[ti:Burkina Faso to Arm Civilians in Fight against Extremists] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]Burkina Faso's parliament has approved legislation permitting the military [00:05.76]to use civilian volunteers in the fight against Islamic extremism. [00:13.16]The decision shows just how much help soldiers need in dealing with attacks across the West African country. [00:23.20]Burkina Faso's military has been criticized for killings carried out during its fight against militants. [00:32.40]Observers warn that arming civilians with little training could lead to more claims of human rights abuses. [00:43.24]Defense Minister Cheriff Sy said earlier this month that all volunteers would receive two weeks of training. [00:53.12]The training would include subjects like how to use weapons and discipline. [01:01.12]Sy said, "We want to prevent these volunteers from becoming militias." [01:08.80]Volunteers must be 18 years old. [01:13.48]Sy said they will face what he calls a "moral investigation" before being permitted to serve. [01:22.44]Volunteers will receive extra money once their service is completed. [01:29.28]He added that health benefits would be paid to those who are wounded while on duty. [01:37.16]Burkina Faso's military receives training and assistance from France and the United States. [01:45.08]However, it has struggled to contain the spread of militant groups. [01:52.40]Sy said the use of civilian volunteers would permit the military to do more against extremists. [02:01.36]For years, Burkina Faso did not face the kind of Islamic extremism that affected neighboring Niger and Mali. [02:12.40]A 2013 French-led military campaign removed extremists from power in several major towns. [02:22.36]In January 2016, militants attacked a popular café in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou. [02:32.16]The attack killed at least 30 people. [02:36.88]The following year, 18 people were killed at a Turkish restaurant in the capital. [02:44.20]The United Nations reports that deaths from attacks have increased sharply in the last few years, [02:52.48]from about 80 in 2016 to over 1,800 in 2019. [03:00.84]Burkina Faso's military has been criticized for committing abuses in military campaigns following attacks by militants. [03:11.76]Human Rights Watch said that security forces had killed more than 150 men last year. [03:20.76]Most were ethnic Peuhl herders. [03:24.32]The men were accused of supporting or protecting extremists. [03:31.08]Activists say such killings by security forces have only increased the number of extremists. [03:39.36]I'm Jonathan Evans. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM