VOA标准英语10月-Nigerian Government Group in Talks with Oil Rebel

A government-appointed committee charged with recommending ways to end attacks on oil installations in Nigeria is due to meet this week with top commanders of the main militant¹ group, the Movement for the Emancipation² of the Niger Delta³. The group has made the release of its suspected leader, Henry Okah, who is standing⁴ trial for treason a precondition for suspending its campaign of violence. For VOA, Gilbert da Costa in Abuja filed this report.

The meeting, scheduled for Wednesday in the Niger Delta town of Oporoza, is considered an important step forward in resolving the Niger Delta unrest. A member of the Niger Delta Technical Committee, Tony Uranta, told VOA engaging the rebels is critical for the peace process as the meeting affords the militants⁵ a platform to state their demands.

He said, "'MEND and all other militants groups have said they are identifying with the technical committee's work. And they believe the federal government needs to hear their own position. The technical committee needs to hear directly from their main commanders. So they will assemble there [Oporoza] for us to listen to their oral submissions⁶, after which they will put in written submissions."
　

A fighter of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) at the militia's creek7 camp in the Niger Delta, 17 Sep 2008

MEND launched a violent campaign against the oil industry more than two years ago, saying it was fighting for a fairer control of the region's natural resources.

The federal government has said it is pursuing a "master plan for infrastructure⁸ development" in the Niger Delta, but militant groups say there has be no progress.

The group has also made the release of its suspected leader, Henry Okah, who is currently on trial for treason and gun-running, a precondition for suspending its campaign of violence.

Uranta said the release of the detained militant and the granting of amnesty to oil rebels could be the basis for resolving the armed conflict. "A rational solution should be found to releasing Henry Okah and granting MEND general amnesty so that we can begin solving the issues."

The Niger delta conflict has simmered for over a decade. Government crackdowns or offers of peace talks have had little effect on the rebellion. Grievances⁹ are rooted in the region's deep poverty and environmental degradation¹⁰.

Since the beginning of 2006, attacks by militants in the restive¹¹ Delta region have cut oil production by 25 percent in Nigeria, Africa's biggest crude producer and the 8th largest world producer.

1 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

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。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

2 emancipation   

n.（从束缚、支配下）解放

参考例句：

• We must arouse them to fight for their own emancipation. 我们必须唤起他们为其自身的解放而斗争。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They rejoiced over their own emancipation. 他们为自己的解放感到欢欣鼓舞。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

4 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。

5 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

6 submissions   

n.提交( submission的名词复数 )；屈从；归顺；向法官或陪审团提出的意见或论据

参考例句：

• The deadline for submissions to the competition will be Easter 1994. 递交参赛申请的截止时间为1994年的复活节。 来自辞典例句
• Section 556(d) allows the agency to substitute written submissions for oral direct testimony in rulemaking. 第五百五十六条第（四）款准允行政机关在规则制定中用书面提交材料替代口头的直接证言。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

7 creek   

n.小溪，小河，小湾

参考例句：

• He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
• People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。

8 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

9 grievances   

n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚

参考例句：

• The trade union leader spoke about the grievances of the workers. 工会领袖述说工人们的苦情。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He gave air to his grievances. 他申诉了他的冤情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 degradation   

n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变

参考例句：

• There are serious problems of land degradation in some arid zones.在一些干旱地带存在严重的土地退化问题。
• Gambling is always coupled with degradation.赌博总是与堕落相联系。

11 restive   

adj.不安宁的，不安静的

参考例句：

• The government has done nothing to ease restrictions and manufacturers are growing restive.政府未采取任何措施放松出口限制,因此国内制造商变得焦虑不安。
• The audience grew restive.观众变得不耐烦了。