2007年VOA标准英语-Rebels Accuse Sudanese Government of New Attack

By Nick Wadhams
Nairobi
30 August 2007

A rebel group in Darfur says Sudanese government forces have launched new attacks in western Darfur despite claims from Khartoum that its troops have stood down in the troubled region for several days. Nick Wadhams has more from Nairobi.

In recent days, the Sudanese government has heatedly denied allegations that its troops are on the attack in Darfur, arguing that such claims have been fabricated by aid agencies with an agenda. It says it is determined¹ to start peace talks with the rebels and bring peace to the region at last.

A recent report from Amnesty International alleged² that Khartoum was still shipping³ military equipment into Darfur in violation⁴ of a U.N. arms embargo⁵. And on Thursday, a spokesman for the Sudan Liberation Movement told VOA News that Sudanese troops had launched new attacks on two villages in the Jebel Mara area as recently as Wednesday.

Yahia Bolad, a London-based spokesman for the SLA, says his group wants to adhere to a ceasefire but had no choice but to fight the troops and repulse⁶ them.

"They are sending aircraft and also helicopters to western Darfur in order to continue their attack on our people on the ground," Bolad said. "And there is an attack from the government in our areas yesterday. The government troops they attack two villages. And our troops response the attack, the government troops withdraw from the village and turn back."

Bolad says there he has no word on the number of people who were killed or wounded in the latest attacks, but said there were casualties.

Sudanese officials could not be reached for comment about Bolad's claims. But on Tuesday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was concerned about an escalation⁷ in violence in Darfur that had killed hundreds of people in the last few weeks.

Officials had hoped that a U.N. Security Council decision in late July to send a new African Union and United Nations peacekeeping force to Darfur sometime next year would ease the conflict. Some 200,000 people have died in four years of fighting.

But neither the council's decision, nor a meeting earlier this month in which some rebel groups agreed to a united front for future talks, have eased the tension.

Bolad says his faction⁸ of the SLA will not even think about giving up its weapons until U.N. forces are on the ground.

"For now we have our commitment to the ceasefire," Bolad said. "Only in self defense⁹. But when the U.N. troops come and they bring stability and protect our people on the ground at that point we can discuss the issue of our weapons."

United Nations and African Union officials have said that they hope peace talks will begin sometime in October. However, with the continuing violence, that timetable is looking less and less likely.

1 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

2 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

3 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

4 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

5 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

6 repulse   

n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝

参考例句：

• The armed forces were prepared to repulse any attacks.武装部队已作好击退任何进攻的准备。
• After the second repulse,the enemy surrendered.在第二次击退之后，敌人投降了。

7 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

8 faction   

n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争

参考例句：

• Faction and self-interest appear to be the norm.派系之争和自私自利看来非常普遍。
• I now understood clearly that I was caught between the king and the Bunam's faction.我现在完全明白自己已陷入困境，在国王与布纳姆集团之间左右为难。

9 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。