A vision for the future of Sierra Leone | Julius Maada Bio

譯者: Timmy Chow 審譯者: Zoe Chang

On Tuesday, January 16, 1996,

1996 年 1 月16 日星期二，

I walked into the office of the president

我以國家領導人的身份

as head of state of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

走進獅子山共和國總統辦公室。

I had not been elected.

我不是被選出來的。

Four years earlier,

在那之前的四年前，

I was one of 30 heavily armed military officers,

我是三十位全副武裝的軍官之一，

all in our 20s,

那時我們都只有二十多歲，

who had driven from the war front

從前線開車進入

into the capital city, Freetown.

首都自由城。

We had only one objective:

我們只有一個目標：

to overthrow a corrupt, repressive and single-party dictatorship

推翻腐敗、壓迫、一黨專政

that had kept itself in power for over 25 years.

霸占國家超過二十五年的獨裁政權。

But in the end, it wasn't a violent coup.

最終整場政變並無預期的暴力。

After we fired a few shots and seized the radio station,

在我們開了幾槍、攻佔電台後，

hundreds of thousands of citizens jumped onto the streets

數十萬人民湧上街頭，

to welcome us as liberators.

歡迎我們這些解放者。

If you are thinking this seems like a movie script, I'm with you.

如果你覺得聽起來很像 電影劇本，我深有同感。

I was part of the ruling military government,

我原是軍事統治政府的一員，

and I served in several roles.

有幾個不同的職銜角色。

Our goal was always to return the country to democratic civilian rule.

我們的目標一直都是 讓國家重回民主民治。

But after four years,

但是，四年過去了，

those multiparty democratic elections had still not happened.

多黨派民主選舉仍是紙上空談。

Citizens were beginning to lose faith in our promise.

人民開始對我們的承諾失去信心。

But you know what?

但，你們知道嗎？

I like to keep my promises.

我是個守信用的人。

Some of my comrades and I staged another military coup,

我和一些同志策劃了 另一次軍事政變，

and this time, against our own head of state and commander.

這一次，是對抗我們 自己的元首和指揮官。

Again, it was a bloodless coup.

同樣的，這次政變也不血腥。

That is how I became the new military head of state

因此 1996 年 1 月 16 日，

on January 16, 1996.

我成了國家的新軍事領袖。

I was still only 31 years old.

當時我才三十一歲。

Of course, power was sweet.

當然，權力很甜美。

I felt invulnerable.

我覺得自己刀槍不入。

I had thousands of heavily armed men

我手下有數千名武裝人員和飛機，

and aircraft at my command.

供我使喚。

I was heavily protected,

我受到嚴密的保護，

and I lived in luxury.

生活也很豪華。

But my obligations to my nation were always superior.

但我對國家的責任始終排在最前面。

Millions of fellow citizens were either displaced

數百萬的人民流離失所，

or fleeing the violence and pillage of war.

試圖逃離戰爭的暴力和劫掠。

So I engaged in a series of diplomatic activities

所以我在各個被反叛軍瓜分的地區

right across the subregion

展開了一連串的懷柔會談，

and convinced the reclusive rebel leader to initiate peace talks

終於說服藏匿的反抗軍領導人 開啟和平對談，

for the very first time.

這是有史以來的第一次。

I also called a national consultative conference

我同時也召開全國諮詢大會，

of civil society organizations and stakeholders

邀請公民社會組織和相關人士，

to advise on the best way forward.

並向他們請益國家未來的走向。

In both cases, I shared with them

無論是和平會談還是諮詢大會，

我都和與會者分享 我始終不變的信念：

what I believed in then and now:

that Sierra Leone is bigger than all of us,

獅子山比我們所有人都重要，

and that Sierra Leone must be a secure, peaceful and just society

獅子山必須要是一個安全、 和平、公正的社會，

where every person can thrive

每個人才有成功發展的機會，

and contribute to national development.

才能對國家發展做出貢獻。

And so, I initiated peace talks with the rebels.

因此，我與反抗軍展開和平對談。

I organized the first multiparty democratic elections in nearly 30 years.

我安排了近三十年來 第一次的多黨派民主選舉。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

I handed over power

我把權力交給

to the newly elected president,

新選出來的總統，

I retired from the army,

我從軍隊退休，

and I left my country for the United States of America

然後我離開我的國家，來到美國，

to study --

來讀書──

all in three months.

所有這一切都在三個月內發生。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

In many a long walk,

在許多漫長的旅程中，

I wondered how we could get it right again as a nation.

