2007年VOA标准英语-Embattled Liberian House Speaker Steps Down

By Jordan Davis
Dakar
15 February 2007

The speaker of Liberia's House of Representatives resigned Thursday, following a boycott¹ of his legislative² sessions by many lawmakers. Jordan Davis reports from VOA's regional bureau in Dakar.

Edwin Snowe (Jan 2007 photo)

For weeks, Edwin Snowe has presided over a small minority of lawmakers. His opponents, who have been meeting separately in the suburbs of the capital Monrovia, voted last month to impeach³ Snowe.

The country's Supreme⁴ Court overturned that decision two weeks ago, and ordered the two groups of lawmakers to reunite.

But spokesman James Jensen says Snowe felt there was no way he could continue in his job.

"His stated reason is that the House of Representatives announced it has no confidence in him and he has no confidence in them," said James Jensen.

Snowe allies say he will decide in the next day or two whether he will resign from the House entirely⁵.

Many in the legislature voted to remove Snowe from office for allegedly undermining Liberian diplomacy⁶ by meeting with Taiwanese officials last year. Liberia recognizes the Chinese government in Beijing, which claims self-ruled Taiwan is part of its own territory.

Snowe accused legislators supporting his ouster of accepting bribes⁷.

The former speaker is an opponent of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Several weeks ago, Ms. Sirleaf made her annual speech setting out her agenda for the year before the group of lawmakers boycotting⁸ Snowe.

Observers say divisions within the House of Representatives have brought legislative work to a halt.

Prince Collins is a journalist based in Monrovia.

"There is a serious crisis and it is indeed deepening by the day, because, at current, there are so many bills, so many laws that need to be passed," said Prince Collins. "Within the next 90 days, the lawmakers will need to elect a new speaker. But this will indeed take some time."

Liberia is trying to rebuild itself with a new constitution after a devastating⁹, 14-year civil war.

Snowe was an ally of former Liberian leader Charles Taylor, who is awaiting trial for war crimes in The Hague.

1 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

2 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。

3 impeach   

v.弹劾；检举

参考例句：

• We must impeach the judge for taking bribes.我们一定要检举法官收受贿赂。
• The committee decided to impeach the President.委员会决定弹劾总统。

4 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

5 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

6 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

7 bribes   

n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• corrupt officials accepting bribes 接受贿赂的贪官污吏

8 boycotting   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They're boycotting the shop because the people there are on strike. 他们抵制那家商店，因为那里的店员在罢工。
• The main opposition parties are boycotting the elections. 主要反对党都抵制此次选举。

9 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。