VOA标准英语2009年-UN Report Blames Guinea Military for K

A UN investigation¹ into September's killing² of opposition³ protesters in Guinea says military leaders were directly involved in the violence. Guinea's military blames the killing on political opponents and 'uncontrollable elements' of the army.

Scott Stearns | Dakar 21 December 2009

 
Photo: AP
Guinea military leader Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara (File)

The U.N. investigation says the September 28 killing of opposition demonstrators in Guinea's capital amounts to a crime against humanity that is directly attributable to the military government, including its leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon received the report last week and has passed it on to the Security Council, the African Union, and the Economic Community of West African States, as well as Guinea's government.

In sections of the report leaked to international media, including the French news agency and the newspaper Le Monde, the U.N. inquiry⁴ says there are "sufficient grounds for presuming direct criminal responsibility" by Captain Camara and the former head of Guinea's presidential guard Lieutenant⁵ Aboubacar Diakite.

It asks the International Criminal Court to take action against Captain Camara and other members of the ruling military council for what it calls "systematic⁶" and "organized" killing.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told reporters in Paris that he agrees with the UN conclusion that the violence was a crime against humanity and endorses⁷ action by the International Criminal Court.

Captain Camara was shot in the head by Diakite three weeks ago and is recovering in a Moroccan military hospital.  In an interview with French Radio, Lieutenant Aboubacar Diakite says he shot Captain Camara because the captain was trying to blame him for the September 28th violence.

Diakite says he will not turn himself in because he believes he will be killed to cover-up what he calls September's "premeditated violence."

 

 
AP
In this 02 Oct 2009 file photo, people view the bodies of family members and friends put on display days after security forces opened fire on pro-democracy protesters at a Sept. 28 rally in Conakry, Guinea

Local human-rights groups say at least 157 people were killed and as many as 100 women raped⁸ when soldiers broke up a protest against Captain Camara's expected presidency⁹ candidacy.  The military government says 57 people died, most in the crush of people fleeing the stadium.

The violence raised concerns that Guinea's political crisis could degenerate¹⁰ into a broader fight, potentially destabilizing a region where Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, and Ivory Coast are all working to recover from their own violence.

Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore is leading regional efforts to reach a power-sharing agreement between the military government and its political opponents.  But Guinea's military is rejecting a foreign military and civilian¹¹ observer mission.

Guinean human-rights attorney Thierno Balde believes those talks have little chance for success, especially as no one knows when or if Captain Camara will return to Guinea.

"Looking at what is going on right now, I am very pessimistic about how the situation might evolve.  I do not see right now a way out of the situation.  And it makes me really worried, knowing that if we have further violence it can lead to civil war and maybe go beyond the border of Guinea," he said.

The U.N. Secretary General is calling for Guinea's government to deal with violence "in a systematic manner devoid¹² of killings¹³."  In a statement on his handing over the report, he reminded the military government of its obligation to protect victims and witnesses and said it should "break definitively¹⁴ with the violence that characterized the tragic¹⁵ events of 28 September."

Since Captain Camara's shooting, Guinea is being run by Defense¹⁶ Minister Sekouba Konate who has toured military barracks calling for discipline and respect for civilians¹⁷.
 

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

3 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。

4 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

5 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

6 systematic   

adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的

参考例句：

• The way he works isn't very systematic.他的工作不是很有条理。
• The teacher made a systematic work of teaching.这个教师进行系统的教学工作。

7 endorses   

v.赞同( endorse的第三人称单数 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• There isn't one country in the Middle East that now endorses the Eisenhower Doctrine. 但至今没有一个中东国家认可它。 来自辞典例句
• Whether any of this truly endorses Dr Patel's hypothesis is moot. 这些视频能否真正证明帕特的假设成立还是个未知数。 来自互联网

8 raped   

v.以暴力夺取，强夺( rape的过去式和过去分词 )；强奸

参考例句：

• A young woman was brutally raped in her own home. 一名年轻女子在自己家中惨遭强暴。 来自辞典例句
• We got stick together, or we will be having our women raped. 我们得团结一致，不然我们的妻女就会遭到蹂躏。 来自辞典例句

9 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

10 degenerate   

v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者

参考例句：

• He didn't let riches and luxury make him degenerate.他不因财富和奢华而自甘堕落。
• Will too much freedom make them degenerate?太多的自由会令他们堕落吗？

11 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

12 devoid   

adj.全无的，缺乏的

参考例句：

• He is completely devoid of humour.他十分缺乏幽默。
• The house is totally devoid of furniture.这所房子里什么家具都没有。

13 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

14 definitively   

adv.决定性地，最后地

参考例句：

• None of the three super-states could be definitively conquered even by the other two in combination. 三个超级国家中的任何一国都不可能被任何两国的联盟所绝对打败。 来自英汉文学
• Therefore, nothing can ever be definitively proved with a photograph. 因此，没有什么可以明确了一张照片。 来自互联网

15 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

16 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。

17 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。