VOA标准英语2009年-Observers say Guinea-Bissau Vote Met Inter

Electoral observers from the European Union say Sunday's vote in Guinea-Bissau met international standards for democratic elections. It was a vote to replace long-time leader Joao Bernardo Vieira, who was killed by mutinous¹ troops five months ago.

The European Union says Guinea-Bissau second round of presidential voting was transparent², inclusive, and well-administered.

"It was orderly. It was disciplined. There was no violence," said Johan Van Hecke, who led the EU observer team. "The election was well-organized, even better than during the first round."

Van Hecke also observed Guinea-Bissau's 2005 presidential election, last year's legislative³ election, and last month's first-round of presidential balloting⁴.

"This electoral commission has really made a lot of progress and managed to handle the elections in a very professional and impartial⁵ way," he said.

The European Union estimates voter turn out Sunday was about 60 percent. Provisional results are expected Wednesday.
　
Malam Bacai Sanha waits to speak during a rally, in the capital Bissau (File)

Ruling-party candidate Malam Bacai Sanha won the first round of voting with nearly 40 percent of ballots⁶ cast and was expected to gain the support of most of those who voted for independent candidate Henrique Rosa in the first round.

Opposition⁷ candidate Kumba Yala won a 2000 run-off against Sanha, but Yala's presidency⁸ is best remembered for the arrest of political opponents and financial mismanagement which resulted in civil servants not being paid for nine months.

The EU report criticized Yala for what it said were "persistent⁹, serious, inflammatory accusations¹⁰ without evidence" and criticized Sanha for the open use of state resources to benefit his campaign.

"We deplore¹¹ that one candidate went very far in accusing the other without proving anything. That could have seriously affected¹² the campaign," he said. "On the other hand, we also deplore that the other candidate went very far using state resources for electoral purposes."

The European Union says candidates using the media for personal attacks did not contribute to a commitment toward national reconciliation¹³. Van Hecke says it was unfortunate that both Sanha and Yala refused to hold a public debate.

"The voters would have been better informed on the program of both candidates. The program was not an issue," he said. "It was about other things, accusations and whatever, not really about what they have in mind regarding the future of their country."

Regional diplomats¹⁴ say the challenge for the new president will be forcing Bissau's military to respect civilian¹⁵ leadership and keep out of politics.

1 mutinous   

adj.叛变的，反抗的；adv.反抗地，叛变地；n.反抗，叛变

参考例句：

• The mutinous sailors took control of the ship.反叛的水手们接管了那艘船。
• His own army,stung by defeats,is mutinous.经历失败的痛楚后，他所率军队出现反叛情绪。

2 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

3 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

4 balloting   

v.（使）投票表决( ballot的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Clark took a commanding leading in the early balloting. 在最初投票时，克拉克遥遥领先。 来自辞典例句
• The balloting had stagnated, he couldn't win. 投票工作陷于停顿，他不能得胜。 来自辞典例句

5 impartial   

adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的

参考例句：

• He gave an impartial view of the state of affairs in Ireland.他对爱尔兰的事态发表了公正的看法。
• Careers officers offer impartial advice to all pupils.就业指导员向所有学生提供公正无私的建议。

6 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》

7 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。

8 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。

9 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

10 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

11 deplore   

vt.哀叹，对...深感遗憾

参考例句：

• I deplore what has happened.我为所发生的事深感愤慨。
• There are many of us who deplore this lack of responsibility.我们中有许多人谴责这种不负责任的做法。

12 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

13 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

14 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 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。