2006年VOA标准英语-Ugandan Army Resumes Patrols in North as Talks

By Cathy Majtenyi
Nairobi
04 October 2006

The Ugandan army has resumed patrolling areas of war-torn northern Uganda that were exempt¹ from patrols under a truce² signed between the government and a rebel group.  Talks between the two sides are apparently³ still going on.

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Members of Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (July 2006 file photo)

Army spokesman Major Felix Kulayigye tells VOA that, despite media reports to the contrary, the resumption of patrols does not mean that the government has renewed its operations against members of the Lord's Resistance Army.

"We have the responsibility that in northern Ugandan where there is no adequate police, we also do ordinary law and order maintenance.  So there is nothing like a war, there is no war here," he explained.

Meanwhile, Reuters news agency quotes top rebel official Vincent Otti as saying that he thinks the army is trying to goad⁴ the rebels into fighting, but that the rebels have no intention of attacking the army or civilian⁵ populations and are instead committed to the peace talks.

In August, the two sides signed a landmark⁶ truce to pave the way for negotiations⁷ to end almost two decades of civil war, during which the rebel group is said to have committed brutal⁸ atrocities⁹ against civilian populations.

Under the terms of the agreement, rebel fighters were to have come out of the bush and assemble in two neutral camps in southern Sudan, while rebel and government representatives were to meet in the Sudanese town of Juba.

Media reports indicate that more than 1,000 rebel fighters have assembled in or near the designated camps, but government officials claim most of the rebels have failed to assemble in the designated camps.

Army spokesman Kulayigye tells VOA he thinks the renewal¹⁰ of the patrols will not hinder the peace talks.

"Peace talks are going on and our team is still in Juba, and we have a session this afternoon at three o'clock," he said.  "Nonetheless, criminals will not wait for Juba to end.  Our interest is providing normal protection to the people, it is nothing about combat operations."

From its inception¹¹ in August, the peace process has been plagued with problems.

Throwing a major obstacle into the process has been the issuing of arrest warrants against the top rebel leadership by the International Criminal Court.  The rebels have said they would not attend the talks until the ICC drops the war crimes charges. The ICC says the charges still stand.

The north has been plagued by a civil war since the late 1980s that has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced almost two million more.

Members of the elusive¹² rebel group have been blamed for gross human rights violations¹³ in the area.

1 exempt   

adj.免除的；v.使免除；n.免税者，被免除义务者

参考例句：

• These goods are exempt from customs duties.这些货物免征关税。
• He is exempt from punishment about this thing.关于此事对他已免于处分。

2 truce   

n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束

参考例句：

• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
• She had thought of flying out to breathe the fresh air in an interval of truce.她想跑出去呼吸一下休战期间的新鲜空气。

3 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

4 goad   

n.刺棒，刺痛物；激励；vt.激励，刺激

参考例句：

• The opposition is trying to goad the government into calling an election.在野反对党正努力激起政府提出选举。
• The writer said he needed some goad because he was indolent.这个作家说他需要刺激，因为他很懒惰。

5 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。

6 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

7 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。

8 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

9 atrocities   

n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪

参考例句：

• They were guilty of the most barbarous and inhuman atrocities. 他们犯有最野蛮、最灭绝人性的残暴罪行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The enemy's atrocities made one boil with anger. 敌人的暴行令人发指。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

11 inception   

n.开端，开始，取得学位

参考例句：

• The programme has been successful since its inception.这个方案自开始实施以来一直卓有成效。
• Julia's worked for that company from its inception.自从那家公司开办以来，朱莉娅一直在那儿工作。

12 elusive   

adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的

参考例句：

• Try to catch the elusive charm of the original in translation.翻译时设法把握住原文中难以捉摸的风韵。
• Interpol have searched all the corners of the earth for the elusive hijackers.国际刑警组织已在世界各地搜查在逃的飞机劫持者。

13 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。