VOA慢速英语尼日利亚武装分子暴力蔓延到农村和邻国

 

AS IT IS 2013-11-24 Nigerian Militants² Spread Violence to Countryside, Neighboring Country 尼日利亚武装分子暴力蔓延到农村和邻国

Hi again! Thanks for joining us on As It Is. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.

Violence continues in northeastern Nigeria, although the military is trying to stop the Islamic group called Boko Haram. What is worse, some people say the violence is spreading.

Steve Ember has a report from the Nigerian state of Bauchi.

Those are Islamic school children studying the Arabic alphabet. Their teacher says people in the area are increasingly afraid of Boko Haram militants.

He says that Boko Haram claims to be fighting for its version of Islamic law. But, he says he does not understand why the group is increasingly attacking Muslim communities.

“What is the actual target? Who are hiding behind this umbrella? Actually this is what we have noticed with regards to these actions of Boko Haram.”

The teacher says it is hard to say what the group really wants. He did not give his name because he was afraid the militants would attack him.

Boko Haram militants have attacked a number of local leaders in the last four years. The group is also blamed for thousands of deaths in attacks on schools, churches, mosques³, security forces, bridges, roads, and government buildings. 

The government has tried to fight back by declaring a state of emergency and creating security areas, especially in city neighborhoods.

But in recent weeks, there have been attacks outside the security areas, including country villages. In Bauchi, police say gun attacks killed four officers Thursday night.

Thomas Hansen is an Africa expert at the security company Control Risks. He says the militants are trying to prevent villagers from supporting the government’s security efforts.

But at least one expert says the government is its own worst enemy. John Campbell is a former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria.

“The government’s heavy-handed brutal⁴ approach, if anything, tends to drive public support to Boko Haram. Absolutely counter-productive.”

Mr. Campbell says the government should arrest Boko Haram suspects instead of shooting them or detaining them in inhumane conditions.

He also says the government should provide more help to the people of northern Nigeria. For example, he says the government should deal with the poverty in the area, improve education, and offer medical services.

But back in Bauchi, a university professor is not as hopeful about ending the conflict.

The teacher, who did not want to give his name, says Boko Haram’s religious beliefs are too strong.

“The government resorted to using force, and force cannot kill spirit. That is their objective so the war, it is an endless war. Only God will take care of that one.”

Earlier this week, Nigerian lawmakers approved extending the state of emergency in three states.

I’m Steve Ember.

And we have more troubling news about violence in Africa. Some officials are warning that the Central African Republic, also called CAR, is attracting terrorist groups. A top United Nations official says those groups may include Boko Haram.

Experts say CAR is the kind of environment that militant¹ groups are seeking. It is a large country with a small population. It is rich in diamonds, gold and ivory. And, it has a weak government and little rule of law.

The country’s recent history helps explain some of the problems. Michel Djotodia seized power about eight months ago. He got Muslim rebels, including paid fighters from Chad and Sudan, to help him become president. The rebels also included a group that calls itself “Seleka,” or alliance.

Experts say there were only a few thousand Seleka forces at the beginning. Now, some experts say there are as many as 25,000 Seleka forces. The United Nations Children’s Fund estimates that number includes about 3,500 children.

Officials say the Seleka forces steal, rape⁵, and kill people without being punished.

Edmond Mulet is the assistant secretary-general for peacekeeping operations at the United Nations. He says the weak government in CAR is similar to the one in Mali in 2012. In Mali, Islamic groups linked to al-Qaida took power.

Mr. Mulet says he thinks the first militants to arrive in CAR may be the Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram.

“I don't think about al-Shabab, but certainly Boko Haram we have some indications that there is some kind of a presence here, yes.”

Yet some wonder if talking about Boko Haram in CAR is just a way to get more foreign money and soldiers.

General Babacar Gaye does not support the claim. He heads the UN peacekeeping mission in CAR. General Gaye says terrorist groups are only one problem. The country’s biggest threat, he says, are the huge humanitarian⁶, security, and human rights problems. Those issues have forced thousands from their homes. A third of the population is in need.

“For the time being, we don't need to have the presence of any terrorist groups to be mobilized and to be concerned by the situation. I can assure you that the people on the ground, their suffering is worth mobilizing the international community on stabilizing⁷ this country, alleviating⁸ the suffering. We don't need to have Boko Haram to mobilize people.”

The United Nations has warned that the “seeds of genocide” are being planted in CAR. But few people are watching the country closely. As a result, it will be hard to know when, or if, terrorist groups completely take power, and widespread violence begins.

And that’s As It Is. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly. Hannah McNeish and Heather Murdock provided additional reporting.

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1 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

2 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。

3 mosques   

清真寺； 伊斯兰教寺院，清真寺； 清真寺，伊斯兰教寺院( mosque的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why make us believe that this tunnel runs underneath the mosques? 为什么要让我们相信这条隧洞是在清真寺下？
• The city's three biggest mosques, long fallen into disrepair, have been renovated. 城里最大的三座清真寺，过去年久失修，现在已经修复。

4 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

5 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

6 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

7 stabilizing   

n.稳定化处理[退火]v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The disulfide bridges might then be viewed primarily as stabilizing components. 二硫桥可以被看作是初级的稳定因素。 来自辞典例句
• These stabilizing design changes are usually not desirable for steady-state operation. 这些增加稳定性的设计改变通常不太符合稳态工作的要求。 来自辞典例句

8 alleviating   

减轻，缓解，缓和( alleviate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• If it's alleviating pain,who knows what else it's doing? 如果它减轻了疼痛，天知道还影响什么？
• Measuring poverty is not the same as alleviating it, of course. 当然，衡量贫困和减轻贫困是截然不同的。