2007年VOA标准英语-Rebels in Niger Threaten More Attacks

By Phuong Tran
Dakar
21 August 2007

A rebel spokesman in the West African country of Niger is threatening more attacks unless the government deals with them. He was speaking Tuesday, one day after four policemen were killed and three seriously injured when their vehicle hit a landmine¹ near Agadez, in northern Niger. Phuong Tran has more from VOA's West Africa Bureau in Dakar.

The Niger government blames rebels of the Niger Movement for Justice for the bombing, and a rebel spokesman, El Kontchi Kriska, does not deny it.

"We did it to show them that we are not only in the mountains," he said. "We are also in the villages."

Kriska says the violence will spread until the government acknowledges his group.

 

Made up of ethnic² Tuaregs, the group came to international attention earlier this year after they launched attacks against government and foreign interests in northern Niger.

The desert area is home to some of the world's largest uranium deposits, and the rebels say the government has failed to honor a 1995 peace deal that promised them a bigger share of the region's mineral wealth.

But government spokesman Iboun Gueye says the wealth belongs to the whole country, not just the Tuaregs who are based there.

Analyst³ Richard Reeves, with London-based Chatham House, says the government, because it is so poor, has little room to maneuver⁴ in its dealing⁵ with the rebels.

"Niger is the poorest country in the world," he said. "The focus of the country is not on the Tuareg area so that is not where they have been concentrating resources."

Spokesman Iboun Gueye says the government will not negotiate with the rebel group until it lays down its weapons. At least 11 members of the military police have died in rebel attacks in the last two months.

Niger officials have accused what they describe as "rich foreign powers" of supporting the Niger Movement for Justice.

But rebel spokesman Kriska says the group has not received financial, weapon or training help from anyone. He says the rebels use weapons and mines seized from Niger government soldiers and police.

Though Niger is minerally wealthy, the United Nations says it has the worst living conditions in the world.

1 landmine   

n.地雷

参考例句：

• A landmine is a kind of weapon used in war.地雷是一种运用于战争的武器。
• The treaty bans the use,production and trade of landmine.那条约禁止使用生产和交易雷。

2 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

3 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。

4 maneuver   

n.策略[pl.]演习；v.(巧妙)控制；用策略

参考例句：

• All the fighters landed safely on the airport after the military maneuver.在军事演习后，所有战斗机都安全降落在机场上。
• I did get her attention with this maneuver.我用这个策略确实引起了她的注意。

5 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。