2007年VOA标准英语-Ivory Coast Resumes Identification Project

By Phillip Wellman
Dakar
25 September 2007

A program to issue identity papers to millions of undocumented northerners has begun in Ivory Coast, a step many say is necessary to reconcile the divided nation as elections draw closer. Phillip Wellman reports from our West Africa bureau in Dakar.

Officials from the independent electoral commission in Ivory Coast say that all persons who can prove they were born on Ivorian soil can now apply for national identification papers in a public hearing.

Justice Minister Mamadou Kone launched the process in Abidjan, saying there have been many failed attempts to do this. He said he hopes this attempt will be effective, clear and based on consensus¹.

The relaunch began in the home regions of rebel leader turned prime minister, Guillaume Soro, about 650 kilometers north of Abidjan, and of President Laurent Gbagbo, 300 kilometers west of the commercial capital.

Kone said the rival leaders showed they are behind the process by making these symbolic² choices.

The government says about 3.5 million people lack identity cards, usually because they grew up in rural villages and never received birth certificates.

Northern Ivorians say they are entitled to Ivorian nationality and voting papers, a grievance³ that led to the rebellion in late 2002.

But many supporters of Mr. Gbagbo say only a few really qualify for these rights.

This opposition⁴ led to deadly riots last year during the last attempt at identification.

The president of the electoral commission, Robert Beugre-Mambe, says allowing undocumented Ivorians to register for identity papers is the country's first step towards achieving unity⁵. He says it will give Ivorians on both sides of the political divide the chance to register to vote in the country's next presidential election.

Despite repeated peace deals, the world's leading cocoa producer remains⁶ split between the government-run south and rebel-held north.

Twice-delayed presidential elections were supposed to be held in 2005, but have been postponed⁷ through U.N. resolutions.

Earlier attempts to start identification were also blocked due to technicalities. But Beugre-Mambe says the latest identification scheme is different.

He says unlike previous attempts, this time, both President Gbagbo and Prime Minister Soro are backing the plan. He says both sides of the divided county are now working for peace, which means there should be no complications with the registration⁸.

Similar comments have been made before, only to be derailed by realities on the ground.

The electoral commission says that if the current program proceeds as planned, Ivory Coast should be able to hold presidential elections around October 2008.

West Africa researcher Gilles Yabi of Brussels-based International Crisis Group says although some Ivorians may be discouraged by the wait for elections, it is paramount⁹ that the identification process be done thoroughly¹⁰.

"We can not talk about the end of the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire before we put an end to the question of nationality and identity in the country, so what is important is really to go to the election after solving the question of identity, after distributing ID papers to Ivorians and then, having the right conditions to go to the election," he said.

National identification, disarmament of former fighters, and army re-integration are the three cornerstones of a peace accord between rebels and the Ivorian government signed in March. There have now been symbolic ceremonies and meetings for all three, but no real progress yet.

1 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

2 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

3 grievance   

n.怨愤，气恼，委屈

参考例句：

• He will not easily forget his grievance.他不会轻易忘掉他的委屈。
• He had been nursing a grievance against his boss for months.几个月来他对老板一直心怀不满。

4 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。

5 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

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 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

8 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？

9 paramount   

a.最重要的，最高权力的

参考例句：

• My paramount object is to save the Union and destroy slavery.我的最高目标是拯救美国，摧毁奴隶制度。
• Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.氮对地球上的生命至关重要。

10 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。