2006年VOA标准英语-Burkina Faso Ruling Party Dominates Local

By Nico Colombant and Zoumana Wonogo
Abidjan and Ouagadougou
08 May 2006
 
Burkina Faso's ruling party has crushed other parties in elections for city and village councils, dashing the hopes of some opposition¹ leaders the process would lead to more diversity in decision-making.

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The ruling party of 18-year President Blaise Compaore won about 13,000 of the nearly 18,000 councilor seats in the April 23 local election.

More than 70 parties were competing.

While announcing the results, in the capital Ouagadougou, election head Moussa Michel Tatsoba said the process consecrated² a move toward decentralization.

But he also expressed disappointment turnout was just 49 percent.

However, the mayor of Ouagadougou, Simon Compaore, no relation to the president, was overjoyed the ruling Congress for Progress and Democracy had done so well.

"We have 12,000 councilors. It is so much. It proves that we are very, very powerful. You have seen what we have done in this city. Can you see, can you imagine that we need to change? No, no sir," said Compaore.

Authorities denied accusations³ of foul⁴ play on election day, saying opposition parties should have competed better.

But a top official for the party that came in second with over 1,500 councilor seats, Belem Sidiki, alleges⁵ the foul play continues.

Sidiki says councilors from opposition parties are being threatened by local authorities to switch to the ruling party, saying their villages or cities will lose government development money, if they refuse to do so.

He cites examples from his own Alliance for Democracy and Federation⁶.

In some parts of Burkina Faso, the opposition did win, like in the town of Banfora, which is near the border with Ivory Coast.

Former rebel leader Boukary Kabore says many Burkinabes were disillusioned⁷ before the vote even took place.

"My impression is that the people did not want to participate enough in the election, that is my first impression. I think it is not enough," commented Kabore. "The people are maybe getting tired of having no direction, no true direction, for development, that is it."

Kabore's party was one of more than 20 parties that won no seats at all. A handful of parties won just one seat.

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 consecrated   

adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献

参考例句：

• The church was consecrated in 1853. 这座教堂于1853年祝圣。
• They consecrated a temple to their god. 他们把庙奉献给神。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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 foul   

adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规

参考例句：

• Take off those foul clothes and let me wash them.脱下那些脏衣服让我洗一洗。
• What a foul day it is!多么恶劣的天气！

5 alleges   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The newspaper article alleges that the mayor is corrupt. 报纸上断言该市长腐败。
• Steven was tardy this morning and alleges that his bus was late. 史提芬今天早上迟到的说词是公车误点了。

6 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

7 disillusioned   

a.不再抱幻想的，大失所望的，幻想破灭的

参考例句：

• I soon became disillusioned with the job. 我不久便对这个工作不再抱幻想了。
• Many people who are disillusioned in reality assimilate life to a dream. 许多对现实失望的人把人生比作一场梦。