2006年VOA标准英语-Nigeria Rules Out Military Option for Hostages

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
28 December 2006

Oil company officials in Nigeria Thursday confirmed that armed attackers have retreated from two oil facilities in the Niger Delta¹. But, as Gilbert da Costa in Abuja reports, the negotiations² leading to the release of four foreign workers seized three weeks ago are proving a lot more difficult.

 

The Movement for the Emancipation³ of the Niger Delta, also known as MEND, which is holding the four hostages, has ruled out any compromise on its demands.

 

The federal authorities are equally inflexible⁴, making a possible breakthrough at this stage more difficult.

 

Joshua Benamaisia, who leads a group of Nigerian negotiators, says that while the process appears stalled, he remains⁵ optimistic.

 

He said, "Between now and weekend, we are hopeful something positive will come out. We are just trying to see what we can do to ensure that the hostages are released. It has not been easy."

 

Arena6, one of three Italians taken hostage in Brass7, released by Italian police, 8 Dec 2006" hspace="2" src="http://www.wwenglish.com/up/2006/12/15920/5.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Photo of Francesco Arena, one of three Italians taken hostage in Brass, released by Italian police, 8 Dec 2006

The four foreigners, three Italians and a Lebanese, spent Christmas in captivity⁸ despite pleas for their release.

 

Italian oil company, Agip, which employed the men, has reportedly had its offer of a ransom⁹ rejected by the militant¹⁰ group.

 

The Nigerian Red Cross says it has requested access to the hostages in the wake of reports suggesting that at least one of them may be seriously ill.

 

Abiodun Orebiyi, the secretary general of the Nigeria Red Cross, said, "We are making efforts in that direction and if we are able to get any breakthrough you will hear from us."

 

 

Senior officials of Eni, the parent company of Agip, met Wednesday with President Olusegun Obasanjo, and extracted a commitment from the Nigerian leader that military force will not be used to free the hostages.

 

MEND has put forward the release of two jailed leaders from the delta, compensation to villagers for oil pollution, transfer of control of oil revenues from government to local communities and reparations, as conditions for the release of the hostages.

1 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。

2 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。

3 emancipation   

n.（从束缚、支配下）解放

参考例句：

• We must arouse them to fight for their own emancipation. 我们必须唤起他们为其自身的解放而斗争。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They rejoiced over their own emancipation. 他们为自己的解放感到欢欣鼓舞。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 inflexible   

adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的

参考例句：

• Charles was a man of settled habits and inflexible routine.查尔斯是一个恪守习惯、生活规律不容打乱的人。
• The new plastic is completely inflexible.这种新塑料是完全不可弯曲的。

5 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。

6 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

7 brass   

n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器

参考例句：

• Many of the workers play in the factory's brass band.许多工人都在工厂铜管乐队中演奏。
• Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。

8 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。

9 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。

10 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。