VOA双语新闻2008年:Kenyan Violence(在线收听

The World Bank is warning that post-election unrest in Kenya is threatening east Africa's largest economy and could wipe out impressive gains the country has achieved in recent years. Widespread violence, triggered by allegations of vote-rigging in last Thursday's hotly-contested elections, has disrupted transportation and closed businesses, creating food and fuel shortages in Kenya.

 

世界银行警告说,肯尼亚大选后出现的社会动荡正威胁着这个东非最大的经济体,并可能使肯尼亚最近几年取得的可观的成就付诸东流。肯尼亚大选中出现的舞弊问题引起大规模的暴力事件,导致交通中断、店铺关门、食品和燃料严重短缺,数以百计的人丧生。

The Kenyan government estimates that it has lost more than $60 million in revenue since Sunday, when the capital and other parts of the country exploded in political and tribal violence over the re-election of President Mwai Kibaki.

 

肯尼亚政府估计,几天来首都内罗毕和其它一些城市在总统姆瓦伊.齐贝吉赢得竞选继续担任总统的消息刺激下,爆发大规模的政治和部落暴力冲突,迄今为止已经使政府的财政收入减少了6000多万美元。

Mr. Kibaki, a member of Kenya's dominant ethnic Kikuyu tribe, was declared the winner of an election that was too close to call before the December 27 vote. The opposition, led by Raila Odinga, an ethnic Luo who has the support of many other tribes, charged the election was rigged. International observers have also questioned the final tally.

 

齐贝吉来自肯尼亚占统治地位的基库尤部落。在12月27号举行的大选中,尽管投票结果难分胜负,但齐贝吉仍被宣布获胜当选。由奥庭加领导的反对派指责选举中出现舞弊。来自卢奥族的奥庭加,赢得了很多其它部落的支持。国际观察员也对最后的大选投票结果提出质疑。

Battles between protesters and police and ethnic clashes have killed more than 300 people in Nairobi, the Rift Valley, and the coastal town of Mombasa and have paralyzed the country.

 

在内罗毕,在裂谷地区,在滨海城市蒙巴萨,在示威抗议者和警察发生的冲突以及部落之间的冲突中,已经有300多人丧生,肯尼亚经济陷入瘫痪。

Many businesses, closed for the Christmas holidays, have been unable to open for fear of looting or because employees have been unable to travel to work safely.

 

许多店铺在圣诞节期间歇业后,由于担心可能会遭到抢掠,或者由于无法保证员工安全上班,仍在紧闭大门。

Grocery stores in Nairobi and other parts of the country are reportedly running out of basic goods such as flour, oil, milk, and bread, and gas stations have started to close because trucks have not been able to make fuel deliveries.

 

据报导,内罗毕和其它一些城市的杂货店的基本食物,如面粉、油、牛奶、面包等即将销售告罄,运油的卡车由于无法送货,一些加油站也开始关闭。

Jane Wangui owns a hair salon in downtown Nairobi, one of a handful of shops in the area open for business on Friday.

 

简.旺桂是内罗毕市中心一家美容店的老板,这家店也是星期五为数不多仍在营业的店铺之一。

She says she fears a prolonged political crisis could mean financial ruin for her and many other small business owners.

 

她担心旷日持久的政治危机可能使她和很多其它小生意人蒙受巨大的经济损失。

"Everyday, we are losing money, we are losing clients, and it gets to a point where we cannot pay our employees because there is no money coming in. So, we have to work. What I am doing right now is praying to God that things will come back to normal," she said.

 

她说:“每天我们都在赔钱,我们的顾客也越来越少,现在几乎到了无法给员工发薪水的时候了,因为没有钱进来。因此,我们不得不工作。我现在所做的就是祈求上帝,但愿一切都能恢复正常。”

On Wednesday, the World Bank expressed concern that Kenya's impressive economic growth, averaging about six percent per year since 2005, could be erased if the unrest continues.

 

世界银行周三说,尽管肯尼亚从2005年以来经济增长平均保持在6%左右,但是如果政局持续动荡,肯尼亚所取得的可观的经济发展,势必灰飞烟灭,荡然无存。

The country's key tourism industry, which earns Kenya $800 million annually, has already been hit by cancellations from tour operators worldwide. Many tourists who are here are cutting their vacations short and heading home.

 

肯尼亚主要的旅游业已经因世界各地的旅游团取消预定蒙受了很大损失。旅游业每年的外汇收入高达8亿美元。许多在肯尼亚的游客都在削减行程,早点回家。

A Nairobi-based economic analyst and commentator, Robert Shaw, says although Kenya has been rocked by riots and ethnic fighting in previous years, the unrest this time has been particularly damaging because Kenya had been steadily attracting foreign investors, eager to participate in the country's booming economy.

 

内罗毕的一位经济分析师和评论员罗伯特.肖说,虽然肯尼亚前几年发生过暴力事件和部落战争,但是这次动荡跟前几次相比尤其具有毁坏性,因为肯尼亚一直在稳步地吸引外国投资。最近几年外国投资者都迫不急待地参与肯尼亚兴旺的经济发展。

"And now, that confidence is being put into question," said Shaw. "Even if things are resolved tomorrow, you cannot forget what has happened in the last week and whether it will repeat itself."

 

他说:“现在这种信心受到质疑。即使明天就天下太平了,人民仍无法忘记上星期发生的事情,担心类似的动荡还会重演。”

To avert a nation-wide fuel and banking crisis, the Kenyan police have offered to provide free escort to companies transporting money to banks and trucks carrying fuel.

 

为了防止出现全国范围的燃料危机和金融危机,肯尼亚警方表示,将向押运现金的公司,以及运送燃料的卡车提供免费的护送。

Local media say fuel shortages have stranded hundreds of motorists and commuters in towns along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway and in some rural parts of Kenya.

  原文地址:http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/voabn/2008/01/117014.html