2006年VOA标准英语-Nigerian Militants Close to Ending Delta Siege

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
11 October 2006

Suspected militants² who raided an oil facility in Nigeria's restive³ Niger Delta⁴ have released several of the 60 oil workers held since Tuesday.  The attackers are believed to have issued a ransom⁵ demand.

 

Officials in the southern Bayelsa state says the siege is close to being resolved, following long hours of talks between militants and mediators.

 

State police chief Hafiz Ringim confirmed the possible breakthrough. He says the negotiations⁶ have gone very well.

 

The police chief would not disclose specific demands, but it is widely speculated that the militants had asked for an unspecified sum of money, among other conditions.

 

Mr. Ringim told VOA that the militants say they are ready to leave the oil facility as soon as their requests are met.

 

"The situation is now under control. Government officials have spoken to the militants and they have agreed that this morning they could possibly end the siege if their demands are met," he said. "The government officials have returned here last night and this morning it is hoped government officials will satisfy the militants and everything will be over. They have made their demands and I think the government is looking into it."

 

The federal government's stated position is that no ransom should be paid to secure the release of kidnapped oil workers. But officials working for state governments in the region are believed to be paying money to kidnappers⁷ in the Delta.

 

remains8 of her house after Nigerian military burned down village in retaliation9 for kidnapping of an oil worker, October 6, 2006" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070504/0850260.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Patricia Oga collects sheets of metal roofing from remains of her house after Nigerian military burned down village in retaliation for kidnapping of an oil worker, Oct. 6, 2006

More than 30 oil workers have been kidnapped this month and 14 soldiers reportedly killed. Twenty-five of those kidnapped one week ago have been released, but the whereabouts of seven expatriate workers remain unknown.

 

The Niger Delta, which produces all of Nigeria's crude oil, has a long history of attacks on oil facilities and kidnappings of oil workers.

 

A masked militant¹ told journalists recently that the violent campaign in the region was based on their quest for justice and fairness.

 

"We want to see physical development, both from the oil companies and the Nigerian state," he said. "How can we be producing oil here and look at all these young men around you, they do not have anything doing; they do not have jobs; they do not have good education? Let most of them speak here, you will not understand what they are saying. Is that what is obtainable in oil producing countries? Let the U.N. come and intervene and let them set up commissions of inquiry¹⁰ and look into the matters of the Niger Delta and proffer¹¹ a final solution."

 

Nigeria is the largest oil-producing country in Africa and the sixth-largest oil exporter in the world, with a daily crude output of 2.6 million barrels.

 

Violence in the Niger Delta has crippled the oil industry, cutting production by at least 500,000 barrels per day.

1 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

2 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

3 restive   

adj.不安宁的，不安静的

参考例句：

• The government has done nothing to ease restrictions and manufacturers are growing restive.政府未采取任何措施放松出口限制,因此国内制造商变得焦虑不安。
• The audience grew restive.观众变得不耐烦了。

4 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

5 ransom   

n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救

参考例句：

• We'd better arrange the ransom right away.我们最好马上把索取赎金的事安排好。
• The kidnappers exacted a ransom of 10000 from the family.绑架者向这家人家勒索10000英镑的赎金。

6 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。

7 kidnappers   

n.拐子，绑匪( kidnapper的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They were freed yesterday by their kidnappers unharmed. 他们昨天被绑架者释放了，没有受到伤害。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The kidnappers had threatened to behead all four unless their jailed comrades were released. 帮匪们曾经威胁说如果印度方面不释放他们的同伙，他们就要将这四名人质全部斩首。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 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。

9 retaliation   

n.报复，反击

参考例句：

• retaliation against UN workers 对联合国工作人员的报复
• He never said a single word in retaliation. 他从未说过一句反击的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

11 proffer   

v.献出，赠送；n.提议，建议

参考例句：

• He rose and proffered a silver box full of cigarettes.他站起身，伸手递过一个装满香烟的银盒子。
• I proffer to lend him one.我表示愿意借他一个。