VOA标准英语2010年-Ethiopian Election Draws Record Turnou

Ethiopians wait to cast their vote at a polling station in Dukem, Ethiopia, 40 km south of Addis Ababa, 23 May 2010

Ethiopian officials say a record number of voters have gone to the polls in an election expected to give Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's ruling party a huge majority in parliament.  Opposition¹ leaders charge the vote has been compromised.

As results began pouring in, ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front spokesman Hailemariam Dessalegn cautiously predicted a turnout of up to 90 percent of the country's 32 million voters.

"We have not got information from remote areas, but until now we know it is more than 80 percent," he said.

But, when asked about how it looked in Addis Ababa?

"Above 90 percent, but even in the rural areas we can reach above 90 percent," he said.

 Analysts predict an overwhelming EPRDF victory that would hand Prime Minister Meles Zenawi another five-year term, possibly with more than the two-thirds majority he commands in parliament.  Preliminary results are expected Monday.

But opposition parties allege² widespread and systematic³ cheating, especially in remote areas where observation is difficult.  Former Ethiopian president Negasso Gidada, now a leader of the main opposition coalition⁴ known as Medrek, says in thousands of precincts, his observers were denied access to the voting and counting process.

"We say the election took place without our observation, and that means if our observers have not participated, the voting day has been compromised," he said.

Hailu Shewal, leader of the All Ethiopia Unity⁵ Party went further.  He said reports from his party's field workers indicated a 'disastrous⁶ situation', with opposition observers forced to flee in many places, and ruling party cadres marching voters into the voting booths and watching to see how they voted.

The 74-year-old veteran political leader said he is disgusted at the extent of the rigging, and vowed⁷ to quit politics.

"I am not participating in a ridiculous election.  Never again," he said. "Maybe people think I am committing suicide, but politics is not my life.  I am not in the business of cheating."

The European Union and the African Union had about 240 observers spread across the country monitoring activities at 43,000 polling stations. After the polls closed, chief EU observer Thygs Berman called the election 'peaceful and quiet', but acknowledged there had been complaints of vote rigging.

"It is about of course the technical errors.  But there are more," Berman said. "There are complaints by political parties, there are complaints by candidates. We will see in the coming hours and days how we shall evaluate these complaints."

Berman said he had heard no reports of election-related violence.

Opposition leaders said despite the possibility of a crushing defeat they would not call their supporters into the streets to protest.

The last election for parliament, in 2005, ended in violence when police shot demonstrators protesting alleged⁸ ruling party vote rigging.  At least 193 protesters and seven police officers died. 
 

1 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。

2 allege   

vt.宣称，申述，主张，断言

参考例句：

• The newspaper reporters allege that the man was murdered but they have given no proof.新闻记者们宣称这个男人是被谋杀的，但他们没提出证据。
• Students occasionally allege illness as the reason for absence.学生时不时会称病缺课。

3 systematic   

adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的

参考例句：

• The way he works isn't very systematic.他的工作不是很有条理。
• The teacher made a systematic work of teaching.这个教师进行系统的教学工作。

4 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。

5 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

6 disastrous   

adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的

参考例句：

• The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成灾。
• Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投资结果很惨，血本无归。

7 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

8 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为