2006年VOA标准英语-East Timor's President Takes Control of Nationa

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Dili
30 May 2006

East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao speaks to reporters at presidential palace in Dili   
  
The East Timorese president has taken over direct control of the armed forces and declared a state of crisis in an attempt to end violence by rampaging rival gangs that have killed at least 27 people in the capital Dili.

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East Timor's president, Xanana Gusmao, announced late Tuesday he would assume sole responsibility for the defense¹ and security of his nation.

"From now on, all the responsibilities on defense and security is under my responsibility as supreme² commander of the forces," he said.

Earlier, officials announced the defense and interior ministers had been fired during emergency crisis meetings.

The unrest began in March when the government dismissed nearly 600 soldiers of the 1,400 member army after they deserted³, alleging⁴ discrimination and poor working conditions.

Last week the fighting between the dismissed soldiers and government forces erupted into general civil unrest.

Mr. Gusmao said he had made the decision to assume emergency powers "in close collaboration⁵" with Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri.

But Mr. Alkatiri is under pressure to resign, with many East Timorese blaming him for failing to handle the crisis. It is also widely believed here that he and the president disagreed over how to end the growing violence.

Mr. Gusmao said he intended to stop the violence and address the growing humanitarian⁶ crisis, but did not want to restrict civil liberties or democracy in the impoverished⁷ nation.

"We chose to call this situation a state of grave crisis, grave in terms of big crisis, not a state of siege because a state of siege will restrict some legalities, some freedom, and we want to avoid this," he added.

Mr. Gusmao also said the "State of Grave Crisis" would be in effect for 30 days and could be extended.

He called for the gangs to turn their weapons over to international peacekeepers who arrived last week after the government appealed for international help to quell⁸ the unrest.

The fighting has exposed old rivalries⁹ between those from the east of the country, who are seen as having fought for East Timor's independence and those from the west, who are seen as having supported Indonesia's brutal¹⁰ 24-year rule.

At least 70,000 people have fled their homes seeking protection in makeshift refugee camps that have sprung up all over the city, where food, water, medicine and adequate shelter is lacking.

Shops and businesses remain closed Tuesday as looters ransacked¹¹ shops and gangs continued to attack neighborhoods, torch buildings, and loot freely in Dili's streets, despite the presence of international peacekeeping forces.

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

3 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

4 alleging   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• His reputation was blemished by a newspaper article alleging he'd evaded his taxes. 由于报上一篇文章声称他曾逃税，他的名誉受到损害。
• This our Peeress declined as unnecessary, alleging that her cousin Thornhill's recommendation would be sufficient. 那位贵人不肯，还说不必，只要有她老表唐希尔保荐就够了。

5 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

6 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

7 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 quell   

v.压制，平息，减轻

参考例句：

• Soldiers were sent in to quell the riots.士兵们被派去平息骚乱。
• The armed force had to be called out to quell violence.不得不出动军队来镇压暴力行动。

9 rivalries   

n.敌对，竞争，对抗( rivalry的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The new government was torn by rivalries. 新政府由于各派对立而四分五裂。 来自辞典例句
• Rivalries could bring about pain and hatred or give rise to fighting. 竞争会带来痛苦、仇恨，或者引起争斗。 来自互联网

10 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

11 ransacked   

v.彻底搜查( ransack的过去式和过去分词 )；抢劫，掠夺

参考例句：

• The house had been ransacked by burglars. 这房子遭到了盗贼的洗劫。
• The house had been ransacked of all that was worth anything. 屋子里所有值钱的东西都被抢去了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》