VOA标准英语2010年-Coup Leaders Say Army to Run Niger Unt

The new military rulers of Niger have named a civilian¹ prime minister to lead the country's transitional government until elections. The new PM, Mahamadou Danda, served as information minister in a transitional government that followed Niger's last coup² in 1999, and has worked as an administrator³ since then.

Niger's coup leaders say they will retain power over the country's newly appointed prime minister until a new constitution is adopted and elections are held. But they set no date for the polls.

The military ousted⁴ President Mamadou Tandja last Thursday (February 18) in the midst of a political crisis that began last year.

"In an ideal situation, the military should stay in the barracks, civilians⁵ should rule," Howard University Political Science Professor Abdul Karim Bangura said. "But when a dictator is so powerful and controls all the means of violence and composure, what other alternative is there?"

Professor Bangura says Mr. Tandja committed many offenses⁶, but one in particular. "This is also a man who suspended the constitution. The constitutional court ruled against his move and he decided⁷ to ignore the constitutional court and put the thing to a referendum in a very suspcious and very questionable⁸ way that we know was rigged," he stated.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson says no coup is a good coup, but democracy in Niger remains⁹ possible. "We encourage the military junta¹⁰ that is now in power to live up to what they stand for," Carson said. "If they are there to restore democracy, they should do it quickly and expeditiously¹¹."

African diplomats¹² met in Niger's capital Niamey last Sunday (February 21) and expressed optimism coup leaders will return the nation to civilian rule. "They have assured us there will be an opening for everyone here in Niger, for an inter-Nigerien dialogue with all the political forces," Mohammed Ibn Chambas said. Chambas is the head of the Economic Community of West African States.

Niger is one  the poorest countries in the world, even though it is rich in uranium deposits. It gained independence from France in the 1960s, but has been plagued by coups¹³ since then. Mr. Tandja won the first of his two terms in office in 1999 following a coup.

"We vigorously condemn¹⁴ the military coup of 18 February 2010, and hold responsible these actors as we risk to lose control and deteriorate¹⁵ the political, social and economical situation of our country," Seini Oumarou said. Oumarou is the head of Mr. Tandja's former ruling party.

But there is support in Niger for the coup leaders.

Howard University Professor Bangura says outside powers are partly to blame for Niger's problems. "As long as France, which is the major power in Niger, was getting its uranium because it's heavily dependant¹⁶ on the uranium, and, of course China for its nuclear plants -- they are all dependent on uranium --  they were in no hurry to slap the wrist of Tandja," Bangura said.

The coup in Niger follows recent politcal turmoil¹⁷ in other parts of West Africa -- in Guinea-Bissau and Conakry, Ivory Coast and Nigeria -- prompting fears for the whole region.

 

1 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。

2 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

3 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

4 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

5 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。

6 offenses   

n.进攻( offense的名词复数 )；（球队的）前锋；进攻方法；攻势

参考例句：

• It's wrong of you to take the child to task for such trifling offenses. 因这类小毛病责备那孩子是你的不对。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Thus, Congress cannot remove an executive official except for impeachable offenses. 因此，除非有可弹劾的行为，否则国会不能罢免行政官员。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

7 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

8 questionable   

adj.可疑的，有问题的

参考例句：

• There are still a few questionable points in the case.这个案件还有几个疑点。
• Your argument is based on a set of questionable assumptions.你的论证建立在一套有问题的假设上。

9 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

10 junta   

n.团体；政务审议会

参考例句：

• The junta reacted violently to the perceived threat to its authority.军政府感到自身权力受威胁而进行了激烈反击。
• A military junta took control of the country.一个军政权控制了国家。

11 expeditiously   

adv.迅速地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• They have to be evaluated expeditiously, carefully with the patient fully UNDRESSED. 我看过许多的枪伤患者，但是就只有阿扁的伤口没有上述情形，真是天佑台湾。 来自互联网
• We will expeditiously facilitate trade transactions with the utmost professionalism. 我们会尽快贸易便利化的交易与最大的专业水平。 来自互联网

12 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 coups   

n.意外而成功的行动( coup的名词复数 )；政变；努力办到难办的事

参考例句：

• China has seen many political coups within the ruling class. 中国统治阶级内部发生过很多政变。 来自互联网
• Thailand has had eighteen coups or coup attendance since nineteen thirty-two. 泰国1932年以来有18次政变或参加政变。 来自互联网

14 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

15 deteriorate   

v.变坏；恶化；退化

参考例句：

• Do you think relations between China and Japan will continue to deteriorate?你认为中日关系会继续恶化吗？
• He held that this would only cause the situation to deteriorate further.他认为，这只会使局势更加恶化。

16 dependant   

n.依靠的，依赖的，依赖他人生活者

参考例句：

• The dependent dependant cannot live independently.依靠别人的被赡养者不能独立生活。
• The fact that the woman is still regarded as the man's dependant.再加上女人仍被看作是男人的附属品这一事实。

17 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。