VOA标准英语2013--Polls in Pakistan’s Baluchistan Province Face Multiple Threats

Polls in Pakistan’s Baluchistan Province Face Multiple Threats

In recent months in Baluchistan, multiple bomb and grenade attacks, shootings and threats of violence, have meant few large political rallies during campaign season.

A bomb blast earlier this year targeting Hazara Shi’ites left scores dead and wounded.

A bomb went off on this street in January, killing¹ almost 85 people. It is a tense time here in Baluchistan with the elections about to happen. Police are trying to secure the streets and make sure the voters can get to the polling station.”

Candidates, like ethnic² Hazara leader Abdul Khaliq Hazara, who narrowly escaped that attack, say they are being threatened daily.

“I want to tell you only one thing: that we cannot move properly here in the clear," said Hazara. "Still I think there is complete uncertainty³. We are running our election campaigning under the shadow of terror.”

Despite the deployment⁴ of 70,000 security forces for the vote, the situation is too risky⁵ for EU poll observers. But Quetta police chief Mir Zubair Mehmood says authorities are doing their best to protect candidates and voters.

“There is [a] problem, but as far as the elections are concerned, all resources pooled to make sure the election process is held in a fair, free and proper manner, and maximum security, which state can provide should be provided not only to the people but the candidates as well," said Mehmood.

Despite those assurances, expectations are low.

Chief secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad says turnout in Baluchistan was just 30 percent, in 2008.

“So, in terms of percentage, I would be very happy if we are, let’s say, equal the last elections turnout, that would be very decent," said Muhammad.

Baluch nationalists boycotted⁶ the last polls, but returned to campaigning this year to gain influence in the central government. Now they are targeted by separatist Baluch militants⁷ who are rejecting the poll and using text messages and letters to threaten voters.

Naimatullah Gichki, a senior member of a Baluch party, the National Party, says although many people are scared, any turnout is important.

“We cannot get out of our houses, our people go in the house and hold the [political] meetings, corner meetings, for instance, their houses, there are bomb blasts there and fires against them. I know it’s very tough. The results we don’t care. Whatever the results we must get some representation," said Gichki.

As the campaign head into the final days, the Baluchistan vote is becoming a contest between those who believe in participating in the political process - and those who reject it. 

1 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

2 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

3 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

4 deployment   

n. 部署,展开

参考例句：

• He has inquired out the deployment of the enemy troops. 他已查出敌军的兵力部署情况。
• Quality function deployment (QFD) is a widely used customer-driven quality, design and manufacturing management tool. 质量功能展开(quality function deployment,QFD)是一个广泛应用的顾客需求驱动的设计、制造和质量管理工具。

5 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

6 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。

7 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。