2006年VOA标准英语-Taylor Seeks Lawyers, Activists Want Usefu

By Nico Colombant
Abidjan
05 April 2006

As former West African warlord Charles Taylor seeks a defense¹ team for his trial at the special war crimes court for Sierra Leone, human rights activists³ are calling for a fair and useful trial. 

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Charles Taylor makes his first appearance at Special Court in Freetown, April 3, 2006
  

The Freetown director for London-based Amnesty International, Brima Sheriff, called Wednesday for a fair trial for Charles Taylor and that he be treated as humanely⁴ as possible.

Another prominent Freetown human rights activist², Abu Brima, tells VOA, he believes Taylor could provide information that could help bring to justice those responsible for Sierra Leone's decade long civil war.

"Bringing him to face the music that he created [Bringing him to trial for the situation he created] is certainly a welcoming thing. But of course, we believe that Taylor has a lot of information: Who was involved? Who was sponsoring him? To whom was he selling diamonds? Those are all people who were part of this equation and we think that they must be brought to book," said Brima. "Taylor has answers and he can help us to bring them to book [to justice]."

When he pleaded not guilty to 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity earlier this week, Taylor presented himself as an African victim of an international conspiracy⁵. Brima, for his part, does not believe that kind of defense will help Sierra Leone or Taylor.

Relatives and advisers⁶ to the former Liberian president continue to arrive in Freetown, trying to find a good team of lawyers to defend him and money to pay them.

Taylor is believed to have amassed⁷ a fortune while coming to power in Liberia and spreading instability throughout West Africa, charges he repeatedly denied before the court proceedings⁸ began.

Meanwhile, Swedish officials say the United Nations has been asking Sweden and other countries to consider jailing Taylor if he is convicted. The trial is expected to be moved to the Netherlands for security reasons after a Security Council resolution on the matter is passed.

1 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。

2 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

3 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 humanely   

adv.仁慈地；人道地；富人情地；慈悲地

参考例句：

• Is the primary persona being treated humanely by the product? 该产品对待首要人物角色时是否有人情味？ 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• In any event, China's interest in treating criminals more humanely has limits. 无论如何，中国对更人道地对待罪犯的兴趣有限。 来自互联网

5 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

6 advisers   

顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。

7 amassed   

v.积累，积聚( amass的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He amassed a fortune from silver mining. 他靠开采银矿积累了一笔财富。
• They have amassed a fortune in just a few years. 他们在几年的时间里就聚集了一笔财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