VOA标准英语2008年-UN Calls for Release of Underage Former Guerril

The United Nations has called on Nepal's former Maoist rebels to release child soldiers who were recruited as guerilla fighters during their decade-long campaign to overthrow¹ the monarchy². Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, the former rebels are now in charge of the country's government.
　
Members of first division of People's Liberation Army (PLA)clear bush to set up camp for locking up weapons under United Nations monitoring (2006 File)

The United Nations says that nearly 3,000 underage combatants, who belonged to Maoist guerrilla forces, are still confined to U.N. monitored camps in Nepal.

These minors³ were recruited by the Maoists while they waged a guerilla war to overthrow Nepal's monarchy. In 2006, under a peace deal, about 19,000 rebel fighters - including the underage ones - were housed in various camps.

Since then, much has changed in the country. The Maoists have swept to power, and their leader, Prachanda is now the country's Prime Minister.

The Coordinator⁴ at the United Nations Mission for Nepal, Macarena Aguilar, says the new government should formally release all fighters under the age of 18.

"Their rights to reintegration should be respected and it should of course be fully⁵ supported," Aguilar said. "We are concerned of course that the longer the minors remain away from their families, away from their communities, the more difficult the reintegration process is likely to be."

So far the Maoists have not responded to calls for release of underage fighters, and have said they have still to decide what to do with them. Some human rights activists⁶ have expressed concern that these youngsters will be mobilized for political campaigns.

Gauri Pradhan is a spokesperson for the National Human Rights Commission, which has also been pushing for the release of the young fighters. He hopes the recent political changes that have put the Maoists in power, will spell changes for the underage fighters.

"There is opportunity as well as challenges now," he said. "The Prime Minister has responsibility as head of government to rescue them [minors] and help them for their reintegration to their respective family."

The issue of what will happen to the thousands of guerrilla fighters staying in camps has still to be resolved. The former rebels want them to be recruited into the army, but the army is reluctant to have soldiers who have been politically indoctrinated.

 

1 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

2 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

3 minors   

n.未成年人( minor的名词复数 )；副修科目；小公司；[逻辑学]小前提v.[主美国英语]副修，选修，兼修( minor的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors. 法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had three minors this semester. 这学期他有三门副修科目。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

5 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

6 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》