VOA标准英语2010年-Liberian President's Re-election Bid D

In Liberia, there are mixed reactions to this week's announcement by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf that she will run for re-election next year.  A draft report by the country's Truth and Reconciliation¹ Commission said President Sirleaf should be barred from seeking further political office for 30 years.

President Sirleaf ended the speculation² this week by announcing that she intends to be a "formidable" candidate in Liberia's 2011 election.

Junior Minister Issac Jackson says Liberians trust her leadership.

"The vast majority of people in this country are saying that Madame Sirleaf is conducting the affairs of the state properly, that today you speak of reconstruction³ of roads," he said

Jackson says supporters petitioned President Sirleaf to run again because she is best qualified⁴ to continue Liberia's reconciliation and reconstruction.

"Are you saying that the president should turn down that petition because of some personal agenda that she is not going to run?  I think no," he added.

A draft report from Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission last year said President Sirleaf should be banned from public office for 30 years because of her early support for former rebel leader Charles Taylor.

She admits to giving him money, but testified that she was misled into supporting Mr. Taylor and ended that support when she learned of the human-rights abuses in his campaign against then-president Samuel Doe.

While the ban on President Sirleaf was not included in the commission's final report, it is still before parliament.

Human-rights activist⁵ Adama Demster says her decision to run again undercuts the commission's work.

"By-passing the document to make a declaration, we feel that it is not in support of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the work they have done.  It should not just be overlooked and the people try to present themselves in another form," said Mr. Demster.

University student William Selmah says it is inappropriate for the president to announce her re-election campaign before the commission's work is complete.

"She is slapped with a 30-year ban through the TRC recommendation. While this recommendation is yet to be endorsed⁶ or rejected, the president has already said that she is seeking another term of office," he noted⁷.

Selmah is also disappointed by the president breaking her promise to serve only one term.

"As a leader, you have to be someone of your word.  She said she would not seek a second term," he added.  "After getting a first term, she would turn over the mantle⁸ of leadership to a younger generation which she would have groomed⁹ by then. That was a broken promise, and those are statements that make people not take you serious the next time."

Opposition¹⁰ politician Darius Dillion has no problem with the president running again, and says it is time for her opponents to stand up to the challenge.

"It is her right to contest again," said Dillion.  "Her being in the race has brought even more added value and flavor.  It should be taken seriously so that those who call ourselves the opposition who want state power, we should meet the challenge."

In announcing her plans for re-election President Sirleaf did not mention the commission's proposed ban.  She did say not everyone agrees with its findings, but the body has made important recommendations.  The president says there must be a "conscious national determination to move ahead cautiously and strategically" in acting¹¹ on its recommendations.

 

1 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。

2 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

3 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

4 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

5 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

6 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；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：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 mantle   

n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红

参考例句：

• The earth had donned her mantle of brightest green.大地披上了苍翠欲滴的绿色斗篷。
• The mountain was covered with a mantle of snow.山上覆盖着一层雪。

9 groomed   

v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的过去式和过去分词 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗

参考例句：

• She is always perfectly groomed. 她总是打扮得干净利落。
• Duff is being groomed for the job of manager. 达夫正接受训练，准备当经理。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 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。

11 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。