VOA常速英语2007-Sao Tome Elite Police Force Negotiates After Hos

By Phuong Tran
Dakar
10 October 2007

Members of an elite¹ police force known as "Ninjas" in the West African island nation of Sao Tome and Principe are negotiating with the government, after releasing a dozen security officers they took hostage earlier this week.  Phuong Tran has more from VOA's West Africa bureau in Dakar.

Ninjas' spokesman, Wilson Quaresma, told VOA his group will strike again if the government does not meet the group's demands.

Quaresma said if they cannot reach a solution through negotiations², they will move to what he called "Plan B."  He did not elaborate, he only said that everyone will know what "Plan B" is once it is executed.

Sao Tome's Minister of Justice spokesman Justine Vega declined comment while negotiations are ongoing³.

Known formally as the rapid intervention⁴ police, dozens of Ninjas occupied the main police station on Monday.  They took a dozen officers hostage, renewing their demand for bonus pay from the government for four months of training in Angola.  They are also demanding greater independence within the government security forces.

The Ninjas made the same demands last December, storming the police headquarters.

Government officials refused to negotiate this time with the elite forces until they released the hostages, which they did early Wednesday.

The island government created the Angolan-trained force after a 2003 coup⁵ attempt against President Fradique de Menezes by government security forces.

The revolters complained of corruption⁶ and widespread poverty.

Portugal-based journalist Rui Neumann has researched Sao Tome's armed force revolts, and says the Ninjas are trying to defend their jobs in the face of growing criticism.

Neumann says the Ninjas' demands for bonus pay and autonomy have gone unanswered by the government because their existence as a force has become a taboo⁷ topic in Sao Tome.  He says some leaders question why less than $200,000 islanders need such a highly trained rapid-response force, or even an armed force at all in a pacifist country that has seen little aggression⁸ from within, or from neighboring countries.

London-based political analyst⁹ Chris Melville with Control Risks says if the government does not restructure its security forces, more revolts are inevitable¹⁰.

"It [the hostage taking] does raise questions about the vulnerability of government structures vis-à-vis the security forces, particularly in the context of rising political tensions that are expected as Sao Tome becomes an oil producer in the coming years," he said.  "This is a cause for concern."

Nine years ago, oil reserves were discovered near the islands, none of it has proven to be good enough to sell.  More than half of Sao Tome and Principe's residents continue to live in poverty, with little access to health care or education, making on average about $400 a year.

1 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

2 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

3 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

4 intervention   

n.介入，干涉，干预

参考例句：

• The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
• Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。

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 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

7 taboo   

n.禁忌，禁止接近，禁止使用；adj.禁忌的；v.禁忌，禁制，禁止

参考例句：

• The rude words are taboo in ordinary conversation.这些粗野的字眼在日常谈话中是禁忌的。
• Is there a taboo against sex before marriage in your society?在你们的社会里，婚前的性行为犯禁吗？

8 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

9 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

10 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。