布隆迪农村地区提前选举

Tension Evident in Rural Burundi Ahead of Elections 布隆迪农村地区提前选举

NGOZI. BURUNDI—

Far from Bujumbura, the Burundian countryside seems little affected¹ by the months of political protests and unrest in the capital.

“It's quiet here," said Francois Nahimana, a resident of Ngozi, President Pierre Nkurunziza's hometown. "These troubles happen far away. We only heard about them on the radio. But we are scared that it could spread here, that it turns into a war throughout the country.”

In the hills surrounding Nkurunziza's home region, the president and his ruling party, the National Council for the Defense² of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD), still have significant support.

"He's done a lot of good things during the 10 years he’s been in power," said Desire, a local farmer. "He built schools, implemented³ free health care for children under 5, and our houses have been improved."

But critics say it isn't easy to speak out against the ruling party. One opposition⁴ supporter said he was threatened for showing others how to vote for their candidate.

“They were Imbonerakure, the youth wing of the ruling party," Joel Minani said. "They told me I didn't have the right to show people how to cast votes since the ruling party had already explained the process. They arrested me and demanded I meet conditions in order to be released.”

Opposition parties say they face intimidation⁵ and are harassed⁶ by the youth of the ruling party and the authorities, preventing them from campaigning.

"We didn't campaign because of the insecurity in the country. We couldn't do it," said opposition party member Emmanuel Icoyitungiye. "There have been abductions in broad daylight in various towns, and some of our members have been arrested."

Officials in the ruling party deny harassment⁷ allegations. They say that there might be small groups of violent people on both sides but they have nothing to do with the official line of the party.

Eighty percent of Burundians live in the countryside and their votes are expected to determine the outcome of the upcoming elections.

1 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

4 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。

5 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

6 harassed   

adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He has complained of being harassed by the police. 他投诉受到警方侵扰。
• harassed mothers with their children 带着孩子的疲惫不堪的母亲们

7 harassment   

n.骚扰，扰乱，烦恼，烦乱

参考例句：

• She often got telephone harassment at night these days.这些天她经常在夜晚受到电话骚扰。
• The company prohibits any form of harassment.公司禁止任何形式的骚扰行为。