VOA标准英语2010年-Rwandans Vote in Controversial Preside

Rwandan president Paul Kagame holds a press conference in Kigali, Rwanda, as citizens vote for president Monday for the second time since the country's 1994 genocide, 9 Aug 2010

Voting is underway in Rwanda's second presidential election since the 1994 genocide.  Though four candidates are vying¹ for the nation's highest office, many expect President Paul Kagame to be reelected by a wide margin².

 

Accusations³ of political repression⁴ have surrounded Rwanda's presidential election, but the country was quiet as early voters cast their ballots⁵.  Long lines had formed outside polling stations before dawn, but voting has proceeded largely without incident.

Rwandans will choose one of four candidates to lead the small central African nation for the next seven years.  Nobody expects current President Paul Kagame, however, to receive much of a challenge.  Mr. Kagame has effectively ruled the country since taking power with the Rwandan Patriotic⁶ Front after the 1994 genocide.  He is credited with quickly rebuilding the country, fighting corruption⁷ and attracting international investment. 

The former rebel leader enjoys broad support from the Rwandan people, but critics say that support is manufactured. 

International organizations, such as Reporters Without Borders and Human Rights Watch, have accused Mr. Kagame of silencing opposition⁸ and suppressing independent media.  Some observers say the repression of the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front has made democratic elections impossible.

Mr. Kagame, though, says such claims are unfair.  Voting at a school in Kigali, the Rwandan leader expressed confidence that Rwandan voters would be heard.

"If the election is to be democratic we have to look at a number of things," said Kagame.  "First of all, what the people of Rwanda think about it, in terms of their being free to choose and to express themselves.  So when I see the turnout - the turnout has been huge in the last three weeks - when I have seen how they have expressed themselves, all that has been done and said by the people of Rwanda give an impression, to me, that the process has been very democratic.  I am just waiting for another moment to see the results."

Mr. Kagame promised to consolidate⁹ the gains of his first term, if elected, and said his plan included pursuing international investment, strengthening healthcare, and empowering women.

The president's three challengers are relatively¹⁰ unknown in Rwanda and their platforms are virtually identical to Mr. Kagame's.  Critics say the purpose of the three candidates is to provide the semblance¹¹ of opposition.

But Mr. Kagame said his detractors had unfairly condemned¹² him for the weakness of his opponents.

"Let them create the opposition," said Kagame.  "In fact, maybe that is what they are trying to do by telling some lies about the situation here.  But maybe they can fill the vacuum that they think is there.  Do they want an opposition that I should create, or do they want an opposition that should emerge naturally.  I do not feel that I am responsible for what the critics are talking about."

The provisional results of today's poll are expected early Tuesday, but President Kagame's Rwandan Patriotic Front has planned a celebration rally to begin just after polls close
 

1 vying   

adj.竞争的；比赛的

参考例句：

• California is vying with other states to capture a piece of the growing communications market.为了在日渐扩大的通讯市场分得一杯羹，加利福尼亚正在和其他州展开竞争。
• Four rescue plans are vying to save the zoo.4个拯救动物园的方案正争得不可开交。

2 margin   

n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘

参考例句：

• We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。

3 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

4 repression   

n.镇压，抑制，抑压

参考例句：

• The repression of your true feelings is harmful to your health.压抑你的真实感情有害健康。
• This touched off a new storm against violent repression.这引起了反对暴力镇压的新风暴。

5 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》

6 patriotic   

adj.爱国的，有爱国心的

参考例句：

• His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
• The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。

7 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

8 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。

9 consolidate   

v.使加固，使加强；(把...)联为一体，合并

参考例句：

• The two banks will consolidate in July next year. 这两家银行明年7月将合并。
• The government hoped to consolidate ten states to form three new ones.政府希望把十个州合并成三个新的州。

10 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

11 semblance   

n.外貌，外表

参考例句：

• Her semblance of anger frightened the children.她生气的样子使孩子们感到害怕。
• Those clouds have the semblance of a large head.那些云的形状像一个巨大的人头。

12 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。