2006年VOA标准英语-Benin Awaits Election Results as Fraud All

By Joe Bavier
Abidjan
09 March 2006

Benin is awaiting results from presidential elections, as allegations of fraud are mounting. Sunday's vote started in confusion when the outgoing president said the process was lacking in transparency, but so far there is little evidence of any wrongdoing. 

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People stand in voting queues during presidential elections in Cotonou, March 5, 2006  
  

Officials from Benin's national elections commission say results from the first round vote are likely to be handed over to the constitutional court late Thursday or early Friday.

But in the days since Sunday's presidential election, fraud allegations that dogged the process even before the country's four million voters went to the polls continue to grow, threatening to tarnish¹ Benin's image as a bastion of stable democracy in the region.

Two of the 26 candidates who contested the first round want voting to be redone in parts of Benin. Others have denounced administrative² problems on election day that led to a lack of voting materials at many polling stations.

Supporters of the apparent front-runner, the former head of the West African development bank, Yayi Boni, accuse the government of intimidation³. Still, social activist⁴ and Boni supporter Paul Tevoedjre says Boni's supporters will continue to respect the peaceful atmosphere in which the elections took place.

"We don't want violence. We don't want bloodshed," he said. "We are doing everything [so] that there is no way we want bloodshed in Benin, especially for elections."

Security forces blocked Boni supporters from holding a news conference Tuesday. Outgoing President Mathieu Kerekou, speaking after casting his vote Sunday, said the election was marked by a lack of transparency.

However, international elections observers have called the vote free and fair. And Tevoedjre says he is not surprised by the this week's events.

"You know that those who are in power don't want to leave the power," said Tevoedjre. "It was the sugar in their mouths that was so sweet. And now, they are trying to find out the way they can try to maintain the old regime."

In spite of the early problems Sunday, which in many cases caused polling stations to open hours after the scheduled start times, the polls were held without much of the partisan⁵ violence that regularly mars elections in the region.

And even as the debate over fraud allegations and election transparency continues, local journalist Gerard Guedegbe says the people of Benin have remained calm.

"We cannot say that there is some tension," he said. "Though of course there is very hot debate on politics and all this, because, since yesterday, some candidates, which are likely to win the election, have started negotiating with some potential candidates to get support."

A 48-hour protest window follows the announcement of first round results. A second round will be required two weeks later, if no single candidate wins an outright⁶ majority.

Mr. Kerekou, who has been president for all but five years in the past three decades, was barred from running because of a constitutional age limit and a ban on seeking a third elected term.

1 tarnish   

n.晦暗，污点；vt.使失去光泽；玷污

参考例句：

• The affair could tarnish the reputation of the prime minister.这一事件可能有损首相的名誉。
• Stainless steel products won't tarnish.不锈钢产品不会失去光泽。

2 administrative   

adj.行政的，管理的

参考例句：

• The administrative burden must be lifted from local government.必须解除地方政府的行政负担。
• He regarded all these administrative details as beneath his notice.他认为行政管理上的这些琐事都不值一顾。

3 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

4 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

5 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

6 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。