2007年VOA标准英语-Nigerians Call for Release of Separatist Leader

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
28 June 2007

The recent release of Niger Delta¹ militant² Mujahid Dokubo-Asari has prompted calls for the immediate³ release of another separatist leader from the southeast. For VOA, Gilbert da Costa reports from Abuja.

Ralph Uwazuruike, leader of the banned Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), is the only high-profile militant leader still being held in Nigeria.

Jailed Nigerian separatist leader Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, exits the Federal High court in Abuja, 13 March 2007

Niger Delta militant Mujahid Dokubo-Asari and two separatist leaders from the southwest, who were arrested just about the time as Uwazuruike, have all been released.

MASSOB was formed in 1991 to campaign for a separate sovereign state for ethnic⁴ Igbos of southeastern Nigeria.

The Igbo umbrella group, Ohaneaze Ndi Igbo, says Uwazuruike's continued incarceration⁵ is not only unfair, but a confirmation⁶ of Igbo's marginalization in Nigerian politics. Odunze Nayelegu speaks on behalf of the group.

"We feel so bad because the organization led by Ralph Uwazuruike is not violent," he said.  "It is not a militant group. They are simply expressing their minds. They have been marginalized and they want their own separate state. Is that why he should be locked up? Moreover, the OPC [Odua Peoples Congress], their leaders have been discharged. Niger Delta has done worse than any other organization in this country, their man has been discharged. There is no Igbo man, nobody from the southeast in the leadership of this country, nobody is speaking for us."

Nigeria's 40 million ethnic Igbos have consistently accused federal authorities of excluding them from national politics.

An attempt by some southeastern senators to force a debate on Uwazuruike's release on the floor of the upper legislative⁷ house on Wednesday was thrown out on the grounds it would interfere⁸ with the judicial⁹ process.

Uwazuruike and 10 of his supporters were arrested 18 months ago for allegedly forming an ethnic militia¹⁰ to topple the government.

Igbo secessionists plunged¹¹ Nigeria into a 30-month civil war in 1967 with the proclamation of a Republic of Biafra. More than one million people reportedly died.

The new Nigeria leadership has pledged to make national reconciliation¹² a priority.

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 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。

3 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

4 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

5 incarceration   

n.监禁，禁闭；钳闭

参考例句：

• He hadn't changed much in his nearly three years of incarceration. 在将近三年的监狱生活中，他变化不大。 来自辞典例句
• Please, please set it free before it bursts from its long incarceration! 请你，请你将这颗心释放出来吧！否则它会因长期的禁闭而爆裂。 来自辞典例句

6 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

7 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。

8 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

9 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

10 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

11 plunged   

v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
• She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。

12 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。