2006年VOA标准英语-Large Turn Out for Indonesia's Aceh Elections

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Banda Aceh
11 December 2006

Polls have closed in Indonesia's tsunami¹-ravaged province of Aceh after a

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Acehnese woman casts her ballot at a polling station in Banda Aceh, 11 Dec 2006

landmark³ vote for a provincial⁴ government. Officials estimate the majority of the 2.6 million people eligible⁵ to vote, did so. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins reports from the provincial capital of Banda Aceh.

The elections in Indonesia's Aceh province are being hailed as a landmark in the peace process. This began in August 2005 when the government and separatist rebels from the Free Aceh Movement agreed to end nearly 29 years of war, which had claimed more than 15,000 lives.

Most voters turned up early, thrilled to have the chance for a say in how their province will be run.

Local election monitor Herfianza cast his ballot as soon as the polls opened early Monday morning.

He says he is excited about this election and hopeful for the future of Aceh. He says whoever becomes the next governor must make growth of the local economy a priority.

Herfianza echoed sentiments expressed throughout Aceh. With around half the population unemployed⁶, most people say they want the new local government to concentrate on recovery.

The oil and gas rich province of Aceh, located on the northern tip of Sumatra island, is still reeling from the destruction wrought⁷ by the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. It killed more than 160-thousand people and destroyed most of the infrastructure⁸.

The peace deal between the government and the Free Aceh Movement has given hope to many Acehnese that the long years of the bloody⁹ conflict are finally behind them.

As part of that deal the rebels agreed to drop their demands for independence in exchange for wide-ranging autonomy, 70 percent of the revenues from the region's rich natural resources, and the opportunity to participate in these elections.

Paul Rowland, resident representative of the National Democratic Institute, a U.S.-funded organization that promotes democracy, says the peaceful elections showed how eager people are for the chance to vote.

"The polling stations that I visited had significant participation¹⁰ by very enthusiastic voters," said Rowland. "People came up to me as an international observer and said where are you from and we are just so excited about this election because it has been 30 years and now we get to choose our governor and people are extremely excited about this."

Among those running for the top posts of governor and deputy governor are a former military commander who led the fight against the separatists, two rival Free Aceh Movement candidates, and the incumbent¹¹ acting¹² governor.

The elections have illuminated¹³ divisions within the Free Aceh Movement, pitting those who stayed in Aceh to fight against those who fled to Sweden where the Free Aceh Movement maintained a government in exile throughout the conflict.

Whoever wins in Monday's polls must receive at least 25 percent of the vote. Failure to do so will cause a runoff election between the two top contenders in two months.

1 tsunami   

n.海啸

参考例句：

• Powerful quake sparks tsunami warning in Japan.大地震触发了日本的海啸预警。
• Coastlines all around the Indian Ocean inundated by a huge tsunami.大海啸把印度洋沿岸地区都淹没了。

2 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

3 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。

4 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

5 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

6 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

7 wrought   

v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的

参考例句：

• Events in Paris wrought a change in British opinion towards France and Germany.巴黎发生的事件改变了英国对法国和德国的看法。
• It's a walking stick with a gold head wrought in the form of a flower.那是一个金质花形包头的拐杖。

8 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

9 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

10 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

11 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

12 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

13 illuminated   

adj.被照明的；受启迪的

参考例句：

• Floodlights illuminated the stadium. 泛光灯照亮了体育场。
• the illuminated city at night 夜幕中万家灯火的城市