VOA标准英语2009年-Niger Prepares for Referendum on President

The government of Niger is expecting a big turn out for Tuesday's referendum on changing the constitution to allow the president to run for a third term. Niger's parliament and constitutional court were both dissolved after opposing the move.

Prime Minister Seini Moumarou says everyone in Niger should turn out to vote in Tuesday's constitutional referendum.

The prime minister says, voters should register a massive "yes" vote to end term limits, and allow President Mamadou Tandja to extend his time in office beyond the expiration¹ of his second term later this year.
　
Billboard² calling to vote 'Yes' for 4 Aug 2009 referendum on new constitution adorns³ the streets of Niamey, 01 Aug 2009

President Tandja says there is wide-spread popular demand for him to extend his presidency⁴ to complete several large infrastructure⁵ projects, including a Chinese-financed oil refinery⁶, a hydroelectric dam, and a French uranium mine.

But support was not forthcoming from Niger's parliament or constitutional court. Both bodies said changing the constitution to end presidential term limits would be illegal. Both bodies were subsequently dissolved by President Tandja, who is now ruling by decree.

The president also faces opposition⁷ from within his ruling coalition⁸, including the Alliance for Democracy and Progress party, which says changing the constitution would create a "grave threat to peace and stability."

Trade unions have organized strikes to protest the referendum. Security forces used tear gas to break up two anti-referendum rallies, and a private radio station was closed for broadcasting an opposition statement about the referendum.

Abderrahaman Ousman, who heads Niger's press association, says the president will nominate who he wants to head the communications council, without consideration for that person's qualifications. The media will then be reviewed not by an independent institution but by a political one. Ousman says he is concerned about political meddling⁹ in the media in this pre-referendum period.

The Economic Community of West African States has threatened President Tandja with sanctions, if he changes the constitution to run again. The European Union says it is delaying the payment of funds meant to help support Niger's budget.

President Tandja says he serves the people of Niger, not international opinion, and is going to the referendum as an independent, sovereign leader.

1 expiration   

n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物

参考例句：

• Can I have your credit card number followed by the expiration date?能告诉我你的信用卡号码和它的到期日吗?
• This contract shall be terminated on the expiration date.劳动合同期满，即行终止。

2 billboard   

n.布告板，揭示栏，广告牌

参考例句：

• He ploughed his energies into his father's billboard business.他把精力投入到父亲的广告牌业务中。
• Billboard spreads will be simpler and more eye-catching.广告牌广告会比较简单且更引人注目。

3 adorns   

装饰，佩带( adorn的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Have adornment, the building adorns the product of material. 有装饰，就有建筑装饰材料的制品。
• In this case, WALL-E adorns every pillar. 在这段时间，Wall-E占据了各个显要位置。

4 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。

5 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

6 refinery   

n.精炼厂，提炼厂

参考例句：

• They built a sugar refinery.他们建起了一座榨糖厂。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

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 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。

9 meddling   

v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He denounced all "meddling" attempts to promote a negotiation. 他斥责了一切“干预”促成谈判的企图。 来自辞典例句
• They liked this field because it was never visited by meddling strangers. 她们喜欢这块田野，因为好事的陌生人从来不到那里去。 来自辞典例句