VOA常速英语2008年-Protesters Ask for Release of All Hostages in C

By Manuel Rueda
Bogota
05 April 2008

Colombia has the world's highest kidnapping rate, and in the past 10 years more than 3,000 Colombians have been kidnapped by rebel groups, paramilitaries and common criminals, who use their victims for economic or political gains.  Manuel Rueda reports thousands of Colombians took to the streets in the nation's capital on Friday to ask for the release of all hostages.

The protests were sparked by recent news of the critical health condition of French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt, the presidential candidate who was kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 2002.

She is reportedly suffering from Hepatitis B, malnourished and unwilling¹ to live. She is one of at least 700 hostages being held by the FARC in secret jungle camps.  Three Americans are among them.

The FARC is Latin America's oldest guerrilla group. They have fought the Colombian state for over 40 years, and they sometimes kidnap civilians² for economic and political purposes.

In Colombia's capital of Bogota on Friday, protesters called on the FARC to release all hostages.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe is not known for making deals with the FARC guerrillas, which he considers a terrorist group.  But last week he signed a decree that would allow Colombian courts to release imprisoned³ guerrillas in exchange for Betancourt and other political hostages.

The FARC rebels however are seeking political recognition, and they have rejected the president's proposal, saying that there will be no more hostage releases.

As the bartering⁴ between the government and the FARC continues, hundreds of Colombians are waiting to hear from their kidnapped relatives.

Isabel Quiroz comes from southwestern Colombia, her brother, a farmer, was kidnapped by the guerrillas seven years ago.

She said these humanitarian⁵ negotiations⁶ are being made on behalf of policemen, politicians and people from high society, but the government is not looking out for the poor people.

Quiroz believes that the government is not likely to negotiate her brother's freedom, but she was glad she came to the demonstration⁷. 
 
Protests like this one she says, are her only chance of being heard.

France has sent a medical team to Colombia in an effort to provide treatment for Betancourt. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told Associated Press television that President Nicolas Sarkozy is ready to travel to Colombia with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to help win Betancourt's release.

1 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

2 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

3 imprisoned   

下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was imprisoned for two concurrent terms of 30 months and 18 months. 他被判处30个月和18个月的监禁，合并执行。
• They were imprisoned for possession of drugs. 他们因拥有毒品而被监禁。

4 bartering   

v.作物物交换，以货换货( barter的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Parliament would be touchy about bartering British soil for ships. 用英国国土换取舰只，议会感到为难。 来自辞典例句
• In former times trade was based on bartering--goods were exchanged for other goods. 以前，贸易是以易货（即货物交换）的方式进行的。 来自辞典例句

5 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

6 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。

7 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。