2006年VOA标准英语-UN: Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi May Go Free Soon

By Peter Heinlein
United Nations
24 May 2006

 
Aung San Suu Kyi (2002 photo) 
  
A senior United Nations official says Burmese authorities appear to be preparing for the release of detained opposition¹ leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

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U.N. Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari says Burma's ruling military junta² indicated that Aung San Suu Kyi could be freed from house arrest within days.

Gambari has just returned from a visit to Rangoon, where he was allowed a 45 minute meeting with the pro-democracy leader. He was the first foreigner to see her in more than two years.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Gambari said he had asked senior General Tan Shwe to release Aung San Suu Kyi when her current term of detention³ ends May 27.

"Yes. We did ask, and not only about her but other detained persons for political reasons, and this was directly, because we are not sure whether the messages get to the highest authorities, but it was delivered," he said.  "I cannot give you a sense whether this would be done or not, but certainly we hope so, and it's not far, the 27th is this Saturday."

Gambari would not say what response he received. But he said Burma's ruling generals appear to want to open a new chapter in relations with the international community. He said he was encouraged that Burma's chief of police, Major General Khin Yi, had publicly stated that he no longer considers Burma's democracy leader a threat to stability.

"As for the chief of police, I can only guess it could be one of two things," he added.  "Part of that statement said, she is losing support in country anyway, but also to try to denigrate⁴ her importance, but it could also be a way of preparing the ground if they were to decide to release her."

Gambari said that despite spending more than 10 of the past 17 years in detention, Aung San Suu Kyi seems to be in good health.

"She appeared quite well," he noted⁵.  "Somebody challenged me, are you a medical doctor, Mr. Gambari. I am not a medical doctor, but I did ask her, are you well, can I say you are well?  Not being a doctor, and she said 'yes' to both."

The United States earlier welcomed news of the meeting between the U.N. official and the Burmese opposition leader. But a State Department official cautioned that the development does not reflect progress in the country's democratic reforms.

Washington's U.N. Ambassador John Bolton has asked that Gambari brief the Security Council on his visit. Bolton has been pushing to include Burma on the Council agenda as a threat to peace and security.

The ruling military junta took power in 1988 after crushing a pro-democracy movement. In 1990, the junta refused to hand over power after Aung San Suu Kyi's party won a landslide⁶ victory in general elections.  

1 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。

2 junta   

n.团体；政务审议会

参考例句：

• The junta reacted violently to the perceived threat to its authority.军政府感到自身权力受威胁而进行了激烈反击。
• A military junta took control of the country.一个军政权控制了国家。

3 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。

4 denigrate   

v.诬蔑，诽谤

参考例句：

• It was unkind to denigrate her achievement.贬低她的成就是刻薄的。
• To assert this is to denigrate the effectiveness of the police.坚持这一点就是贬低警方的办事能力。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 landslide   

n.(竞选中)压倒多数的选票；一面倒的胜利

参考例句：

• Our candidate is predicated to win by a landslide.我们的候选人被预言将以绝对优势取胜。
• An electoral landslide put the Labour Party into power in 1945.1945年工党以压倒多数的胜利当选执政。