VOA标准英语2009年-Afghan Commission: Karzai Leads in Prelimi

By Steve Herman
New Delhi
16 September 2009

 
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, 16 Sep 2009
Afghanistan's government-appointed Independent Election Commission has released what it calls "final but preliminary" results from the August 20 vote for president. The disputed returns show incumbent¹ President Hamid Karzai with enough ballots³ to avoid a runoff with former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah. But the controversy⁴ is far from over.

The complete preliminary results show Afghan President Hamid Karzai with more than 54 percent of the votes and Abdullah Abdullah with less than 28 percent.

Chief Electoral Officer Daoud Ali Najafi informed reporters of the vote totals.

"Abdullah Abdullah has received 1,571,581 votes. Hamid Karzai has received 3,093,256 votes," he said. 

 
Independent Election Commission (IEC) Daud Najafi addresses press conference in Kabul, 16 Sep 2009
The Abdullah campaign has complained for weeks that supporters of the president rigged the election, even at polling booths where Mr. Karzai had strong support. It is an allegation that has gained credence⁵ from neutral observers.

The Election Complaints Commission has ordered a recount involving at least 10 percent of voting stations nationwide. The ECC, dominated by appointees of the United Nations, issued the order to the Afghan government's Election Commission following hundreds of what it deemed serious complaints of ballot² box stuffing and other allegations of fraud.

European Union election observers question the validity of about a third of the ballots, nearly 1.5 million. EU observers tell reporters in Kabul that under suspicion are some 1.1 million votes cast for Mr. Karzai and 300,000 ballots marked for Mr. Abdullah.

President Karzai's campaign calls the EU observer team's comments "irresponsible." Karzai supporters say they are hoping that even after ballots deemed fraudulent are discarded the president will still have more than 50 percent of total votes to avoid a runoff election with Mr. Abdullah.

The head of the EU observer team, Phillippe Morillon, says that in the mean time, the Karzai campaign should refrain from declaring victory.

"Any claim for any count or of victory will be premature⁶ and not credible⁷ and will be premature due to the fact that the Afghan electoral law asks for the results to be authenticated⁸ at the end of the process," he said.

But recounting and certifying⁹ the results are expected to take some weeks, if not longer.

A runoff election is supposed to be held two weeks after the final results are certified¹⁰. But a second round of balloting¹¹ might not feasible if inclement¹² weather sets in. That might leave Afghanistan with what many would view as an illegitimate government until the snow melts in April.  

1 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。

2 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

3 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》

4 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

5 credence   

n.信用，祭器台，供桌，凭证

参考例句：

• Don't give credence to all the gossip you hear.不要相信你听到的闲话。
• Police attach credence to the report of an unnamed bystander.警方认为一位不知姓名的目击者的报告很有用。

6 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。

7 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？

8 authenticated   

v.证明是真实的、可靠的或有效的( authenticate的过去式和过去分词 )；鉴定，使生效

参考例句：

• The letter has been authenticated by handwriting experts. 这封信已由笔迹专家证明是真的。
• The date of manufacture of the jewellery has not been authenticated. 这些珠宝的制造日期尚未经证实。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 certifying   

（尤指书面）证明( certify的现在分词 )； 发证书给…； 证明（某人）患有精神病； 颁发（或授予）专业合格证书

参考例句：

• Signed Commercial in quintuplicate, certifying merchandise to be of Chinese origin. 签署商业发票一式五份，证明产品的原产地为中国。
• Other documents certifying the truthfulness of the contents of the advertisements. （三）确认广告内容真实性的其他证明文件。

10 certified   

a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的

参考例句：

• Doctors certified him as insane. 医生证明他精神失常。
• The planes were certified airworthy. 飞机被证明适于航行。

11 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

12 inclement   

adj.严酷的，严厉的，恶劣的

参考例句：

• The inclement weather brought forth a host of diseases.恶劣的天气引起了种种疾病。
• They kept on going,even through the inclement weather.即使天气恶劣，他们还是执意要去。