VOA标准英语 Lack of Effective Somali Government Root of Piracy P

Piracy¹ off the coast of Somalia has become a multi-million dollar business as armed Somali gunmen attack all sorts of vessels³ - from small pleasure crafts to giant oil supertankers - transiting⁴ the region. The pirates are not interested in the cargo⁵ or crew. They only want ransom⁶ money that can reach several million dollars per vessel².
　
An aerial photo taken by the French navy on 15 Apr 2009 shows a pirate 'mother ship' east of Mombasa, Kenya

In an effort to combat piracy, naval⁷ ships from the United States, the European Union, China, Russia, India and others have been dispatched to the region - especially to the Gulf⁸ of Aden. But analysts¹⁰, such as J. Peter Pham with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, say the pirates have changed their tactics.

"However, perversely¹¹, because of that increased international presence in the Gulf of Aden, the pirates have shifted their operations to the western part of the Indian Ocean,'" he said. "And that presents a problem, because the approximately two dozen ships from various navies of the world, including the United States, the European Union, Russia, China and others, cannot possibly cover the more than one million square miles of the area that the pirates have now shifted their operations onto," he said.

International navies can do little
　
Sailors stand on deck of the USS Bainbridge as it sails into Mombasa harbor, 16 Apr 2009

Many analysts say increasing the international naval presence in the region will do little to stem the piracy problem.

Experts say pirates operate from well-known bases on the Somali coast.

Peter Chalk, a maritime¹² security analyst⁹ with the RAND Corporation, says the naval presence does not address the problem of the coastal¹³ Somali communities.

"For the coastal communities, the pirates are the major economic influx¹⁴ to their livelihood¹⁵. Piracy is stimulating¹⁶ local economies in many of these areas. A whole trade is emerging around the logistics to provide for ships when they are in port," he noted¹⁷. "And it's rumored¹⁸ that at least 20 percent of ransom payments are re-invested back into coastal communities. So the coastal communities themselves have no vested interest in turning in the pirates and have a great deal of interest in protecting them," he said.

The option of attacking pirate bases

Analysts such as Retired¹⁹ U.S. Army Colonel Ralph Peters say it may be necessary to attack the pirate bases in Somalia.

"So what you could do is when you have identified a village or port town that is clearly supporting piracy, you go in and destroy every vessel in the harbor. That would help. It would get people's attention. Because if you are not willing to punish people severely²⁰ for crimes and are not willing to affect the livelihoods²¹ of those who support the criminals, you are not going to get real results," he said.

J. Peter Pham says the pirate bases are well known.

"Ninety percent of the Somali piracy occurs out of two ports, [Eyl and Haraardheere]. We know where they are. We even know who the pirate leaders are because they use their fabulous²² wealth to build huge and rather ostentatious mansions²³ that are there for everyone to see," he said.

But analyst Peter Chalk questions whether attacking Somali territory is the right answer.
　
A pirate taking a stroll on shore in Hobyo, Somalia (2008 file photo)

"What I hope does not happen is that we get a dramatic response - we start sending a military force, particularly on land - because the possibilities of civilian²⁴ casualties are enormous. In the end, this is simply a form of crime," he said. "It's a law enforcement problem and to have a military solution to a law enforcement problem, in my opinion, is not the way to go. And you are almost certainly going to create a situation far worse than the one that you are confronting at the moment," he added.

Somali good governance key to solution

Chalk says one way to address the problem is for the international community to provide the countries around Somalia - Kenya, Djibouti and Yemen - with coastal patrol boats to confront the pirates.

But virtually all analysts agree that to defeat piracy the international community must address the root of the problem: Somalia itself, which has been without an effective central government since 1991.

"Ultimately, there can never be a solution to the disorder²⁵ at sea without a resolution of the statelessness and lack of an effective government on Somali territory, on land. Because that is what gives the pirates an opportunity to essentially²⁶ have a safe haven²⁷ for their piracy," said analyst J. Peter Pham.

Pham and other analysts say that without an effective system of governance in Somalia, piracy will continue to flourish. But they say that for now, very few governments have shown much interest in addressing Somalia's problems.

1 piracy   

n.海盗行为，剽窃，著作权侵害

参考例句：

• The government has already adopted effective measures against piracy.政府已采取有效措施惩治盗版行为。
• They made the place a notorious centre of piracy.他们把这地方变成了臭名昭著的海盗中心。

2 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

3 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 transiting   

通过（transit的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• The effect of the transiting mechanic required reserve system vehicle is low. 准备金制度的传导机制的作用是很低的。
• I was busy transiting to the telescope. 我正忙着旋转望远镜。

5 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

6 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。

7 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

8 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

9 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

10 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

11 perversely   

adv. 倔强地

参考例句：

• Intelligence in the mode of passion is always perversely. 受激情属性控制的智力，总是逆着活动的正确方向行事。
• She continue, perversely, to wear shoes that damaged her feet. 她偏偏穿那双挤脚的鞋。

12 maritime   

adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的

参考例句：

• Many maritime people are fishermen.许多居于海滨的人是渔夫。
• The temperature change in winter is less in maritime areas.冬季沿海的温差较小。

13 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

14 influx   

n.流入，注入

参考例句：

• The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.这个国家实在不能接纳这么多涌入的难民。
• Textile workers favoured protection because they feared an influx of cheap cloth.纺织工人拥护贸易保护措施，因为他们担心涌入廉价纺织品。

15 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

16 stimulating   

adj.有启发性的，能激发人思考的

参考例句：

• shower gel containing plant extracts that have a stimulating effect on the skin 含有对皮肤有益的植物精华的沐浴凝胶
• This is a drug for stimulating nerves. 这是一种兴奋剂。

17 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。

18 rumored   

adj.传说的，谣传的v.传闻( rumor的过去式和过去分词 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• It is rumored that he cheats on his wife. 据传他对他老婆不忠。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It was rumored that the white officer had been a Swede. 传说那个白人军官是个瑞典人。 来自辞典例句

19 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

20 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

21 livelihoods   

生计，谋生之道( livelihood的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• First came the earliest individualistic pioneers who depended on hunting and fishing for their livelihoods. 走在最前面的是早期的个人主义先驱者，他们靠狩猎捕鱼为生。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• With little influence over policies, their traditional livelihoods are threatened. 因为马赛族人对政策的影响力太小，他们的传统生计受到了威胁。

22 fabulous   

adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的

参考例句：

• We had a fabulous time at the party.我们在晚会上玩得很痛快。
• This is a fabulous sum of money.这是一笔巨款。

23 mansions   

n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Fifth Avenue was boarded up where the rich had deserted their mansions. 第五大道上的富翁们已经出去避暑，空出的宅第都已锁好了门窗，钉上了木板。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Oh, the mansions, the lights, the perfume, the loaded boudoirs and tables! 啊，那些高楼大厦、华灯、香水、藏金收银的闺房还有摆满山珍海味的餐桌！ 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

24 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

25 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

26 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

27 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。