2006年VOA标准英语-In CAR, Displaced Reluctant to Return Home

By Kari Barber
Dakar
16 December 2006

In the Central African Republic, people displaced by fighting between government forces and rebels are reluctant to return home. Government forces say they have recaptured areas in the north that were seized by rebels.  Kari Barber reports from VOA's regional bureau in Dakar.

delegation1 is pictured in Birao" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070512/1057240.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

A French army Transall aircraft which carried CAR's President Francois Bozize and a delegation is pictured in Birao

Government forces in the Central African Rebublic, backed by France, have succeeded in the past few weeks in recapturing areas taken in a rebel advance in the north.

The rebel group known as the Union of Democratic Forces for Rally says it is seeking a national dialogue with President Francois Bozize.

In the northwest, government officials acknowledge villages were burned. But the government denies claims villages were burned intentionally², saying houses caught in the crossfire³ between government forces and rebels were set ablaze⁴. 

Aid workers who visited the region report that people who have fled the fighting say they are reluctant to return, and many say they are now homeless.

Paul Melly is a journalist who has been covering the Central African Republic for about 15 years.  He says, logistically, the country is difficult for a government to manage.

"This is a large country with only just about 4 million people and the structure to govern it in an organized way and maintain order has always been extremely fragile, and, when it is challenged by the activities of armed groups - rebels or bandits - the state does not really have the means to impose its authority and maintain order," he said.

President Bozize seized power following a 2003 rebellion, and then won the presidential election in 2005. 

Analyst⁵ Chris Melville of London-based Control Risks says government forces have been seeing a reshuffling in the ranks under President Bozize.

"Bozize, about three to four months ago, dismissed many of his senior military officers, those who had served under former President Ange-Felix Patasse, but who had sided with Bozize during his own march on Bangui in March 2003," he noted⁶.  "These officers have now been taken out of the picture, and more compliant⁷ and dependent officers have been moved into the Central African Republic's armed forces."

Government officials have said France's military help was instrumental in defeating the latest rebel movement.  The French military keeps a small force in its former colony as part of agreements signed following independence.

Melville says the French involvement in the Central African Republic symbolizes⁸ a desire to stabilize⁹ a region where it once held a lot of influence, but is seeing that influence decline. 

Financial help is also being extended.

Central African Republic national radio reported Friday that France has agreed to provide an aid budget of more than $2 million for Central African Republic to pay public salaries.

1 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

2 intentionally   

ad.故意地，有意地

参考例句：

• I didn't say it intentionally. 我是无心说的。
• The local authority ruled that he had made himself intentionally homeless and was therefore not entitled to be rehoused. 当地政府裁定他是有意居无定所，因此没有资格再获得提供住房。

3 crossfire   

n.被卷进争端

参考例句：

• They say they are caught in the crossfire between the education establishment and the government.他们称自己被卷进了教育机构与政府之间的争端。
• When two industrial giants clash,small companies can get caught in the crossfire.两大工业企业争斗之下，小公司遭受池鱼之殃。

4 ablaze   

adj.着火的，燃烧的；闪耀的，灯火辉煌的

参考例句：

• The main street was ablaze with lights in the evening.晚上，那条主要街道灯火辉煌。
• Forests are sometimes set ablaze by lightning.森林有时因雷击而起火。

5 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 compliant   

adj.服从的，顺从的

参考例句：

• I don't respect people who are too compliant.我看不起那种唯命是从，唯唯诺诺的人。
• For years I had tried to be a compliant and dutiful wife.几年来，我努力做一名顺从和尽职尽职的妻子。

8 symbolizes   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The use of light and dark symbolizes good and evil. 用光明与黑暗来象征善与恶。
• She likes olive because It'symbolizes peace. 她喜欢橄榄色因为它象征着和平。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。