VOA标准英语2009年-Nigeria Amnesty Official Hails Program as

The Nigerian government says its amnesty program in the Niger Delta¹ is progressing well and that last weekend's public surrender of weapons, the biggest since the amnesty began two weeks ago, marked a turning point in the process.
　
Niger Delta in Nigeria

Officials say 5,000 ex-militants² witnessed the handover of more than 500 assorted⁴ weapons, 100,000 rounds of ammunition⁵ and 14 gunboats in Bayelsa state last weekend.

But the main militant³ group, the Movement for the Emancipation⁶ of the Niger Delta, dismissed the amnesty program as "sheer deceit." It said the government had paid for weapons.

Amnesty Committee member Timiebe Koripamo-Agary reacted angrily to the allegation, saying it was in the best interest of militants to accept the amnesty offer.

"I don't think we need to pay anybody," said Timiebe Koripamo-Agary. "I think it is in the best interest of the boys that they lay down their weapons and get themselves organized for the next level of constitutional engagement. And also the fact that they have opportunity to acquire skills and training to earn a more sustainable and secured livelihood⁷."

The government portrays⁸ the amnesty as the first step in a process to bring peace to the region. Officials say as many as 10,000 rebels could accept the amnesty deal before the 60-day program ends on October fourth. So far, only a few thousand rebels have committed themselves to the program and fears had emerged that the plan could fall apart following its rejection⁹ by MEND.

Koripamo-Agaru tells VOA that the public acceptance of the amnesty by a key rebel commander Ebikobowei Victor Ben popularly known as Boyloaf was a huge victory for the government initiative.

"I have received numerous calls from even MEND members who want to lay down their arms because of what happened on Saturday," said Koripamo-Agaru. "Nobody can write off Boyloaf with the wave of their hand. So it is a victory and it is obviously encouraging a lot of people to come out. So I am very happy."

Nigerian crude exports have fallen by around 40 percent since early 2006 when rebels launched a campaign of sabotage¹⁰ against the Africa's biggest oil and gas industry. Analysts¹¹ say without a comprehensive development plan for the region, the Niger Delta will remain very unstable¹².

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 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。

3 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。

4 assorted   

adj.各种各样的，各色俱备的

参考例句：

• There's a bag of assorted sweets on the table.桌子上有一袋什锦糖果。
• He has always assorted with men of his age.他总是与和他年令相仿的人交往。

5 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

6 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》

7 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。

8 portrays   

v.画像( portray的第三人称单数 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• The museum collection vividly portrays the heritage of 200 years of canals. 博物馆的藏品让运河200 年的历史再现眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The film portrays Gandhi as a kind of superman. 这部电影把甘地描绘成一个超人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 rejection   

n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃

参考例句：

• He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。
• The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒绝使她陷入了绝望的深渊。

10 sabotage   

n.怠工，破坏活动，破坏；v.从事破坏活动，妨害，破坏

参考例句：

• They tried to sabotage my birthday party.他们企图破坏我的生日晚会。
• The fire at the factory was caused by sabotage.那家工厂的火灾是有人蓄意破坏引起的。

11 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。

12 unstable   

adj.不稳定的，易变的

参考例句：

• This bookcase is too unstable to hold so many books.这书橱很不结实，装不了这么多书。
• The patient's condition was unstable.那患者的病情不稳定。