2006年VOA标准英语-Rebel Soldiers Absence Creates Increased Violen

By Franz Wild
Korhogo, Ivory Coast
15 August 2006

		Supporters of Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo block a road as part of a protest Wednesday, July 19, 2006

In Ivory Coast, rebel soldiers, who have patrolled the north of the divided country, are returning to their barracks, following a current roadmap for peace meant to lead to elections. But the demobilization has created a security vacuum, which is being filled by traditional security forces, including a group that believes it has supernatural powers. 

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In Korhogo, a town of about 150,000, many people stay in the noisy restaurants until late into the night.

But the relaxed atmosphere can be deceptive¹. International observers, local authorities and citizens all agree crime has shot up since rebel soldiers returned to their barracks about six weeks ago as part of a peace process calling for the demobilization of forces. Korhogo's deputy mayor Silué Sigata says twenty house break ins were reported in a week, compared to only the occasional report previously².

Zoumana Yeo, one of the rebels, says the absence of rebel soldiers from the streets is the reason for the increased violence.

"They were there for security," he said. "Since they left, there are no more soldiers to look after civilians⁴ at night."

Demobilization is the first step of a program, designed to disarm⁵ and reintegrate all those who took up arms in Ivory Coast's civil war, which began in 2002. The program applies to the rebel New Forces, who still occupy the north, as well as newly recruited government troops and militias⁶, which fought alongside the government in the west.

In the north, the group that took on security duties is called the Dozos. It is a brotherhood⁷ of hand-picked members, who claim to have mystical powers.

It is midnight, and around 50 Dozos are gathered outside their leader's house in Korhogo.

The Dozos have been around for generations. They stopped policing the streets when the New Forces took control of the north four years ago. But when rebel commanders realized crime was becoming a problem again they asked the Dozos to resume their nightly patrols.

None of the Dozos wants to be named for fear of being associated with the rebels.

University of Illinois Professor Tom Bassett tells VOA the Dozos are not a cohesive⁸ group and are politically fragmented. Some are attracted to politics, he says, but others are not.

Carrying old muskets⁹ and wearing dreaded¹⁰ wigs¹¹ and camouflage¹² clothing, the Dozos do not want to be very visible.

Their leader says they chase down criminals, but are not violent.

He says, they do not shoot or hit anybody, just arrest people, and hand them over to the rebel authorities. Deputy mayor Sigata says the police does not have the resources to guard the streets itself.

The leader says the Dozos are a spiritual group, and members possess supernatural powers.

He says, the group does not accept just anyone. Members, he says, are selected according to their moral standing¹³.

Professor Bassett says the Dozos are believed to have the power to protect themselves from the force of other animals, when they kill them. This is necessary,

he says, to protect them from death, poor health, or a bad crop, which is what happens to other people when they harm another creature.

The Dozos patrol the streets until dawn and then return to civilian³ life.

The Dozo leader says, during the day, they are like ordinary citizens, doing their jobs and dressing¹⁴ in civilian clothes. They keep watch only at night.

Ama Coulibaly, who runs a small night stall selling cigarettes and sweets in Korhogo, says he noticed the town is safer now that the Dozos are back.

He says, you could not walk around at night before, and robbers took everything. But since the Dozos have returned, the town is much safer.

1 deceptive   

adj.骗人的，造成假象的，靠不住的

参考例句：

• His appearance was deceptive.他的外表带有欺骗性。
• The storyline is deceptively simple.故事情节看似简单，其实不然。

2 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

3 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

4 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。

5 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。

6 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

7 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

8 cohesive   

adj.有粘着力的；有结合力的；凝聚性的

参考例句：

• She sealed the parcel with cohesive tape.她用粘胶带把包裹封起来。
• The author skillfully fuses these fragments into a cohesive whole.作者将这些片断巧妙地结合成一个连贯的整体。

9 muskets   

n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The watch below, all hands to load muskets. 另一组人都来帮着给枪装火药。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• Deep ditch, single drawbridge, massive stone walls, eight at towers, cannon, muskets, fire and smoke. 深深的壕堑，单吊桥，厚重的石壁，八座巨大的塔楼。大炮、毛瑟枪、火焰与烟雾。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

10 dreaded   

adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The dreaded moment had finally arrived. 可怕的时刻终于来到了。
• He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital. 他害怕非得在医院过圣诞节不可。 来自《用法词典》

11 wigs   

n.假发，法官帽( wig的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They say that wigs will be coming in again this year. 据说今年又要流行戴假发了。 来自辞典例句
• Frank, we needed more wigs than we thought, and we have to do some advertising. 弗兰克，因为我们需要更多的假发，而且我们还要做点广告。 来自电影对白

12 camouflage   

n./v.掩饰，伪装

参考例句：

• The white fur of the polar bear is a natural camouflage.北极熊身上的白色的浓密软毛是一种天然的伪装。
• The animal's markings provide effective camouflage.这种动物身上的斑纹是很有效的伪装。

13 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

14 dressing   

n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料

参考例句：

• Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
• The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。