VOA标准英语2008年-Senegal Marks Anniversary of Ferry Disaster Ami

Senegal marked the sixth anniversary of one of the worst maritime¹ disasters in history, the sinking of a ferry boat that killed some 1,800 people. The event comes amid a diplomatic row and lingering resentment² on the part of the victims' families. VOA's Scott Bobb reports from Dakar.
　
Women pay respects at anonymous³ grave during sixth anniversary of Joola tragedy at 'cemetery⁴ of the drowned' on outskirts⁵ of Dakar, 26 Sept. 2008

Relatives of the victims of the Joola ferry gathered Friday under pouring rain at a small cemetery in southern Senegal for prayers led by Muslim and Christian⁶ preachers.

The remembrance ceremony came six years after the ferry sank in stormy seas off the coast of neighboring Gambia. Official figures say the ferry, which was licensed⁷ to carry 550 passengers, was carrying more than 1,900 people. Only 64 survived, making it one of the worst maritime disasters in modern history.

In addition less than one-half of victims' bodies were recovered. A spokesmen for families of the victims, Nassardine Aldara, lost four children in the accident. He says anger is still intense.

Aldara says of all the promises made by the Senegalese government only the issue of compensation has been settled. And some families have refused to accept the offer of $22,000 per victim because they believe justice has not been rendered.

The Senegalese government fired several officials following the incident but no one was prosecuted⁸ and the case was closed one year later.

The ferry carried foreigners from Europe and other African nations, including 22 people of French nationality.

Two weeks ago in France Judge Jean Wilfried Noel issued international arrest warrants against nine senior Senegalese officials including a former prime minister, transportation minister and head of the armed forces. The warrants charged them with negligent⁹ manslaughter and failure to help people in danger.

A Senegalese judge on Thursday issued a warrant for the arrest of the French judge on charges of abuse of authority.

Senegalese officials all the way up to the president were angered by the French warrants saying they represent unwarranted interference in a Senegalese legal case. The French government has declined to intervene, straining relations between the two countries.

Many Senegalese agree with the government but family members of many of the victims back the French judge saying they want justice even if it comes from another country.

 

1 maritime   

adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的

参考例句：

• Many maritime people are fishermen.许多居于海滨的人是渔夫。
• The temperature change in winter is less in maritime areas.冬季沿海的温差较小。

2 resentment   

n.怨愤，忿恨

参考例句：

• All her feelings of resentment just came pouring out.她一股脑儿倾吐出所有的怨恨。
• She cherished a deep resentment under the rose towards her employer.她暗中对她的雇主怀恨在心。

3 anonymous   

adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的

参考例句：

• Sending anonymous letters is a cowardly act.寄匿名信是懦夫的行为。
• The author wishes to remain anonymous.作者希望姓名不公开。

4 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

5 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

6 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

7 licensed   

adj.得到许可的v.许可，颁发执照(license的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The new drug has not yet been licensed in the US. 这种新药尚未在美国获得许可。
• Is that gun licensed? 那支枪有持枪执照吗？

8 prosecuted   

a.被起诉的

参考例句：

• The editors are being prosecuted for obscenity. 编辑因刊载污秽文字而被起诉。
• The company was prosecuted for breaching the Health and Safety Act. 这家公司被控违反《卫生安全条例》。

9 negligent   

adj.疏忽的；玩忽的；粗心大意的

参考例句：

• The committee heard that he had been negligent in his duty.委员会听说他玩忽职守。
• If the government is proved negligent,compensation will be payable.如果证明是政府的疏忽，就应支付赔偿。