2007年VOA标准英语-Will Islamists Be Included in Somalia Reconcili

By Alisha Ryu
Nairobi
21 March 2007

Somali analysts² are warning the country's interim³ government that excluding political opponents from a crucial reconciliation⁴ conference next month could strengthen the position of radical⁵ Islamists. VOA Correspondent Alisha Ryu reports from our East Africa Bureau in Nairobi.

Abdullahi Yusuf (file photo)

Earlier this month, Somalia's interim president, Abdullahi Yusuf, made the long-expected announcement that a national conference would be held in Mogadishu to reconcile differences among Somalis and move the war-torn nation toward a stable, democratic future.

The announcement said that the conference, scheduled to begin on April 16, would bring 3,000 participants together for two months of meetings and discussions.

Although the announcement did not give specific details about who has been invited to attend the talks, both President Yusuf and interim Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi have ruled out allowing anyone representing the Islamic Court Union to participate.

A Nairobi-based research analyst¹ at the Institute of International Studies, Mohamed Guyo, says he fears the decision to exclude Islamists from the reconciliation process will significantly increase violence and turmoil⁶ in the country.

"Remember, the Islamic courts have been on the ground since 1991 and they have been able to manage the affairs of the people in terms of local governance for 16 years," said Guyo. "And the fact that they were ruling Mogadishu for six months last year has to be incorporated into the political reality."

"If the transitional federal government does not, then Somalia will be back in a state of anarchy⁷ and anarchy means that any group, not just al-Qaida but any organized group, can take advantage of the vacuum created," he added.

Guyo argues that the Islamic Courts Union must be given a voice in the reconciliation process because the Islamists still retain popular support, especially in Mogadishu.

During the Islamists' six-month rule that ended in late December, they alienated⁸ many Somalis by allowing radicals⁹ inside the courts to control the military and by inviting¹⁰ foreign fighters to Somalia.

But Guyo says Somalis still credit the Islamist movement with restoring security in major cities in southern Somalia for the first time since the fall of the country's last functioning government nearly 16 years ago.

Somali journalist and analyst Daud Aweis says the worsening security situation now, including daily attacks against government, Ethiopian, and African Union peacekeeping forces, shows an urgent need for the government to engage in power-sharing talks with the Islamic Courts Union.

"Even the president is saying that the I.C.U. is behind some of the attacks in the capital of Mogadishu," he said. "So, this is a sign that I.C.U. members are still active in Somalia and without them, Somalia cannot get peace."

Somalia's transitional government was formed in 2004 in neighboring Kenya after prolonged negotiations¹¹ among factional leaders.

The government has international backing, including the support of thousands of government and Ethiopian troops and 1, 200 Ugandan peacekeepers in Mogadishu. But it has not been able to assert control in the volatile¹² capital.

1 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。

2 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

3 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

4 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

5 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

6 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

7 anarchy   

n.无政府状态；社会秩序混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• There would be anarchy if we had no police.要是没有警察，社会就会无法无天。
• The country was thrown into a state of anarchy.这国家那时一下子陷入无政府状态。

8 alienated   

adj.感到孤独的，不合群的v.使疏远( alienate的过去式和过去分词 )；使不友好；转让；让渡（财产等）

参考例句：

• His comments have alienated a lot of young voters. 他的言论使许多年轻选民离他而去。
• The Prime Minister's policy alienated many of her followers. 首相的政策使很多拥护她的人疏远了她。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 radicals   

n.激进分子( radical的名词复数 )；根基；基本原理；[数学]根数

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals. 一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The worry is that the radicals will grow more intransigent. 现在人们担忧激进分子会变得更加不妥协。 来自辞典例句

10 inviting   

adj.诱人的，引人注目的

参考例句：

• An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
• The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人，使人感到亲切温馨。

11 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。

12 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。