VOA常速英语2008年-France Launching Mission to Free Hostage in Col

By Lisa Bryant
Paris
02 April 2008

France says it has launched a humanitarian¹ mission with the assistance of Spain and Switzerland to help an ailing² French-Colombian politician who has been held by Colombian rebels for the past six years. Lisa Bryant in Paris has more on the mission.

The French government says the mission will include a doctor and aims to help 46-year-old leftist politician Ingrid Betancourt, who has been held hostage by Colombia's Revolutionary Armed Forces or FARC since 2002. The plight³ of Betancourt, who holds both French and Colombian citizenship⁴, is a popular cause in France where posters of her face are plastered on many public buildings.

In a recorded statement from the Elysee palace in Paris, French President Nicolas Sarkozy urged FARC commanders to release Betancourt, who is believed to be seriously ill.

Mr. Sarkozy said that by freeing Betancourt and other ailing hostages, the Colombian rebel group will offer relief to Betancourt's family and appease⁵ the international community. He said her release would open up the possibility of peace in Colombia and he urged FARC rebels to seize the opportunity.

The French government has divulged⁶ almost no information about the mission. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said it would leave as soon as possible. News agencies reported that a Colombian official told a local radio station it was already underway.

At a news conference in Paris, Betancourt's son Lorenzo said his mother is suffering from hepatitis B and a skin disease. Without a blood transfusion⁷, he told reporters, she could die.

Lorenzo Betancourt suggested his mother is strong, despite her illness. She would go on to the very end, he said. But he said it was time for the FARC and the international community to act.

FARC is a Marxist guerrilla movement that has been fighting the Colombian government for more than 40 years. It is believed to be holding more than 700 people hostage in Colombia's jungles - including Betancourt.

1 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。

2 ailing   

v.生病

参考例句：

• They discussed the problems ailing the steel industry. 他们讨论了困扰钢铁工业的问题。
• She looked after her ailing father. 她照顾有病的父亲。

3 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

4 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

5 appease   

v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足

参考例句：

• He tried to appease the crying child by giving him candy.他试图给那个啼哭的孩子糖果使他不哭。
• The government tried to appease discontented workers.政府试图安抚不满的工人们。

6 divulged   

v.吐露，泄露( divulge的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He divulged nothing to him save the terrible handicap of being young. 他想不出个所以然来，只是想到自己年纪尚幼，极端不利。 来自辞典例句
• The spy divulged the secret plans to the enemy. 那名间谍把秘密计划泄漏给敌人。 来自辞典例句

7 transfusion   

n.输血，输液

参考例句：

• She soon came to her senses after a blood transfusion.输血后不久她就苏醒了。
• The doctor kept him alive by a blood transfusion.医生靠输血使他仍然活着。