VOA标准英语2009年-Washington Post: UN Data Shows Vote Discre

By Sean Maroney
Islamabad
07 October 2009

 
Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) worker takes photograph after looking for patterns of irregularities in Kabul, 13 Sep 2009
U.N. officials have confirmed that data on Afghanistan's disputed election was kept confidential¹. The information allegedly shows that the official vote count in some provinces exceeded the estimated number of voters by more than 100,000. 

The Washington Post reported voter turnout information allegedly kept secret by the chief envoy³ for the United Nations in Afghanistan, Kai Eide, provides further evidence the August 20 contest was marred⁴ by fraud.

The information the newspaper obtained reportedly shows widespread discrepancies⁵ between the estimated voter turnout and the results reported by the country's Independent Election Commission.

U.N. spokesman in Kabul Dan McNorton, speaking by phone to VOA, says it is early to make any conclusions based on the data.

"It is unsubstantiated raw data and should be treated as such," he said.

 
Afghan President Hamid Karzai (file photo)
The reported discrepancies in the election data are particularly prevalent in Afghanistan's volatile⁶ southern and eastern provinces, where Afghan President Hamid Karzai won by large margins⁷.

One example is in the country's southern province of Helmand, where the Independent Election Commission recorded roughly 135,000 votes, but the United Nations estimated between 5,000 and 38,000 people actually voted.

The U.N. data also reportedly shows fraud in favor of candidate Abdullah Abdullah, but on a much smaller scale.

Allegations of rampant⁸ fraud and vote-rigging have surrounded the Afghan presidential election and raised questions about its legitimacy⁹.

 
Abdullah Abdullah (File photo)
Unofficial tallies¹⁰ indicate Mr. Karzai leads with about 54 percent of the vote.  If his lead falls below 50 percent, he could face top challenger Abdullah Abdullah in a runoff.

Last week, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon removed Kai Eide's deputy, U.S. diplomat¹¹ Peter Galbraith, from his post after Galbraith accused his boss of failing to provide Afghan and international officials with evidence of fraud, primarily by Mr. Karzai's supporters. Mr. Karzai's chief rival, Abdullah Abdullah, also has questioned the United Nations' role in the election.

McNorton dismisses the allegations, saying election officials are thoroughly¹² investigating all instances of alleged² fraud.

"To suggest that the United Nations in Afghanistan has supported one particular candidate over another is ludicrous," he said.

Afghan election officials say workers are recounting some of the ballots¹³ from the presidential election and expect to formally declare a winner by late next week.

While the political uncertainty¹⁴ has prevailed since the August 20 poll, the Taliban-led insurgency¹⁵ continues to undermine international efforts to bring stability to Afghanistan eight years after the U.S.-led coalition¹⁶ launched the anti-Taliban offensive. 

1 confidential   

adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的

参考例句：

• He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。
• We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。

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 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

4 marred   

adj. 被损毁, 污损的

参考例句：

• The game was marred by the behaviour of drunken fans. 喝醉了的球迷行为不轨，把比赛给搅了。
• Bad diction marred the effectiveness of his speech. 措词不当影响了他演说的效果。

5 discrepancies   

n.差异，不符合（之处），不一致（之处）( discrepancy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• wide discrepancies in prices quoted for the work 这项工作的报价出入很大
• When both versions of the story were collated,major discrepancies were found. 在将这个故事的两个版本对照后，找出了主要的不符之处。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

7 margins   

边( margin的名词复数 )； 利润； 页边空白； 差数

参考例句：

• They have always had to make do with relatively small profit margins. 他们不得不经常设法应付较少的利润额。
• To create more space between the navigation items, add left and right margins to the links. 在每个项目间留更多的空隙，加左或者右的margins来定义链接。

8 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

9 legitimacy   

n.合法，正当

参考例句：

• The newspaper was directly challenging the government's legitimacy.报纸直接质疑政府的合法性。
• Managing from the top down,we operate with full legitimacy.我们进行由上而下的管理有充分的合法性。

10 tallies   

n.账( tally的名词复数 )；符合；（计数的）签；标签v.计算，清点( tally的第三人称单数 )；加标签（或标记）于；（使）符合；（使）吻合

参考例句：

• Cash on hand tallies with the figure in the accounts. 现款跟账上的数目没有出入。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He tallies his own marks. 他把自己的得分记了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

12 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。

13 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

15 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

16 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。