我思考如何才能讓 我們的國家步上正軌。

More than 20 years later,

二十多年後，

in April 2018,

在 2018 年的 4 月，

with a few more wrinkles and grey hair,

帶著多出來的皺紋和白髮，

I was again head of state.

我再次成為國家元首。

But guess what?

但這次不一樣的是，

This time I have been democratically elected.

我是民選出來的總統。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

At the polling stations last year,

去年，在投票所中

my three-year-old daughter, Amina, was in my arm.

我懷裡的三歲大女兒阿米娜

She insisted on holding on to my ballot paper with me.

堅持要和我一起拿著選票。

She was intent and focused.

她是那麼的熱切專注。

At that moment,

當我們共同握著選票那一瞬間，

with my ballot papers in both our hands,

I fully understood the one priority for me

我了解到如果我當選 獅子山共和國的總統

if I was elected president of the Republic of Sierra Leone;

我的首要任務是什麼，

that is: How could I make the lives of Amina

那就是：

我要如何改善阿米娜還有國內 幾百萬孩子的生活品質。

and millions of other young girls and boys

better in our country?

See, I believe that leadership is about creating possibilities that everyone,

我堅信領導者是要 給所有人民創造機會，

especially the young people,

特別是給年輕人

can believe in,

能夠相信、

own,

能夠擁有、

work to actualize,

能夠實現，

and which they can actively fight to protect.

以及他們願意積極爭取保護的機會。

The pathway to power and leadership

通往權力和領導地位的道路

can be littered with impediments,

可能充滿障礙，

but more often, with funny questions that may seemingly defy answers:

更可能是充斥了 看似沒有答案的有趣問題：

How does one take on the unique challenges of a country like Sierra Leone?

我應該如何面對擺在 獅子山共和國眼前的挑戰？

We had mined mineral resources for over a hundred years,

我們開採礦產資源已有一百多年了，

but we still are poor.

但我們仍然很窮。

We had collected foreign aid for 58 years, but we are still poor.

我們接受外援 58 年了， 但我們仍然很窮。

The secret to economic development is in nature's best resource:

但經濟發展的祕訣 藏在大自然的最佳資源裡：

skilled, healthy and productive human beings.

擁有技術、體力及生產力的人類。

The secret to changing our country lay in enhancing and supporting

改變我們國家的關鍵在於開發和支持

the limitless potential of the next generation

下一代的無限潛力，

and challenging them to change our country.

將改變國家的重責大任交付給他們。

Human capital development was the key to national development

發展人力資本是獅子山共和國

in Sierra Leone.

發展的關鍵。

As a candidate,

以總統候選人的身份，

I met with and listened to many young men and women

我會見並傾聽了許多的青年男女，

right across the country

他們來自全國各地，

and in the diaspora

包含流徙離鄉的年輕人，

that were feeling disconnected from political leadership

他們感覺與政治領導脫節，

and cared little about the future of our country.

對國家的未來也不太關心。

How could we engage them

我們該如何讓他們願意參與，

and make them believe that the answers to transforming our nation

讓他們相信讓國家更好的前景

was right in their hands?

掌握在他們手裡？

Immediately after becoming president,

當選總統後，

I appointed some of Sierra Leone's brightest young people as leaders,

我隨即委派國內一些最優秀的 年輕人擔任領導的角色，

with responsibility to realize our shared vision

賦予他們責任以期 實現我們共同的目標──

of transforming Sierra Leone.

讓獅子山共和國變得更好。

I am grateful many of them said yes.

我很感激許多人答應了我的委任。

Let me give you a few examples.

讓我舉幾個例子。

Corruption had been endemic in governance, institutions

貪腐問題充斥於 獅子山共和國的機關單位，

and in public life in Sierra Leone,

公共生活方面也是，

undermining public trust

破壞了公信力

and the country's international reputation.

以及國家在國際上的聲譽。

I appointed a young attorney as Commissioner

我任命一位年輕的律師

for the Anti-Corruption Commission.

擔任反腐敗委員會的行政長官。

In less than a year,

短短不到一年的時間裡，

he had a hundred percent conviction rate

他達到了100% 定罪率，

and recovered over 1.5 million dollars of stolen money.

追回了 150 多萬美元的贓款。

That is seed money for building the country's first-ever

這筆錢被用來建設獅子山的第一個

national medical diagnostic center in Sierra Leone.

