2006年VOA标准英语-Congolese Hope For The Best, Brace For The Wors

By Nico Colombant
Kinshasa
29 July 2006
 
On the eve of the Democratic Republic of Congo's first open election in over forty years, many Congolese are hoping for the best, but bracing¹ for the worst.  Many are worried about the outcome of the post-war election, once results are announced.

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Political protests are common in the Democratic Republic of Congo  
  
Crowds running away from police became a familiar scene in the last days of campaigning in Kinshasa.

So was rioting, and people dying in election-related violence.

There were also exchanges of gunfire between armed groups associated with former rebel-leaders-turned-candidates and the presidential guard.

In other parts of the country, the situation was much the same. 

Many Congolese express concerns that the election was not well prepared and that losers might resort to violence.

Congo's election Sunday pits incumbent² President Joseph Kabila, the son of a former slain³ coup⁴ leader initially⁵ backed by Rwanda, against 31 other candidates.

A volunteer for one of the presidential candidates says the international community, which already pays more than $1 billion in peacekeeping here, must remain committed.

"When you bring in mind historical events of the country, all solutions that were imposed by overseas [foreign powers] were usually a failure," he said.  "So that's why I think they should take care of all this situation to save the country and restore peace."

The DRC remains⁶ plagued with poverty despite great mineral wealth opportunities   
  
Many opposed to Mr. Kabila think the vote is being rigged in his favor to protect European and American business interests in the country's vast mineral sector⁷.

Recent rallies for the opposition⁸ candidates have turned ominous⁹, with demonstrators suggesting that foreigners will be killed if the president wins.

A militant¹⁰ boycotting¹¹ the process shared some of his rage with VOA.

"Congolese people don't want Mr. Kabila," he explained.  "If Kabila wins the election, we will be sorry because we will say he cheated, so Kabila will not be president of Congo. And if our election commission designated Mr. Kabila as president, Congolese people will be all the time in the streets to [ask for] our rights. And the Kabila-like dictator will oppress the people and it will not be good for everybody."

Whether Mr. Kabila, or another former rebel leader loses, many are afraid the losers might take up arms again.

The deputy head of the United Nations' huge peacekeeping mission, Ross Mountain, says the international community is well aware of such perceptions and fears.

He insists the vote will be as free and fair as possible, given the challenges in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  He says a successful election is key to restoring stability throughout Africa.

He also says voting is just one part of the ongoing¹² peace process.

 
Ross Mountain
  
"We regard the elections as a central part of the stabilization¹³ process, an essential part, and an absolutely necessary part, but not sufficient for ensuring stabilization in the Congo," noted¹⁴ Mountain.  "In order that this country stabilizes¹⁵ and plays the role, the potential of the country, which is enormous as you know with its rich mineral wealth and other resources, can be brought to bear for the benefit of the population, the international community will need to continue to stand by it in areas like security sector reform."

Some Congolese try to be more positive in regards to the outcome of the election, like Sampao Kinsa, a supporter of the eldest¹⁶ candidate, Antoine Gizenga.

He explains that historically, Congolese have tried to organize their own open election since the start of a national conference in 1991, when the power of the corrupt¹⁷, long-time president Mobutu Sese Seko started declining.

"Those who are saying they are preparing to fast, I think within more than 15 years, they've been unable to solve this problem," he said.  "This is the point. We will receive more help from outside.  People are suffering too much to solve this problem, we have to give legitimacy¹⁸ to the leaders and to make legal institutions, this is my point."

A one-round legislative¹⁹ election will also take place Sunday, leading to the selection of a prime minister who will have expanded powers under a new constitution approved last December.

1 bracing   

adj.令人振奋的

参考例句：

• The country is bracing itself for the threatened enemy invasion. 这个国家正准备奋起抵抗敌人的入侵威胁。
• The atmosphere in the new government was bracing. 新政府的气氛是令人振奋的。

2 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

3 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。

4 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。

5 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

6 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。

7 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

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 ominous   

adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的

参考例句：

• Those black clouds look ominous for our picnic.那些乌云对我们的野餐来说是个不祥之兆。
• There was an ominous silence at the other end of the phone.电话那头出现了不祥的沉默。

10 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

11 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。

12 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

13 Stabilization   

稳定化

参考例句：

• The position of barycentre on plane directly impacts the stabilization and manipulation of plane. 飞机重心位置直接影响飞机的稳定和操纵特性。
• With the higher olefins, stabilization of the energetic intermediates occurs more easily. 在较高的烯烃情况下，高能的中间物稳定作用更易出现。

14 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

15 stabilizes   

n.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的名词复数 )v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The broadbased attachment of the mesenteric root stabilizes the small bowel. 肠系膜根部基底宽阔的附着面使小肠得以稳定。 来自辞典例句
• The available supply of industrial product and produce stabilizes growth. 工业品与农产品的有效供给稳定增长。 来自互联网

16 eldest   

adj.最年长的，最年老的

参考例句：

• The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。
• The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。

17 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。

18 legitimacy   

n.合法，正当

参考例句：

• The newspaper was directly challenging the government's legitimacy.报纸直接质疑政府的合法性。
• Managing from the top down,we operate with full legitimacy.我们进行由上而下的管理有充分的合法性。

19 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。