesters who had been preparing for a rally in the town of Biratnagar.

Election results are expected Thursday.

1 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。

2 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

3 trickle   

vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散

参考例句：

• The stream has thinned down to a mere trickle.这条小河变成细流了。
• The flood of cars has now slowed to a trickle.汹涌的车流现在已经变得稀稀拉拉。

4 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

5 quell   

v.压制，平息，减轻

参考例句：

• Soldiers were sent in to quell the riots.士兵们被派去平息骚乱。
• The armed force had to be called out to quell violence.不得不出动军队来镇压暴力行动。

6 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

7 boycotting   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They're boycotting the shop because the people there are on strike. 他们抵制那家商店，因为那里的店员在罢工。
• The main opposition parties are boycotting the elections. 主要反对党都抵制此次选举。

8 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

9 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

10 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。

11 initiate   

vt.开始，创始，发动；启蒙，使入门；引入

参考例句：

• A language teacher should initiate pupils into the elements of grammar.语言老师应该把基本语法教给学生。
• They wanted to initiate a discussion on economics.他们想启动一次经济学讨论。