2006年VOA标准英语-In Uganda, the President Requests a Meeting wit

By James Butty
Washington, DC
24 July 2006

After Uganda's contentious¹ presidential elections earlier this year, President Yoweri Museveni said there was nothing to reconcile between him and Kizza Besigye of the opposition² party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). But President Museveni has changed his mind and has written to Besigye inviting³ him to a meeting to discuss "matters of mutual⁴ interest." Besigye tells VOA English to Africa reporter James Butty he has some reservations about the invitation.

"The important point we wanted clarification on is the purpose of the meeting. We are not interested in a meeting for the sake of meeting. We are interested in a meeting that will advance our engagement on the points of concern that we have in this country. And so the critical issue is the subject of the meeting which has not been clarified up to now."           

Besigye says he does not know why President Museveni wants to meet, and any discussion must concern issues important to the Movement for Democratic Change.                   

"For example, the human rights issue of our supporters is a matter of grave concern for us. We have got great many people who are languishing⁵ in prison without any recognizable charges, some who are languishing in illegal centers of detention⁶, who have been tortured and maimed. So that is the type of environment around which talks are being invited."

Besigye says he's not looking for a pardon from President Museveni.

"You cannot pardon somebody who is not guilty. In order to pardon someone, there must be an establishment of an offense⁷ that was committed. As I have stated, I am fully⁸ convinced of my innocence⁹, and with that regard I cannot accept anybody to pardon me because I have not done anything wrong."

Besigye says the only problem he has is the charges against him have been used to cripple him politically.

Let us know what you think of this report and other stories on our website. Send your views to [email protected], and include your phone number. Or, call us here in Washington, DC at [phone]. After you hear the VOA identification, press 30 to leave a message. We want to hear what you have to say!

1 contentious   

adj.好辩的，善争吵的

参考例句：

• She was really not of the contentious fighting sort.她委实不是好吵好闹的人。
• Since then they have tended to steer clear of contentious issues.从那时起，他们总想方设法避开有争议的问题。

2 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

3 inviting   

adj.诱人的，引人注目的

参考例句：

• An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
• The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人，使人感到亲切温馨。

4 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

5 languishing   

a. 衰弱下去的

参考例句：

• He is languishing for home. 他苦思家乡。
• How long will she go on languishing for her red-haired boy? 为想见到她的红头发的儿子，她还将为此烦恼多久呢？

6 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

7 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

8 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

9 innocence   

n.无罪；天真；无害

参考例句：

• There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
• The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。