VOA标准英语2009年-Intimidation, Insecurity Remain Concerns B

With less than two weeks to go before Afghanistan holds its presidential election there is continuing concern about intimidation¹ and insecurity.

A report issued by Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission and the United Nations mission gives a mixed assessment² of the ongoing³ campaign.
　
A poster of President Hamid Karzai, who is also a presidential candidate is seen defaced with mud in Kabul, Afghanistan, 09 Aug 2009

Monitors say while political rights of candidates and their supporters "have generally been respected" there has been documented violence. Notably⁴ there were four killings⁵ related to the election for the period covered by this report - the second half of July.

The monitors say women candidates have difficulty campaigning and female potential voters are being hindered from registering.

The joint⁶ report cites an upward trend of intimidation by what it calls anti-government elements, as well as rival candidates and their supporters. Security concerns are also limiting freedom of movement and open campaigning.

This all raises the issue as to whether Afghanistan can hold elections that can be deemed "free and fair."

U.N. Special Representative in Afghanistan Kai Eide says the same standards applied⁷ to developed Western democracies should not be used to evaluate a "complex" election in an unstable⁸ country with weak institutions.

"What we want to see is credible⁹ elections, inclusive elections and the elections where the results are accepted by the Afghan people," said Eide. I think those are important standards that we see as a basis for how to evaluate the election results."

Another concern cited in the report are allegations that government resources, including public media, are being used to aid particular candidates.

Afghanistan's 17 million eligible¹⁰ voters go to the polls on August 20.

Incumbent¹¹ President Hamid Karzai faces several-dozen challengers, but experts say he might be able to secure at least 50 percent of the votes, thus avoiding a second round of balloting¹².

1 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

2 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

3 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

4 notably   

adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地

参考例句：

• Many students were absent,notably the monitor.许多学生缺席，特别是连班长也没来。
• A notably short,silver-haired man,he plays basketball with his staff several times a week.他个子明显较为矮小，一头银发，每周都会和他的员工一起打几次篮球。

5 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。

6 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

7 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

8 unstable   

adj.不稳定的，易变的

参考例句：

• This bookcase is too unstable to hold so many books.这书橱很不结实，装不了这么多书。
• The patient's condition was unstable.那患者的病情不稳定。

9 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

10 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

11 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

12 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