2007年VOA标准英语-Leaflets Urge Kenyan Youth to Rise Up Against G

By Alisha Ryu
Nairobi
31 May 2007

For the second time in two weeks, the widespread distribution of leaflets urging Kenyans to rise up against the government has put Kenyan authorities on high alert. From Nairobi, VOA Correspondent Alisha Ryu has details.

The latest batch¹ of leaflets turned up late Wednesday in downtown Nairobi and in some towns on the outskirts² of the capital.

Written in English, the leaflets urge Kenyans to rise up and take control of the country. They say the government of President Mwai Kibaki has failed to fulfill³ promises it made when it took power in 2002.

The leaflets express anger and outrage⁴ over Kenya's high unemployment rate, especially among young people, and accuse the country's minister of internal security, John Machuki, of compromising the country's security by employing thousands of members of a banned sect⁵ called the Mungiki as security officers.

"There were some papers which were distributed yesterday," said Joseph Wanjohi, a personal assistant to Minister Machuki. "He has them now. He has not commented on it personally."

outlawed6 Mungiki sect, 17 April 2007" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070608/1029410.jpg" width="211" vspace="2" border="0" />

Kenyan police officers investigate violence believed to be caused by outlawed Mungiki sect, 17 April 2007

Similarly worded anti-government leaflets were found across three provinces in Kenya two weeks ago. The leaflets caused panic because the authors were believed to members of the Mungiki, formed in the late 1980s as a secret religious, quasi political group. It has since evolved into a mafia-like criminal organization.

The Mungiki, whose membership draws entirely⁷ from Kenya's largest tribe called the Kikuyu, has been most active during election years and this year has been no exception.

Kenya is scheduled to hold presidential elections in December. Since February, the group is believed to have carried out numerous violent crimes, including kidnappings and beheadings, in Nairobi and in parts of central and eastern provinces.

Many Kenyans believe that the Mungiki count politicians among its supporters - even among its ranks - and that some politicians are using the Mungiki to create fear and intimidate⁸ voters. In recent days, the police have arrested several members of parliament on charges of being associated with the sect.

The latest leaflets, accusing the country's internal security minister of having ties to the Mungiki, have caused confusion about who is really behind the call for public rebellion.

The official spokesman for the Kenyan police, Eric Kiraithe, tells VOA that a major police investigation⁹ is under way.

"We warn everybody [that] anybody attempting to create violence will only have themselves to blame," he said. "That is a criminal offense¹⁰ and we are taking it to the seriousness it deserves."

Despite earlier promises to step down, President Kibaki is expected to run for a second five-year term in December.

1 batch   

n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量

参考例句：

• The first batch of cakes was burnt.第一炉蛋糕烤焦了。
• I have a batch of letters to answer.我有一批信要回复。

2 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

3 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

4 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。

5 sect   

n.派别，宗教，学派，派系

参考例句：

• When he was sixteen he joined a religious sect.他16岁的时候加入了一个宗教教派。
• Each religious sect in the town had its own church.该城每一个宗教教派都有自己的教堂。

6 outlawed   

宣布…为不合法（outlaw的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Most states have outlawed the use of marijuana. 大多数州都宣布使用大麻为非法行为。
• I hope the sale of tobacco will be outlawed someday. 我希望有朝一日烟草制品会禁止销售。

7 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

8 intimidate   

vt.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• You think you can intimidate people into doing what you want?你以为你可以威胁别人做任何事？
• The first strike capacity is intended mainly to intimidate adversary.第一次攻击的武力主要是用来吓阻敌方的。

9 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

10 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。