2007年VOA标准英语-For Former Niger Delta Militant, Peace Work Not

By Kari Barber
Port Harcourt
12 June 2007
 

As kidnappings of foreign oil workers and attacks on oil facilities in Nigeria's Niger Delta¹ continue to escalate² this year, one former militant³ fighter has taken the risky⁴ step of denouncing the violence and becoming a peace worker.   Kari Barber has more on his story from Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta.

Justice of the Peace, also known as Juju Priest

Known as "Justice of the Peace" or Juju Priest, JP was a shoot-on-sight commander for a militant group called the Greenlanders.

He says leaving the gang has given him a new chance at life. "That woman (pointing), she is saying 'JP.'  She is a good friend of mine.  If I were still a militant, she would be afraid of me."

But working for peace comes with its own risks. JP attended the memorial service for a close friend, militant-turned-peace worker Casi Boate.

Friends say Boate let down his guard too quickly and a member of JP's old gang killed him in a retaliation⁵ shooting.

JP and Boate are pictured here with Judith Asuni, director of Academic Associates PeaceWorks. They were part of an elite⁶ advisory⁷ group on militant activities.

JP spoke⁸ at the funeral. "We never betrayed ourselves.  We have been together in a time when we did not believe we could do it."

The advisory team is made up of peace workers and other former militants⁹. Back in the office the next day, the team maps out a plan to discuss the region's unrest with newly-elected government officials.

JP says he cannot stop thinking about Boate, but he knows his friend would want him to be here. "I feel regrets sometimes because the people who choose to bring about peace are losing their lives."

JP is keeping a low profile, staying in a family member's home.  He says his wife fears he could be next. "My wife is worried about me because she wants me to be alive for all time for her and our babies.  And, I too, I would never like to leave this Earth until the day God says -- not by violence."

But the risks are not enough to keep JP off the streets, even if it means taking this path alone.

1 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

2 escalate   

v.(使)逐步增长(或发展)，(使)逐步升级

参考例句：

• It would tempt Israel's neighbors to escalate their demands.它将诱使以色列的邻国不断把他们的要求升级。
• Defeat could cause one side or other to escalate the conflict.失败可能会导致其中一方将冲突升级。

3 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。

4 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

5 retaliation   

n.报复，反击

参考例句：

• retaliation against UN workers 对联合国工作人员的报复
• He never said a single word in retaliation. 他从未说过一句反击的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

7 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

8 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

9 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。