2006年VOA标准英语-Explosion Coincides With Congolese Rebel Rally

By Nico Colombant
Kinshasa
27 July 2006

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a fire has broken out at the security camp of a former rebel leader just as he was holding a large campaign rally in the capital Kinshasa ahead of Sunday's post-war election. 

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Remainder of camp for militiamen seen in background in Kinshasa, July 27, 2006   
  
Smoke rose through the air near the camp of security guards for the former rebel leader turned interim¹ vice² president and current presidential candidate, Jean-Pierre Bemba.

Dozens of people, some of them bleeding, fled from the camp but soldiers refused to give journalists access to the area.

The cause of the fire was not immediately clear, but it followed an explosion, which came right after a jet screeched³ at low altitude over downtown Kinshasa. A U.N. diplomat⁴ said the jet belonged to the European Rapid Reaction Force, which is there to help with security during the elections. He added that the jet was not the cause of the explosion. He believed the fire was caused by the camp's munitions⁵ stores.

 
Bemba supporters in Kinshasa 
  
There are also reports that a church was burned down near the stadium wheer Bemba supporters were gathered awaiting his arrival.

When asked, most, like this man, said they were for Bemba because they said he is a real Congolese.

"I like Bemba to become president of Congo because he is from Congo, he is Congolese of origin, ok, you understand?" he said.
 

Kabila posters have been burned  
  
Opponents of the current interim president, Joseph Kabila, the son of slain⁶ coup⁷ leader, Laurent Desire Kabila, point to the fact he grew up abroad in Tanzania and Uganda. They say his mother is not Congolese and that he works only in the interests of western powers and companies. He denies this. Mr. Kabila also says no one is more Congolese than he is.

Meanwhile, Bemba has been trying to get the support of a main opposition⁸ party which is boycotting⁹ Sunday's election. Their supporters have also called Mr. Kabila a foreigner, and accuse western powers of rigging the vote in his favor.

The worlds largest United Nations peacekeeping mission which is helping¹⁰ organize the vote denies this.

Inside the stadium as crowds waited, there were more slogans demanding Mr. Kabila get out of Congo.

This man said he was singing Bemba's praise as new head of state. He says Congolese know where he comes from and who his family is. His father was one of the most influential¹¹ businessmen during the three-decade corrupt¹² rule of Joseph Mobutu.

Bemba made his own money during the 1980s and 1990s dealing¹³ with rebels from Angola and in the cell phone industry.

During Congos most recent war, Bemba became the leader of a Uganda-backed rebellion.

Many Congolese, like this student, fear he would become a ruthless president.

"I dont think hes a good man. I dont think so. I dont know if he can do something for our country," she said.

She also shares the fears of many that if Bemba loses, he might start a new rebellion with many armed men still loyal to him.
  

Police had to intervene in violence in Kinshasa  
  
"Me too, I am so afraid," she added. I"f he loses, he can create a war in our country. He said that himself. We are so afraid of that. We dont know. But we have to do elections for our future. It is so important."

Mr. Kabila is expected to hold a rally Friday in Kinshasa. Another candidate who has filled stadiums is the U.S.-trained doctor Oscar Kashala, leading many to believe a second round of the presidential vote will be needed, if no candidate gains more than 50 percent.

There has been other recent violence in Kinshasa, including the brutal¹⁴ repression¹⁵ of an anti-vote march this week.

There are 30 other presidential candidates, but most have stopped campaigning, saying the process is not free and fair, while those still running appear to have only limited regional appeal.

A one-round legislative¹⁶ election will also take place.

1 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。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 screeched   

v.发出尖叫声( screech的过去式和过去分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫

参考例句：

• She screeched her disapproval. 她尖叫着不同意。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The car screeched to a stop. 汽车嚓的一声停住了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

5 munitions   

n.军火，弹药；v.供应…军需品

参考例句：

• The army used precision-guided munitions to blow up enemy targets.军队用精确瞄准的枪炮炸掉敌方目标。
• He rose [made a career for himself] by dealing in munitions.他是靠贩卖军火发迹的。

6 slain   

杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词)

参考例句：

• The soldiers slain in the battle were burried that night. 在那天夜晚埋葬了在战斗中牺牲了的战士。
• His boy was dead, slain by the hand of the false Amulius. 他的儿子被奸诈的阿缪利乌斯杀死了。

7 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

8 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。

9 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。

10 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

11 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

12 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

13 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

14 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

15 repression   

n.镇压，抑制，抑压

参考例句：

• The repression of your true feelings is harmful to your health.压抑你的真实感情有害健康。
• This touched off a new storm against violent repression.这引起了反对暴力镇压的新风暴。

16 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。