VOA常速英语2007年-Commonwealth Meeting Opens in Uganda

By Malcolm Webb
Kampala
23 November 2007

The Commonwealth¹ Heads of Government Meeting opened Friday in the Ugandan capital, Kampala. The meeting, known as CHOGM, was launched with a ceremony attended by the Queen of England, President Museveni of Uganda and the heads of other commonwealth countries. Malcolm Webb reports from Kampala.

The summit of the commonweath, a 53-nation group composed largely of Britain and its former colonies, was opened by Britain's Queen Elizabeth Friday morning.

Climate change is high on the agenda. Outgoing commonwealth chairman and prime minister of Malta, Lawrence Gonzi, urged all countries to address the issue.

British Foreign Secretary David Milliband said he hoped the commonwealth would back a binding² U.N.-based global framework for reducing emissions³. But diplomats⁴ said that Canada, a big oil-producer, would be likely to resist such a tough statement.

So far, the summit has been dominated by Pakistan. Commonwealth leaders on Friday suspended Pakistan for failing to lift a state of emergency and end military rule.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, speaking to the press Friday afternoon, said CHOGM should be an opportunity for commonwealth nations to share a perspective and move forward together. He was asked if Uganda's own democracy was in line with commonwealth standards, following the removal of presidential term-limits from the Ugandan constitution before his re-election last year.

"The question of term limits is really not a strategic factor in terms of democracy issues," said Mr. Museveni. "Forget about commonwealth. The crucial factor is the people having the final say. Term limits really is just a question either of history of given countries, or of convenience. It is not in my opinion one of the crucial factors."

Ugandan political opposition⁵ members congregated⁶ at a government-designated protest site outside the secure cordoned⁷ area in Kampala city center. Former presidential candidate Kizze Besigye addressed a group of about 100 people. The protesters then tried to proceed from the designated protest area.They clashed with police wielding⁸ wooden batons⁹. At least one policeman and several protesters were injured.

Besigye is the leader of the main opposition party, the Forum¹⁰ for Democratic Change. He lost to Museveni in the last presidential election, which he says was not free and fair. Along with his supporters, he demanded that the commonwealth address what he says are Uganda's democratic failings.

In an interview with VOA, he said the commonwealth is softer on Uganda than on other member countries such as Zimbabwe and Pakistan, which have been suspended. He accused the commonwealth of being inconsistent, and said that the interests of its most powerful members came above protecting people's political rights.

"Uganda now is praised for sending troops to Somalia, for which Britain and other countries will be willing to overlook the gross violations," said Besigye. "Uganda has invaded its neighbors, has plundered¹¹ the wealth of Congo, while the international community and the commonwealth was quiet. Ugandan military and security organizations invaded the courts of Uganda, [and] the commonwealth was quiet."

CHOGM continues until Sunday, when the heads of states are expected to produce final resolutions on the issues discussed.

1 commonwealth   

n.共和国，联邦，共同体

参考例句：

• He is the chairman of the commonwealth of artists.他是艺术家协会的主席。
• Most of the members of the Commonwealth are nonwhite.英联邦的许多成员国不是白人国家。

2 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

3 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

4 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 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。

6 congregated   

（使）集合，聚集( congregate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The crowds congregated in the town square to hear the mayor speak. 人群聚集到市镇广场上来听市长讲话。
• People quickly congregated round the speaker. 人们迅速围拢在演说者的周围。

7 cordoned   

v.封锁，用警戒线围住( cordon的过去式 )

参考例句：

• Police cordoned off the area until the bomb was defused. 警方封锁了这个地区直到炸弹被拆除为止。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Police cordoned off the road and diverted commuter traffic. 警察封锁了道路并分流交通。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 wielding   

手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的现在分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响）

参考例句：

• The rebels were wielding sticks of dynamite. 叛乱分子舞动着棒状炸药。
• He is wielding a knife. 他在挥舞着一把刀。

9 batons   

n.（警察武器）警棍( baton的名词复数 )；（乐队指挥用的）指挥棒；接力棒

参考例句：

• There were many riot policemen with batons. 有许多带警棍的防暴警察。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Chinese police fight? Number one is a person with batons to fight! 满街飘的中国国旗，是一个老华侨在事发时那出来分给大家的，很感动，真的，从来一向多一事不如少一事的中国人今天团结到一起站出来反抗。 来自互联网

10 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

11 plundered   

掠夺，抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Many of our cultural treasures have been plundered by imperialists. 我国许多珍贵文物被帝国主义掠走了。
• The imperialists plundered many valuable works of art. 帝国主义列强掠夺了许多珍贵的艺术品。