VOA常速英语2007年-Kidnapping Trial Opens in Chad for French Chari

By Jade¹ Heilmann
Dakar
21 December 2007

Six French aid workers from the group Zoe's Ark have gone on trial in Chad. The six are accused of the attempted kidnapping of 103 children who were discovered by authorities as they were being flown to Europe for possible adoption². Jade Heilmann reports for VOA from our West, Central Africa bureau in Dakar.

The six aid workers face charges of abduction and fraud, and could be given up to 20 years of forced labor³ if convicted. The group was arrested in the eastern Chadian city of Abéché on October 25 while preparing to board the children on a plane to France.

A lawyer representing the defendants⁴, who have been on a hunger strike, says his clients are nervous about the trial.

The lawyer, Abdou Lamian, says he is confident about his defense⁵, but says anyone in their situation would be worried. He says they are far from their country and their families, and their future is uncertain. Three Chadians and a Sudanese national accused of complicity will also stand trial.

The French aid group continues to deny the charges. They say the children were presented to them as orphans⁶ from the volatile⁷ Darfur region.

But after an international investigation⁸, most of the children have been established to be from families or have at least one guardian⁹. Most are from Chadian villages along the Sudanese border.

Sixty-three of the Chadian children were brought to Zoe's Ark by Souleïmane Ibrahim Adam, who is facing charges of complicity.

Defense lawyer Lamian explains, Adam was chosen because they believed him to be Sudanese and therefore never questioned whether he would bring back Sudanese or Chadian children.

Adam's nationality has been disputed between Chad and Sudan.

Three journalists and seven crew members were also arrested at the time, but have since been released and cleared of charges in Chad.

Christophe Letien, spokesperson for Zoe's Ark, says he hopes they will be cleared of all suspicions. He says he hopes the trial will prove the operation was carried out to save children from Darfur, and nothing else.

A Franco-Chadian agreement signed in 1976 could allow the group to serve its sentence in France. The French Government is waiting to hear the court's decision before commenting on the possibility of such a deal.

Three Chadian officials from border town of Tiné, are also standing¹⁰ trial for complicity in the case.

1 jade   

n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠

参考例句：

• The statue was carved out of jade.这座塑像是玉雕的。
• He presented us with a couple of jade lions.他送给我们一对玉狮子。

2 adoption   

n.采用，采纳，通过；收养

参考例句：

• An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。
• The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。

3 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

4 defendants   

被告( defendant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The courts heard that the six defendants had been coerced into making a confession. 法官审判时发现6位被告人曾被迫承认罪行。
• As in courts, the defendants are represented by legal counsel. 与法院相同，被告有辩护律师作为代表。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

5 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

6 orphans   

孤儿( orphan的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The poor orphans were kept on short commons. 贫苦的孤儿们吃不饱饭。
• Their uncle was declared guardian to the orphans. 这些孤儿的叔父成为他们的监护人。

7 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。

8 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

9 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

10 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。