2006年VOA标准英语-Kurds Watch as Saddam Hussein Genocide Trial Be

By Brian Padden
Irbil, Iraq
21 August 2006

Saddam Hussein's second trial on charges of genocide is being watched closely in the northern Kurdish region, where Saddam's forces accused of killing¹ more than 180,000 Kurds nearly two decades ago. What was known as Operation Anfal has left deep scars and a deeper desire for justice among Kurds.  

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Saddam Hussein in court

The first day of Saddam Hussein's trial on charges of genocide against the Kurds, did not bring life to a halt in the Kurdish city of Irbil. But those who were able to watch the proceedings² at cafes, say there is a strong desire to see justice done.

"I feel Saddam destroyed our villages. He killed our women and children. He made this Anfal against us. I hope this will be the end of Saddam," one man said.

Prosecutors³ in the case say the Anfal campaign killed more than 180,000 Kurds between 1987 and 1988, and that tens of thousands more were displaced. Anfal survivors⁴ say prohibited chemical agents were used.

Mohammad Ishan, the Kurdish minister for extra regional affairs, says the government has gone to great lengths to prove that atrocities⁵ occurred, to document that they were part of an official government policy of genocide, and to force those responsible to answer for their crimes.

"I call this trial an omitted chapter in the book of Iraq's history," he said. "This is why we have to concentrate a lot in the trial, and listen to Saddam Hussein. Why he committed such crimes against Kurds? Genocide, it is the crime of crimes."

Beyond seeking justice for the Kurds, Khaled Salih, the Kurdish regional government spokesperson says, the trial of Saddam and six co-defendants is important to the establishment of the rule of law in Iraq.

"This is the only process we have in the Middle East to bring atrocities in front of a judicial⁶ process. We have not seen this in the entire region," said Salih. "It has a wider regional symbolic⁷ repercussions⁸."

Kurdish leaders say they hope the trial will send a cautionary message to neighboring countries, that they too would be held accountable for any acts of oppression against their Kurdish minorities.

1 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

2 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

3 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

4 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

5 atrocities   

n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪

参考例句：

• They were guilty of the most barbarous and inhuman atrocities. 他们犯有最野蛮、最灭绝人性的残暴罪行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The enemy's atrocities made one boil with anger. 敌人的暴行令人发指。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

7 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

8 repercussions   

n.后果，反响( repercussion的名词复数 )；余波

参考例句：

• The collapse of the company will have repercussions for the whole industry. 这家公司的垮台将会给整个行业造成间接的负面影响。
• Human acts have repercussions far beyond the frontiers of the human world. 人类行为所产生的影响远远超出人类世界的范围。 来自《简明英汉词典》