2007年VOA标准英语-Ethiopia Pardons 38 Opposition Members

By Nick Wadhams
Nairobi
20 July 2007

Ethiopia announced Thursday it had pardoned 38 opposition¹ leaders and activists² just days after its high court sentenced many of them to life in prison for their role in post-election protests in 2005. As Nick Wadhams reports from our East Africa bureau in Nairobi, the move comes after allegations that Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's government was using the convictions to crack down on his opponents.

One of the politicians released in Addis Ababa, 20 July 2007

Just hours after the pardons were announced, three buses were seen taking the 38 to freedom. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said he hoped the pardons, issued Thursday but announced Friday, would show that his government would give people a second chance if they ask for it.

On Tuesday, a state-owned newspaper had published a letter in which the group purportedly³ asked for forgiveness after they were convicted of treason and trying to overthrow⁴ the constitution.

Many of those on trial had refused to defend themselves because they believed the process was a sham⁵. One leading opposition member, former Ethiopian President Negasso Gidada, says the cases never should have gone to court in the first place.

"Speaking from the humanitarian⁶ side, for the people who were in prison, that they are released I think very good, but politically we have been saying that imprisonment⁷ shouldn't have taken place. Because they were acting⁸ politically and we were demanding that they come out," he said. "This is a political condition and you cannot solve political problems with legal or administrative⁹ or by force. You have to solve political problems politically. The government refused."

The trial, convictions and harsh sentences had drawn¹⁰ widespread criticism from the international community. Rights groups have said it was part of a larger move by Prime Minister Meles to silence all his opponents, while the United States, Ethiopia's most important ally, had sought clemency¹².

Several of those convicted were leaders of the opposition Coalition¹³ for Unity¹¹ and Democracy Party, which had made major gains in the 2005 elections.

Former president Gidada says the government may have had other motives¹⁴ in releasing the prisoners.

"It's also somehow showing power, you put people in prison whenever you want and then you release them telling the people, you see I am strong and showing strength somehow trying to convey to the people that the government is magnanimous although it's not really magnanimous," he said. "This is a game which is being played."

Nearly 200 people were killed including six police in the post-election demonstrations¹⁵ in 2005, and some 30,000 people were later arrested. An independent inquiry¹⁶ into the 2005 protests had concluded that the government responded too harshly.

It's still not clear what will happen to the another 37 people who were convicted on similar charges during the trial. But the government has said it would consider clemency appeals for them.

1 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。

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 purportedly   

adv.据称

参考例句：

• This is purportedly the oldest tree in the world. 据称这是世界上最古老的一棵树。 来自互联网
• Mayor Oh Se-Hoon launched the campaign last year, purportedly to improve efficiency. 据悉，首尔市市长吴世勋于去年提出了这项旨在提高工作效率的计划。 来自互联网

4 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

5 sham   

n./adj.假冒(的)，虚伪(的)

参考例句：

• They cunningly played the game of sham peace.他们狡滑地玩弄假和平的把戏。
• His love was a mere sham.他的爱情是虚假的。

6 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

7 imprisonment   

n.关押，监禁，坐牢

参考例句：

• His sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment.他的判决由死刑减为无期徒刑。
• He was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for committing bigamy.他因为犯重婚罪被判入狱一年。

8 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

9 administrative   

adj.行政的，管理的

参考例句：

• The administrative burden must be lifted from local government.必须解除地方政府的行政负担。
• He regarded all these administrative details as beneath his notice.他认为行政管理上的这些琐事都不值一顾。

10 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

11 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

12 clemency   

n.温和，仁慈，宽厚

参考例句：

• The question of clemency would rest with the King.宽大处理问题，将由国王决定。
• They addressed to the governor a plea for clemency.他们向州长提交了宽刑的申辨书。

13 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

14 motives   

n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• to impeach sb's motives 怀疑某人的动机
• His motives are unclear. 他的用意不明。

15 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

16 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。