IN THE NEWS - Haiti's Political Crisis

IN THE NEWS - Haiti's Political Crisis
By Cynthia Kirk

Broadcast: Saturday, February 21, 2004

This is Steve Ember with In the News, in VOA Special English.

 
Jean-Bertrand Arisitide
The Organization of American States, the O-A-S, met Thursday in Washington to discuss the violence in Haiti. Rebels are threatening to seize the capital, Port au Prince, unless President Jean-Bertrand Aristide resigns.

The O-A-S Permanent Council passed a resolution. It calls on Mister Aristide to honor human rights and to talk with the political opposition¹. It also urges armed groups to disarm². The American ambassador to the O-A-S said the government in Haiti acted in undemocratic and irresponsible ways in recent years.

The rebels call themselves the Front for the Liberation and National Reconstruction³ of Haiti. They include former Aristide supporters. At least fifty-five people have been killed in two weeks of violence.

The United States, Canada, France, the United Nations and others are working on a plan for a political solution. American Secretary of State Colin Powell said the proposal does not include calls for President Aristide to resign. His term ends in February of two-thousand-six.

American officials say the proposal clears the way for a peace plan by the CARICOM group of Caribbean nations. Under the plan, Mister Aristide would have to share power with a new prime minister and an advisory⁴ council. This group would organize new elections.

Members of the opposition refuse to take part in new elections unless the president resigns. Mister Aristide says he is ready to die to defend his country. The United States is urging Americans to leave Haiti.

 
Armed opponents of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide patrol streets of Gonaives
Armed groups once supported by the government began a rebellion in northern Haiti on February fifth. They control several cities and towns, including the fourth largest city. They have cut off the second largest city from most of the country.

Mister Aristide became the first freely elected leader of Haiti in nineteen-ninety. The military overthrew⁵ him the next year. The United States sent twenty-thousand troops to Haiti in nineteen-ninety-four to return him to power. Mister Aristide later dismissed the army.

The president has faced accusations⁶ of dishonesty and political violence. Tensions have risen since his party won legislative⁷ elections in two-thousand. Observers said the elections were unfair. During the campaign, Mister Aristide promised to improve conditions for the eight-million people in Haiti. But other countries suspended millions of dollars in aid after the elections.

Now, there are fears of a food crisis. Many Haitians may try to flee the country in unsafe boats. That happened after the overthrow⁸ in nineteen-ninety-one.

President Aristide has asked for international help. The United States said a small military team would be in Haiti on Saturday to examine the security situation. Canada and France have offered to send peacekeepers to Haiti, but only after the violence has stopped.

In the News, in VOA Special English, was written by Cynthia Kirk. This is Steve Ember.

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 disarm   

v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和

参考例句：

• The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. 全世界等待伊拉克解除武装已有12年之久。
• He has rejected every peaceful opportunity offered to him to disarm.他已经拒绝了所有能和平缴械的机会。

3 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

4 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

5 overthrew   

overthrow的过去式

参考例句：

• The people finally rose up and overthrew the reactionary regime. 人们终于起来把反动的政权推翻了。
• They overthrew their King. 他们推翻了国王。

6 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。

7 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

8 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。