2006年VOA标准英语-Burmese Military, Restarting Constitutional Con

By Ron Corben
Bangkok
09 October 2006

Burma's government is about to restart its on-again, off-again constitutional convention, which it says will eventually lead to democratic elections. But even as it prepares for the convention, the regime has arrested senior pro-democracy activists². 

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Burma's military government says it will crush opponents of the national convention drafting a new constitution, which is due to reopen on Tuesday.

A Burmese judge told reporters the delegates will be debating, among other things, the rights of citizens and the role of the military, which has effectively ruled Burma since 1962.

The government says the convention is part of a seven-step roadmap toward democracy, outlined in 2003 by then Prime Minister Khin Nyunt. In fact, the convention, which resumes work after a break of nine months, was first convened³ 13 years ago.

The United Nations Security Council, meanwhile is about to hear debate, prompted by the United States, on the lack of reform in Burma. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, of which Burma is a member, has also been putting pressure on the generals to make genuine moves toward democracy.

Carl Thayer, a professor from the University of New South Wales, says the main reason for holding the convention is to ease this international pressure on the regime.

"These [convention] talks signal a change, a tactical change," said Thayer. "The fact they've done it is responding to some of ASEAN's concerns: 'What is your roadmap to democracy, where's the constitution, when are elections being held?'"

Last month, in advance of the convention, the military detained several prominent activists, including some of those who took part in a 1988 nationwide uprising against military rule. That pro-democracy uprising was brutally⁴ suppressed, with thousands of people reported killed.  

Burma activists shout slogans,  demanding release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in Bangkok (File photo)

Human rights groups say the arrested activists, including Min Zeya, a leader of the 1988 uprising, were only attempting to open a "dialogue" with the military, in order to put forward opinions on the convention.

One human rights activist¹ says the arrests were a means of silencing the opposition⁵, in order to get some of the convention's delayed objectives completed.

The arrests have triggered an unusual campaign of defiance⁶ in the tightly controlled state, however, with tens-of-thousands of people signing a petition calling for the release of the detainees.

The opposition National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under detention⁷ since 2003, has refused to take part in the convention, saying it is aimed merely at entrenching⁸ the military's hold on power.

The United Nations, meanwhile, has confirmed that a senior U.N. official, Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari, is due to visit Burma in early November. Gambari was in Burma in May of this year on a special assignment from U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

1 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

2 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》

3 convened   

召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The chairman convened the committee to put the issue to a vote. 主席召集委员们开会对这个问题进行表决。
• The governor convened his troops to put down the revolt. 总督召集他的部队去镇压叛乱。

4 brutally   

adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地

参考例句：

• The uprising was brutally put down.起义被残酷地镇压下去了。
• A pro-democracy uprising was brutally suppressed.一场争取民主的起义被残酷镇压了。

5 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

6 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。

7 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

8 entrenching   

v.用壕沟围绕或保护…( entrench的现在分词 )；牢固地确立…

参考例句：

• It has the same effect of entrenching the elite in corrupt economies. 它有着令精英陷入腐败经济的相同效应。 来自互联网
• This in entrenching on other domains. 这是在侵占别人的领土。 来自互联网