2006年VOA标准英语-East Timor Official Meets Disgruntled Sold

By Heda Bayron
Hong Kong
05 June 2006

East Timor's defense¹ minister has met with disgruntled soldiers in a tentative step toward settling a dispute that has plunged² the country into violent unrest. Australia, which has sent the largest contingent³ of troops to East Timor to help keep the peace, is calling on other countries in the region to join the effort.

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Chief of an East Timorese village urges his villagers not to set fire to houses as Australian soldiers stand guards in Dili, East Timor, June 5, 2006
  

Violence broke out again Monday in parts of Dili as East Timorese Foreign and Defense Minister Jose Ramos Horta tried to find a way to peacefully end the unrest.

Officials say his meeting with some of the soldiers whose grievances⁴ sparked the violence "went well" but no details were released.

East Timor's parliament also reconvened for the first time since the unrest surged last month but some lawmakers failed to show up because of security fears.

A fragile calm has prevailed in Dili in recent days after the arrival of some 2,500 troops from Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Portugal. But despite the improved security situation, Australian Defense Minister Brendan Nelson has called on other countries in the region to help East Timor, also known as Timor Leste.

"It's in all of our interest to see that we don't have a failed state in our region, that we cannot afford to have Timor Leste become of those," said Nelson.

The turmoil⁵ in East Timor started in April when 600 protesting soldiers, mostly from the country's west, rioted in Dili. Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri had dismissed the soldiers, 40 percent of the country's army, after they walked out of their barracks complaining of discrimination.

The violence spread to rival gangs, cracking open the political divide between the country's east and west: between people who fought for independence from its former ruler, Indonesia and those accused of supporting the 24-year occupation.

East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia in 1999 amid violence by pro-Indonesia militias⁶, and declared a new nation in 2002.

At least 27 people have been killed in the recent spate⁷ of unrest, and some 100 thousand have fled their homes.

Prime Minister Alkatiri has been accused of mishandling the situation. The dismissed soldiers' leader, Major Alfredo Reinado, has demanded his resignation as a precondition for resolving the crisis but Mr. Alkatiri refuses to step down.

East Timorese officials say Ramos Horta will meet with Major Reinado later this week

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 plunged   

v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
• She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。

3 contingent   

adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队

参考例句：

• The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
• Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。

4 grievances   

n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚

参考例句：

• The trade union leader spoke about the grievances of the workers. 工会领袖述说工人们的苦情。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He gave air to his grievances. 他申诉了他的冤情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

6 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

7 spate   

n.泛滥，洪水，突然的一阵

参考例句：

• Police are investigating a spate of burglaries in the area.警察正在调查这一地区发生的大量盗窃案。
• Refugees crossed the border in full spate.难民大量地越过了边境。