2007年VOA标准英语-Jakarta Votes for Governor for First Time

By Trish Anderton
Jakarta
08 August 2007

Polls have closed in a historic election today in Jakarta, in which voters were able to choose their own governor for the first time. But analysts¹ predicted only a third of eligible² voters might show up, due to a flawed registration³ process and dissatisfaction with the nominees⁴. Trish Anderton reports from Jakarta.

Jakartans cheer for Fauzi Bowo on a Central Jakarta soccer field

Citizens across greater Jakarta had two candidates to choose between on Wednesday.  Fauzi Bowo, the current vice-governor, and Adang Daradjatun, a former police official. Despite frequent neighborhood rallies and a heavy blanketing of banners and posters, many citizens are cool to both candidates.

Saiful Mujani heads the Indonesian Survey Institute, a polling group. He says that as part of the current government, Fauzi Bowo is handicapped, because the administration is perceived as failing on important issues like traffic, unemployment and flooding.

Some voters are also wary⁵ of Adang because his party, the Justice and Prosperity Party, is identified with conservative Islam. The party insists it will not push for sharia law in Jakarta, but University of Indonesia economist⁶ Faisal Basri says many voters remain uneasy.

"The majority of Indonesia does not want sharia law," he said. "What we want is the law for all people of Indonesia.

Brotherhood7 Forum8 (FBR) show their support for Adang Daradjutan in<br />one of many mobile rallies" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070811/1048091.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Members of the Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) show their support for Adang Daradjutan in one of many mobile rallies

Faisal failed in his own effort to get on the ballot⁹. He says these two candidates emerged from a flawed nomination¹⁰ process ruled by money and party politics. He argues that process must change to give voters a wider range of choices.

"It is very bad for democracy because there will be no kind of fresh room for good people to run, and more and more concentration in political parties because of the role of money," he said.

Indonesia's Constitutional Court recently ruled that independent candidates must be allowed to run in local elections, but the ruling came too late for this race.

More than 11,000 polling stations were open across Jakarta for six hours until early afternoon. The city declared a public holiday to make it easier for about 5.7 million registered voters to get to the polls.

1 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

2 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

3 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

4 nominees   

n.被提名者，被任命者( nominee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She's one of the nominees. 她是被提名者之一。 来自超越目标英语 第2册
• A startling number of his nominees for senior positions have imploded. 他所提名的高级官员被否决的数目令人震惊。 来自互联网

5 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。

6 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

7 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

8 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。

9 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

10 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。