2006年VOA标准英语-Tensions Rise in Ivory Coast Amid Tentativ

By Franz Wild
Diouzon, Ivory Coast
20 May 2006

Bangladeshi soldiers at the entrance to the zone of confidence   
  
In Ivory Coast, a recent attack in a village along the volatile¹ dividing line between rebel and government-controlled regions of the country has once again highlighted the difficulty of carrying out confidence building measures in preparation for October elections.  Rivalries² and mistrust persist, particularly in the cocoa-rich west of the country.

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Three magistrates³ are investigating the murder last month of five people in and around the village of Diouzon near the western town of Bangolo.

In the presence of U.N. police, witnesses told the magistrates that 20 people they described as "foreigners", a term often used to describe northerners, from neighboring villages came and shot the five villagers, who were members of the indigenous⁴ Guere ethnic⁵ group.

 
Houses were burnt down in similar raids last year
  
Violence in villages around Bangolo has been common since the civil war in Ivory Coast began in 2002, and has continued despite the presence of U.N. and French soldiers who patrol the zone of confidence that runs across Ivory Coast, separating the rebel-held north and the government-held south. Diouzon lies in the zone of confidence, where no one is allowed to bear arms, except the U.N. and French soldiers. 

Tierou Hipéhé says one of the victims of the Diouzon attack, Toe Fahe George, was the village's largest cocoa planter. Weaving around houses that were burned in a similar attack last year, he enters George's house.

Tierou Hipéhé in front of the house of one of those murdered  
  
Hipéhé says the men opened the door to the house and started shooting. He says, everyone was around including children and women. He says, George was shot in the face, and another person was injured.

George's two wives and 16 children fled to Bangolo the same day. Almost everyone else in the village followed, leaving their houses vacant.

A few youths who are still there are now feeding themselves with coconuts⁶ they found in the surrounding jungle. There are no women around to prepare food.

 
The families of those murdered in Diouzon left with most of their possessions 
  
The village seems dead. Hipéhé points out the village bar, saying Diouzon used to be a vibrant⁷ place, with people coming here to meet and enjoy themselves.

He says the village was lively and charming before. He says, there was a thriving market. Now, he says, it feels like it has lost its personality.

The latest attack on Diouzon and the continuing distrust among rival groups illustrate⁸ the difficulties the country faces in implementing⁹ the terms of a French-mediated peace accord and preparing for presidential elections in October.

The northern rebel New Forces say they are fighting for equal rights for northerners, who, they say, are treated as second class citizens, and, many of whom are perceived as foreigners by supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo. Mr. Gbagbo says they are trying to control Ivorian assets and must be stopped.

The New Forces want millions of residents to be registered before elections can be held in October. The president's supporters are demanding the rebels disarm¹⁰.

A pilot registration¹¹ program in seven municipalities that began Thursday is designed to begin the process of giving people identification cards they will need to register to vote. Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny announced the registration program this week, and said it would be accompanied by a disarmament program. Mr. Gbabgo's supporters are angry that disarmament has not yet begun.

In Diouzon, Hipéhé says people will not return to their village, until the militias¹² are disarmed¹³.

He says, militias and rebels need to be disarmed, before registration begins. He says, nobody can return to the village before this happens. He says, Diouzon is only 12 kilometers from rebel territory, while U.N. and French forces are 30 kilometers away.

1 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

2 rivalries   

n.敌对，竞争，对抗( rivalry的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The new government was torn by rivalries. 新政府由于各派对立而四分五裂。 来自辞典例句
• Rivalries could bring about pain and hatred or give rise to fighting. 竞争会带来痛苦、仇恨，或者引起争斗。 来自互联网

3 magistrates   

地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• to come up before the magistrates 在地方法院出庭
• He was summoned to appear before the magistrates. 他被传唤在地方法院出庭。

4 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

5 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

6 coconuts   

n.椰子( coconut的名词复数 )；椰肉，椰果

参考例句：

• We found a bountiful supply of coconuts on the island. 我们发现岛上有充足的椰子供应。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Coconuts provide "meat", drink, oil, soap and fiber for fishing line. 椰子提供“肉类”，饮料、油脂、肥皂和做钓（鱼）丝的纤维。 来自百科语句

7 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

8 illustrate   

v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图

参考例句：

• The company's bank statements illustrate its success.这家公司的银行报表说明了它的成功。
• This diagram will illustrate what I mean.这个图表可说明我的意思。

9 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

10 disarm   

v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和

参考例句：

• The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. 全世界等待伊拉克解除武装已有12年之久。
• He has rejected every peaceful opportunity offered to him to disarm.他已经拒绝了所有能和平缴械的机会。

11 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

12 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

13 disarmed   

v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒

参考例句：

• Most of the rebels were captured and disarmed. 大部分叛乱分子被俘获并解除了武装。
• The swordsman disarmed his opponent and ran him through. 剑客缴了对手的械，并对其乱刺一气。 来自《简明英汉词典》