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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Banda Aceh
11 December 2006
Polls have closed in Indonesia's tsunami1-ravaged province of Aceh after a
landmark3 vote for a provincial4 government. Officials estimate the majority of the 2.6 million people eligible5 to vote, did so. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins reports from the provincial capital of Banda Aceh.
ballot2 at a polling station in Banda Aceh, 11 Dec 2006 " hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070511/1607480.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />
Acehnese woman casts her ballot at a polling station in Banda Aceh, 11 Dec 2006
The elections in Indonesia's Aceh province are being hailed as a landmark in the peace process. This began in August 2005 when the government and separatist rebels from the Free Aceh Movement agreed to end nearly 29 years of war, which had claimed more than 15,000 lives.
Most voters turned up early, thrilled to have the chance for a say in how their province will be run.
Local election monitor Herfianza cast his ballot as soon as the polls opened early Monday morning.
He says he is excited about this election and hopeful for the future of Aceh. He says whoever becomes the next governor must make growth of the local economy a priority.
Herfianza echoed sentiments expressed throughout Aceh. With around half the population unemployed6, most people say they want the new local government to concentrate on recovery.
The oil and gas rich province of Aceh, located on the northern tip of Sumatra island, is still reeling from the destruction wrought7 by the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. It killed more than 160-thousand people and destroyed most of the infrastructure8.
The peace deal between the government and the Free Aceh Movement has given hope to many Acehnese that the long years of the bloody9 conflict are finally behind them.
As part of that deal the rebels agreed to drop their demands for independence in exchange for wide-ranging autonomy, 70 percent of the revenues from the region's rich natural resources, and the opportunity to participate in these elections.
Paul Rowland, resident representative of the National Democratic Institute, a U.S.-funded organization that promotes democracy, says the peaceful elections showed how eager people are for the chance to vote.
"The polling stations that I visited had significant participation10 by very enthusiastic voters," said Rowland. "People came up to me as an international observer and said where are you from and we are just so excited about this election because it has been 30 years and now we get to choose our governor and people are extremely excited about this."
Among those running for the top posts of governor and deputy governor are a former military commander who led the fight against the separatists, two rival Free Aceh Movement candidates, and the incumbent11 acting12 governor.
The elections have illuminated13 divisions within the Free Aceh Movement, pitting those who stayed in Aceh to fight against those who fled to Sweden where the Free Aceh Movement maintained a government in exile throughout the conflict.
Whoever wins in Monday's polls must receive at least 25 percent of the vote. Failure to do so will cause a runoff election between the two top contenders in two months.
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1
tsunami
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n.海啸 | |
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2
ballot
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n.(不记名)投票,投票总数,投票权;vi.投票 | |
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3
landmark
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n.陆标,划时代的事,地界标 | |
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4
provincial
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adj.省的,地方的;n.外省人,乡下人 | |
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5
eligible
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adj.有条件被选中的;(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的 | |
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unemployed
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adj.失业的,没有工作的;未动用的,闲置的 | |
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7
wrought
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v.引起;以…原料制作;运转;adj.制造的 | |
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8
infrastructure
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n.下部构造,下部组织,基础结构,基础设施 | |
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9
bloody
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adj.非常的的;流血的;残忍的;adv.很;vt.血染 | |
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10
participation
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n.参与,参加,分享 | |
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incumbent
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adj.成为责任的,有义务的;现任的,在职的 | |
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12
acting
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n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的 | |
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13
illuminated
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adj.被照明的;受启迪的 | |
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