2006年VOA标准英语-UN: Arms Embargo in Sudan Still Being Violated

By Noel King
Khartoum
12 October 2006

The African Union Mission in Sudan says violence between Darfuri rebels and the Sudan government continues along the Sudan/Chad border. A U.N. panel of experts says that an arms embargo¹ in Darfur is being routinely violated by all parties to the conflict.

 
A collection of weapons, including surface-to-air missiles and heavy machine guns are displayed in the Chad capital N'Djemena (file photo, April 2006)
The United Nations report charges that weapons are being funneled² from Chad into Darfur to support rebels who have refused to sign the Darfur Peace Agreement.

The report says credible³ information suggests the government of Sudan is arming janjaweed militias⁴ and Chadian rebels who seek to overthrow⁵ President Idris Deby.

Meanwhile, the African Union says fighting continues along the border of Chad and Sudan. Clashes between Darfur rebels and the Sudan government began late last week, with both parties trading accusations⁶ on who triggered the fighting.

AU spokesman Moussa Hamani Al Zouma told VOA from Darfur that the situation at the border is both tense and complex.

"It was confirmed that the location bombed by the Antonov's yesterday was a border village on the Chadian side," he said. "Some rebels were assembling there. So, the situation is tense. You do not know what happens, if it is the rebels of Sudan coming from Chad or between the rebels here. The situation is like this."

The relationship between Sudan had Chad has been tense for months with each nation accusing the other of supporting anti-government movements.

 
Idriss Deby (file photo)
Chad severed⁷ diplomatic ties with neighboring Sudan in April, after Chadian rebels based in Darfur attacked N'djamena in an attempt to unseat President Idris Deby. The coup⁸ failed and Chad and Sudan later agreed to repair diplomatic ties.

The U.N. report said the buildup of arms in Darfur has allowed rebels to continue fighting Sudan government forces in the region. Sudan is charged with launching a ground offensive in northern Darfur which has displaced tens of thousands of civilians⁹ in recent weeks.

 
Sudanese refugee children sit in their makeshift classroom in the refugee camp Kou Kou Angarana in Chad, some 30 kilometers from the Sudan border (June 2006 file photo)
The U.N. report adds that janjaweed militias have upgraded from horses and guns to trucks and rocket-propelled grenades.

Tens of thousands of civilians have died in the three-and-one-half-year conflict that began when rebels attacked government positions in Darfur, complaining the remote region remained undeveloped due to neglect by the central government.

Sudan is charged with arming militias to crush the rebellion using a savage¹⁰ campaign of rape¹¹ and murder in what the United States calls genocide.

1 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

2 funneled   

漏斗状的

参考例句：

• The crowd funneled through the hall. 群众从走廊中鱼贯而过。
• The large crowd funneled out of the gates after the football match. 足球赛后大群人从各个门中涌出。

3 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

4 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

5 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。

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 severed   

v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂

参考例句：

• The doctor said I'd severed a vessel in my leg. 医生说我割断了腿上的一根血管。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We have severed diplomatic relations with that country. 我们与那个国家断绝了外交关系。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 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。

9 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

10 savage   

adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人

参考例句：

• The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
• He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。

11 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。