VOA标准英语2009年-Former Congolese Rebels Desert DRC Army

Hundreds of former rebels have deserted¹ the Congolese army in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, citing complaints about pay and their assigned military ranks. The U.N. mission in Congo says discussions with the breakaway group are ongoing².

The group's renegade battalion³, led by a former rebel militia⁴ officer known as Jaguar⁵, deserted the Congolese army late Friday in the eastern province of North Kivu, though the rebellion was not reported until Tuesday.

The former rebels then attacked a local village 10 kilometers away, injuring civilians⁶ and stealing goods.

Jaguar was a commander under the rebel National Congress for the Defense⁷ of the People, known by its French initials of CNDP, led by Congolese Tutsi rebel Laurent Nkunda.

Nkunda, whose rebellion was once allegedly supported by the Rwandan government, was captured by Rwandan forces earlier this year and continues to be held by Rwandan authorities.

The CNDP signed a peace treaty with Kinshasa in March, and its soldiers were integrated into the ranks of the Congolese army.

Lieutenant⁸ Colonel Jean-Paul Dietrich, a spokesman for the U.N. mission in Congo, known as MONUC, says that three main reasons were given for the desertion.

"The reasons brought up varies, saying that they were not satisfied with delayed pay, the difference in salaries between the Congolese soldiers and the newly integrated ones, and some kind of dissatisfaction with the ranks which was given to him [Jaguar] and other people," said Colonel Dietrich.

The soldiers have reportedly not received any pay in five months.

According to Dietrich, negotiations¹⁰ with the breakaway faction⁹ began about two days ago.

"We are quite optimistic that the problem will be resolved very soon," he said. "We have created a dialogue between his brigade commander and other officers of the military [and Jaguar], and what was told to us is that they will try to settle this problem peacefully."

Dietrich says that Jaguar first asked the non-CNDP soldiers in his battalion to leave, and then led his men to a hill near the border of Uganda.

MONUC has increased its patrols in the area to try to protect against any possible future attack by the renegade soldiers.

At least 6,000 CNDP were re-integrated into the official Congolese army following the peace deal.

1 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

2 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

3 battalion   

n.营；部队；大队(的人)

参考例句：

• The town was garrisoned by a battalion.该镇由一营士兵驻守。
• At the end of the drill parade,the battalion fell out.操练之后，队伍解散了。

4 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

5 jaguar   

n.美洲虎

参考例句：

• He was green with envy when he saw my new Jaguar car.看见我那辆美洲虎牌新车，他非常妒忌。
• Should you meet a jaguar in the jungle,just turn slowly,walk away.But slowly,never look back.你在丛林中若碰上美洲虎，就慢慢转身走开，可一定要慢，切莫回头看。

6 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。

7 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

8 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

9 faction   

n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争

参考例句：

• Faction and self-interest appear to be the norm.派系之争和自私自利看来非常普遍。
• I now understood clearly that I was caught between the king and the Bunam's faction.我现在完全明白自己已陷入困境，在国王与布纳姆集团之间左右为难。

10 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。