2007年VOA标准英语-Armed Group Threatens Renewed Attacks in Nigeri

By Sarah Simpson
Lagos
24 September 2007

One of the main armed groups operating in Nigeria's oil rich delta¹, The Movement for the Emancipation² of the Niger Delta, or MEND, has released a statement calling an end to a four-month ceasefire on attacks and kidnappings of expatriates. The statement follows unconfirmed reports that a leading figure in MEND was earlier this month arrested in Angola on arms trafficking charges. For VOA, Sarah Simpson has more from Lagos.

The statement, released in an e-mail by MEND Sunday, warned of a resumption of attacks on Nigeria's multi-billion dollar oil industry.

"With effect from 12 midnight today, Sunday 23, 2007, we will commence attacks on installations and abduction of expatriates," the statement read.

Attacks will come without warning, though MEND will release a statement confirming their involvement soon after, the e-mail said.

Previous MEND warnings have resulted in bombings of oil facilities and abductions of foreigner workers that cut Nigeria's oil production by up to 25 percent from the past two years and forced up oil prices worldwide.

The statement also refuted recent reports that 'Jomo Gbomo' - the pseudonym³ for MEND's mysterious spokesperson - was arrested earlier this month in Angola for gun running.

Nigerian police spokesman Haz Iwendi told VOA he could not confirm the reports of Jomo Gbomo's arrest.

No reporter has ever knowingly met Jomo Gbomo, whose sole means of communicating with journalists is by e-mail.

MEND and other militant⁴ groups in the region are seeking a greater share of the region's oil wealth. Most Niger Delta residents are impoverished⁵, despite the billions of dollars the government and oil companies reap from oil production.

Their campaign of bombings and abductions of expatriate workers operating in the delta was suspended as new President Umaru Yar'Adua took office in May. MEND said the cessation of hostilities⁶ was to facilitate dialogue.

Four months later, MEND accuses President Yar'Adua's government of failing to address the problems in the delta and attacks will resume.

"We will not sit back and allow our birth right to be exchanged for a bowl of porridge," said MEND's latest e-mail.

President Yar'Adua is currently in the United States for the opening of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. President Yar'Adua has repeatedly said finding a solution to the violence that has left scores of military, militants⁷ and civilians⁸ dead in the Niger Delta is a priority for his administration.

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 emancipation   

n.（从束缚、支配下）解放

参考例句：

• We must arouse them to fight for their own emancipation. 我们必须唤起他们为其自身的解放而斗争。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They rejoiced over their own emancipation. 他们为自己的解放感到欢欣鼓舞。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 pseudonym   

n.假名，笔名

参考例句：

• Eric Blair wrote under the pseudonym of George Orwell.埃里克·布莱尔用乔治·奧威尔这个笔名写作。
• Both plays were published under the pseudonym of Philip Dayre.两个剧本都是以菲利普·戴尔的笔名出版的。

4 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。

5 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 hostilities   

n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事

参考例句：

• Mexico called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. 墨西哥要求立即停止敌对行动。
• All the old hostilities resurfaced when they met again. 他们再次碰面时，过去的种种敌意又都冒了出来。

7 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。

8 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。