國家醫療診斷中心。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

The Millennium Challenge Corporation recently gave us a green scorecard

千禧挑戰計畫最近核發了綠卡給我們，

for the Control of Corruption indicator,

因為我們控制腐敗有成，

and multilateral development partners that had left Sierra Leone

之前離開獅子山的多邊發展夥伴們

are now beginning to return.

現正開始返回。

We are determined to break a culture of corruption

我們有決心消除腐敗文化，

and the culture of impunity

以及與腐敗相關的

that is associated with corruption.

有罪不罰的風氣。

Before I became president,

在成為總統之前，

I met a skinny, dreadlocked MIT/Harvard-trained inventor

我在倫敦見了一位身材瘦削、 留著雷鬼頭的發明家，

他是哈佛-麻省理工醫療 科技學院出身的。

in London.

Over coffee, I challenged him to think and plan along with me

喝咖啡時，我挑戰他 與我一起思考計劃

how innovation could help to drive national development

怎樣的革新才能帶動國內的發展，

in the areas of governance, revenue mobilization, health care,

包括治理、促進稅收、醫療保健、

education, delivering public services

教育、提供公共服務

and supporting private sector growth.

以及支持私營企業的成長等等。

How could Sierra Leone participate in the digital economy

獅子山又該如何投入數位經濟，

and become an innovation hub?

甚至成為創新樞紐？

Guess what?

你猜後來怎樣？

He left his cozy job at IBM,

他放棄了他在 IBM 安穩的工作，

and he now leads a team of young men and women

來幫我帶領一個最近剛剛成立、

within the newly established Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation

由年輕男女組成的團隊──

科學技術革新理事會。

in my own office.

(Applause)

（掌聲）

That young man is right in here.

那位年輕人今天也在場。

I challenged another young Sierra Leonean woman

我同時也任命另一位 年輕的獅子山女性，

to set up and lead the new Ministry of Planning and Economic Development.

成立並帶領新的經濟發展部。

She consulted widely with Sierra Leoneans and produced, in record time,

她廣泛徵求人民的意見， 並在創紀錄的時間內

the medium-term national development plan,

制定了名為「教育促進發展」的

titled, "Education For Development."

中程國家發展計劃。

We now have our national development needs

我們現在已經把國家發展所需

in easily understandable clusters,

分成幾個清楚易懂的區塊，

and we can now plan our budgets,

如此就能規劃預算，

align development partner contributions

分配發展夥伴的資源，

and measure our own progress.

同時衡量我們本身的進度。

But the story of my government's flagship program

其實有關我政府旗艦計劃的故事，

is even more daring,

比前面這些更大膽，

if I can call it that.

起碼我這樣覺得。

Today, three out of five adults in Sierra Leone cannot read or write.

現在獅子山有 五分之三成年人是文盲。

Thousands of children were not able to go to school

數千個孩童無法就學，

or had dropped out of school

或者輟學，

because their parents could just not afford the $20 school fees per year.

因為家長付不起一年 20 美金的學費。

Women and girls, who constitute 51 percent of our population,

占我國人口 51% 的婦女和女童

were not given equal opportunity to be educated.

沒有得到平等的教育機會。

So the obvious answer is to put in place free, quality education

明顯的解決辦法是提供 免費及高品質的教育

給所有獅子山的孩童，

for every Sierra Leonean child,

regardless of gender, ability or ethnicity.

不分性別、能力或種族。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Great idea you've clapped for.

你們鼓掌是因為這是很棒的主意，

Right?

對不對？

But the only problem is we had no money to start the program.

現在只有一個小問題，我們沒有錢。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Absolutely nothing.

完全沒錢。

Development partners wanted to see data before associating with my vision.

發展夥伴想先看數據再談我的願景。

Of course, political opponents laughed at me.

當然，政治對手嘲笑我。

But I campaigned that a nation

但我曾倡導，

that invests in human capital development

國家若投資人力資源發展，

through free, quality education,

透過免費優質的教育、

affordable and high-quality health care services

負擔得起的醫療保健服務、

糧食安全等等，

and food security

will accelerate its national development program.

就能加速我們的國家發展計劃。

I argued that for Sierra Leone to produce a highly skilled,

我認為，要使獅子山共和國培養出

富有技術、創新能力 與生產力的勞動力，

innovative and productive workforce

fit for the 21st century global economy,

又符合 21 世紀全球經濟需求，

we needed to invest heavily in human capital development in Sierra Leone.

我們需要積極投資 獅子山的人力資本發展。

But we had no money,

但是我們沒有錢，

because the previous government had virtually emptied the coffers.

因為上屆政府幾乎掏空了國庫。

We clamped down on corruption,

我們嚴厲打擊貪腐，

closed up the loopholes for fraud and waste,

彌補舞弊及資源浪費等等的問題，

and we watched the money build up.

慢慢累積所需的資金。

We successfully launched a free, quality education program

去年八月我們成功地啟動 第一個免費、高水準的教育計劃，

in August last year,

four years, four months later.

這是經過四年又四個月的努力。

Today, two million children are going to school.

今天，有 200 萬個兒童在學。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Twenty-one percent of the national budget

21% 的國家預算

supports free, quality education.

用在提供免費的優質教育。

In close collaboration and in partnership with development partners,

加上與發展夥伴們密切合作，

we have now provided teaching and learning materials,

我們現在能提供教學和學習的材料、

safe spaces for girls,

提供女孩們安全空間，

and started implementing school feeding programs

並開始在全國各地

across the entire country.

實施學校供餐計畫。

We have even paid backlogs of salaries for teachers.

我們甚至還付清了 之前積欠教師的薪水。

Any girl admitted to university to study science, technology,

現在獅子山任何一個女孩， 進大學主修科學、科技、

engineering, mathematics and other related disciplines

工程、數學還是其他相關學科，

receives a full scholarship in Sierra Leone today.

都可獲得全額獎學金。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

And here is why this matters:

所有這一切都至關重要：

in a few years, we will have a healthier, better educated

因為幾年後，我們將擁有一個 更健康、教育程度更高、

and highly skilled young population

高技能的年輕人口，

that will lead and drive the country's national development.

他們將領導和推動國家的發展。

They will be well-equipped to deploy science, technology and innovation.

他們會有足夠的能力去推動 科學、科技及創新。

Then we'll attract investment in diversified areas of our economy,

然後，我們將能吸引外資 投資不同領域促進經濟發展，

from tourism to fisheries

從觀光業到漁業，

and from renewable energy to manufacturing.

從再生能源到製造業。

That is my biggest bet.

這是我最大的賭注。

In my mind, this is what leadership is all about:

在我看來，領導人的使命就是：

a mission to listen with empathy

以同理心去傾聽

to the craziest of ideas,

年輕一代的最瘋狂的想法、

the hopes and aspirations of a younger generation,

他們的希望、他們的抱負，

who are just looking for a chance to be better

因為他們尋找機會進步的同時，

and to make our country better.

我們的國家也向上提升。

It is about letting them know

我的職責是讓他們知道

that their dreams matter.

他們的夢想很重要。

It is about standing with them and asking, "Why not?"

在他們提出看似不可能的想法時， 跟他們站在一起，說：「當然好！」

when they ask seemingly impossible questions.

It is about exploring, making

這其中包含了探索、創造

and owning a shared vision.

以及擁有共同的願景。

The most audacious and nation-changing events

那些最具膽識、 改變國家的重大事項、政策，

or policies or even personal choices

甚至個人選擇等等，

happen when we ask, "Why not?"

只有在我們說了「當然好」後，

then make bold choices and ensure those bold choices happen.

然後進一步去作出大膽的決定， 確定事情可以如期達成。

I wake up every day believing

我每天醒來都衷心相信，

that our country should no longer be defined by the stigma of the past.

我們的國家不再被過去的恥辱所限制。

The future offers hope and opportunity for all.

未來為所有人提供了希望與機會。

It matters to me that young men and women right across the country

我最在乎的是全國各地的年輕男女，

can imagine for themselves that they, too, can be and are

希望他們能夠看到自己也是 創造我們國家歷史的一分子。

part of the story of our nation.

I want to challenge them to build a nation

我想挑戰他們 為下一代建立一個國家，

where three-year-olds like my daughter, Yie Amie,

讓像我女兒阿米娜 這樣三歲大的孩子們

can grow up in good governance,

能夠在管理良善的環境下成長，

quality education,

接受高水準的教育、

health care

享受優質的醫療保健，

and good infrastructure.

一個基礎設施完備的國家。

I want our children to become young men and women

我希望下一代能成為 優秀的青年男女，

who can continue nourishing the trees that will grow

繼續滋養培育我們今天栽下的種子，

from the seeds that we are planting today.

讓它們茁壯成為大樹。

Now can someone tell me

現在有誰能告訴我，

why we should not dare imagine that future in Sierra Leone?

我們為什麼不能 放膽想像獅子山的未來？

Thank you.

謝謝！

(Applause)

（掌聲）