2007年VOA标准英语-Ousted Chairman of Ruling Party in Burundi Prot

By Cathy Majtenyi
Nairobi
08 February 2007

The former chairman of Burundi's ruling party is protesting his ouster, saying that the move is illegal. Cathy Majtenyi reports for VOA from Nairobi.

Hussein Radjabu says the meeting on Wednesday that resulted in his removal as chairman of the ruling party, known as CNDD-FDD, was illegally organized and attended.

"That congress is illegal. No one is allowed to call a congress and I informed before that congress taking place that it is organized in illegality [and I warned before it began that it was taking place illegally]. And during that congress, many who entered in that meeting room are not [were not] allowed to participate in a congress," he said.

Radjabu says the vote by party members to replace him with Jeremy Ngendakumana was premature¹, as Radjabu had agreed to hold a meeting later this month to discuss growing rifts² in the party and other issues.

The embattled former leader did not say whether or not he planned to challenge the vote or take any other follow-up action.

Pierre Nkurunziza (File)

Serious rifts within the ruling party have been growing in recent months, with ministers last month petitioning President Pierre Nkurunziza to address the conflicts.

Chief among the disagreements has been Radjabu's leadership style and decision-making. He has been linked to a number of controversies³, including the recent attempt to prosecute⁴ former President Domitien Ndayizeye for plotting a coup⁵. Last month, the charge against the former president was dropped. Radjabu is also blamed for the deteriorating⁶ human rights situation in Burundi, where many human rights activists⁷ and members of the political opposition⁸ have been arrested.

The former chairman of the ruling party is not getting any support from President Nkurunziza, who is quoted in press reports as saying that he believes Radjabu's ouster is "a step in the right direction."

Many Burundians complain that the government, which was formed as part of a peace process to bring an end to more than a decade of civil war, is repressive, authoritarian⁹, and corrupt¹⁰.

A civil war erupted in 1993 and over the years of fighting an estimated 300,000 people were killed. The peace process that began in 2000 resulted in a series of transitional governments and, finally, democratically held elections in 2005.

1 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。

2 rifts   

n.裂缝( rift的名词复数 )；裂隙；分裂；不和

参考例句：

• After that, through the rifts in the inky clouds sparkled redder and yet more luminous particles. 然后在几条墨蓝色云霞的隙缝里闪出几个更红更亮的小片。 来自汉英文学 - 现代散文
• The Destinies mend rifts in time as man etches fate. 当人类想要再次亵渎命运的时候，命运及时修正了这些裂痕。 来自互联网

3 controversies   

争论

参考例句：

• We offer no comment on these controversies here. 对于这些争议，我们在这里不作任何评论。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史
• The controversies surrounding population growth are unlikely to subside soon. 围绕着人口增长问题的争论看来不会很快平息。 来自辞典例句

4 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？

5 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

6 deteriorating   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The weather conditions are deteriorating. 天气变得越来越糟。
• I was well aware of the bad morale and the deteriorating factories. 我很清楚，大家情绪低落，各个工厂越搞越坏。

7 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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 authoritarian   

n./adj.专制(的)，专制主义者，独裁主义者

参考例句：

• Foreign diplomats suspect him of authoritarian tendencies.各国外交官怀疑他有着独裁主义倾向。
• The authoritarian policy wasn't proved to be a success.独裁主义的政策证明并不成功。

10 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。