2007年VOA标准英语-Campaigning for East Timor's First Parliamentar

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Dili
27 June 2007

The campaign period for East Timor's parliamentary elections has ended with relatively¹ little violence, but tensions remain and security is tight in this volatile² country. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins reports from the capital Dili.

Campaigning ended Wednesday for the 14 parties vying³ for seats in East Timor's parliament. The election is on Saturday.

Timorese supporters of the ruling Fretilin party shout during the last campaign rally before Saturday's parliamentary elections in Dili, 27 Jun 2007

Fretilin, the party that has dominated this tiny nation since independence in 2002, held its last rally in Dili.

At the rally, Mariana Perada, says she believes Fretilin can ease the country's poverty and instability.

She says Fretilin is the only party that can provide jobs for the people and education for the children.

Her concerns are shared by many in East Timor, where roughly half of the people are jobless.

They also are worried about security. The country was rocked by violence last year after fighting between rival security forces descended⁴ into arson⁵, looting, and gang violence.

The bloodshed only ended after the government requested an international peacekeeping force, which remains⁶ in the country.

Fretilin's leader, former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, was forced to resign last year after he fired a third of the army, which led to the unrest.

Mr. Alkatiri says the problem is not Fretilin, but the lack of state authority. He says the police, known as the PNTL, and the army, known as the FDTL, need to be overhauled⁷.

"You need cooperation, you need above all justice and state authority," said Mr. Alkatiri. "This state has no longer authority ... you need to rebuild PNTL, you need to restrengthen FDTL."

Saturday's election is viewed as a fight between Fretilin and the new National Congress for the Reconstruction⁸ of East Timor, or CNRT, led by former President Xanana Gusmao.

A supporter of the CNRT, Gaspar Soares, thinks the only way to deal with East Timor's problems is new leadership.

"We want to change the current government," he said. "That is our main objective … we support CNRT and absolutely we support Xanana, too."

None of the 14 parties is expected to win an outright⁹ majority. The party with the most seats will likely form a collation¹⁰ with other parties.

1 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

2 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。

3 vying   

adj.竞争的；比赛的

参考例句：

• California is vying with other states to capture a piece of the growing communications market.为了在日渐扩大的通讯市场分得一杯羹，加利福尼亚正在和其他州展开竞争。
• Four rescue plans are vying to save the zoo.4个拯救动物园的方案正争得不可开交。

4 descended   

a.为...后裔的，出身于...的

参考例句：

• A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
• The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。

5 arson   

n.纵火，放火

参考例句：

• He was serving a ten spot for arson.他因纵火罪在服十年徒刑。
• He was arraigned on a charge of arson.他因被指控犯纵火罪而被传讯。

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

7 overhauled   

v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越

参考例句：

• Within a year the party had drastically overhauled its structure. 一年内这个政党已大刀阔斧地整顿了结构。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A mechanic overhauled the car's motor with some new parts. 一个修理工对那辆汽车的发动机进行了彻底的检修，换了一些新部件。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

9 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。

10 collation   

n.便餐；整理

参考例句：

• It was in this retreat that Mr. Quilp ordered a cold collation to be prepared.奎尔普先生就是在这个别墅里预定冷点的。
• I was quite taken with your line of photocopiers with collation and stapling capability.我被贵公司能够自动整理和装订的系列复印机吸引住了。