2007年VOA标准英语-UN Reports Abuse in West Darfur

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
20 July 2007

The U.N. High Commissioner¹ for Human Rights is urging the Government of Sudan to take immediate² action to protect thousands of civilians³ in the village of Bir Dagig, located about 30 kilometers north of El Geneina in West Darfur.  Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva the United Nations says the village residents have been subjected to abuse and intimidation⁴ for several months.

A displaced Sudanese woman carries her sons in Sudan's strife-torn Darfur region, (File)

The U.N. Human Rights Office says a local conflict early this year has accelerated and the situation for the residents of Bir Dagig has markedly deteriorated⁵ in recent weeks. 

The agency says the problem in the area was sparked by accusations⁶ from a neighboring Arab community that the villagers had stolen their livestock⁷.  The residents of Bir Dagig deny these charges. 

U.N. Human Rights spokesman, Jose Dias, says armed men in military uniform reportedly have committed a number of human rights abuses since July 1.  Although, he says villagers complain that the abuse, particularly against women and girls, has been going on since January.

"Men coming from or on behalf of this neighboring Arab community, they are said to be in uniforms and armed and to be coming or transported on camels and horseback," he noted⁸.  "As for the abuses that are said to have been committed-specifically, there have been beatings.  There have been abductions of men from the village, men and women from the village.  Also, gender-based violence.  Sexual abuse."  

Dias says the Sudanese government initially⁹ sent extra police to the village.  But, then withdrew them completely in April.  He says there are no police officers in the village now. 

He says the government also promised to investigate the alleged¹⁰ livestock theft and the human rights abuses.  He says this too has not been done, and the human rights abuses and intimidation persist.

Dias says UN human rights officials have visited Bir Dagig on two occasions.  During the first visit on July 1, he says the monitors documented a number of cases of abuse.

"On the 18th of July, our colleagues were on the ground in Bir Dagig, but had to withdraw due to insecurity," he recalled.  "In effect, they witnessed the arrival of armed men who surrounded the village center and demanded money in compensation for the alleged theft of the livestock.  The community, as you can imagine, does not have the funds to pay this compensation."   

Dias says around 4,500 people live in the village.  Many of the people have fled from the conflict in Darfur and are poor and homeless.

He says the community is being held to ransom¹¹.   It reportedly has agreed to pay $15,000 in compensation after the armed men threatened future attacks.   He says the United Nations is worried about further violence if the residents do not come up with the money.

1 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

2 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。

3 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

4 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

5 deteriorated   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Her health deteriorated rapidly, and she died shortly afterwards. 她的健康状况急剧恶化，不久便去世了。
• His condition steadily deteriorated. 他的病情恶化，日甚一日。

6 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

7 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。

8 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。

9 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。

10 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

11 ransom   

n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救

参考例句：

• We'd better arrange the ransom right away.我们最好马上把索取赎金的事安排好。
• The kidnappers exacted a ransom of 10000 from the family.绑架者向这家人家勒索10000英镑的赎金。