VOA标准英语2008年-Bush Calls Zimbabwe Elections a 'Sham'

U.S. President George Bush is urging a strong international stand against the government of Zimbabwe, saying the presidential runoff election scheduled for later this week amounts to a sham¹. VOA White House correspondent Paula Wolfson has details.
　
President Bush, (r), speaks to the media during a meeting with UN Security Council permanent representatives at the White House, 25 June 2008

President Bush says the people of Zimbabwe deserve to have their votes count.

"Friday's elections appear to be a sham," he said.

Mr. Bush says it is impossible to conduct a free election when candidates are not allowed to campaign freely and their supporters face violence and intimidation².

"Yet the Mugabe government is intimidating³ the people on the ground in Zimbabwe," he added. "And this is an incredibly sad development."

They were his first public comments on Zimbabwe since opposition⁴ leader Morgan Tsvangirai dropped out of the race, citing violence against his followers⁵ at the direction of President Robert Mugabe.

President Bush said the latest developments prove the election process in Zimbabwe is not free, fair, or legitimate⁶.

"People there want to express themselves at the ballot⁷ box," he said. "Yet the Mugabe government has refused to allow them to do so. This is not just and it is wrong."

The tough talk came during a White House meeting attended by representatives of the U.N. Security Council.

President Bush said nations must join together to send a strong message to the Mugabe government. He praised the Council statement approved earlier this week which unanimously condemned⁸ Zimbabwe's government for a campaign of election-related violence.

The president then called on the African Union to continue to keep a spotlight⁹ on the situation in Zimbabwe during its upcoming meeting. He urged AU members to remind the world that the presidential election in Zimbabwe is neither free nor fair.

　

 

1 sham   

n./adj.假冒(的)，虚伪(的)

参考例句：

• They cunningly played the game of sham peace.他们狡滑地玩弄假和平的把戏。
• His love was a mere sham.他的爱情是虚假的。

2 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

3 intimidating   

vt.恐吓，威胁( intimidate的现在分词)

参考例句：

• They were accused of intimidating people into voting for them. 他们被控胁迫选民投他们的票。
• This kind of questioning can be very intimidating to children. 这种问话的方式可能让孩子们非常害怕。

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 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

6 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

7 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。

8 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

9 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。