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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Bangkok
23 September 2006
Thai soldiers in Bangkok, Sept. 23, 2006
A bomb has exploded in Thailand's restive1 southern Muslim provinces - the first violence since Tuesday's military coup2.
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Four police officers were injured when a bomb exploded in the southern province of Pattani. The blast occurred as security forces were preparing for the arrival of Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn.
It is the first violence to hit the volatile3 region since General Sondhi Boonyaratglin overthrew4 the government of Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless military coup Tuesday.
Thailand's Army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin listens to a reporter's questions in Bangkok Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2006
Sondhi, the country's first Muslim army chief in this predominantly Buddhist5 nation, had been tasked with trying to quell6 unrest in the Muslim south. Before the coup, he had been at odds7 with Mr. Thaksin over how to deal with the violence, which has claimed more than 1,400 lives since 2004.
Mr. Thaksin had deployed8 thousands of troops to the region and showed little interest in talks. Human-rights groups and many people living in the south complained of his heavy-handed tactics.
General Sondhi's ruling junta9 is facing a test of its ability to deliver on promised unity10 and stability before restoring democracy by late next year.
Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, says the ruling junta may look to the king for help.
"Thai people can be very fickle," he said. "The generals may have to look to the king - who is widely revered11 in Thailand - to try to promote a sense of reconciliation12 and stability and unity."
Despite lacking official power, King Bhumibol Adulyadej has been an influential13 figure throughout decades of coups14 and other political turmoil15.
This week's coup was the first in 15 years. Sondhi and other top military leaders said the action was necessary to end political corruption16 that was dividing the nation.
Thaksin Shinawatra leaves a London hotel with his daughter Pinthongta, September 21, 2006
Mr. Thaksin, now in London considering options, was the first Thai prime minister to be elected twice. He had been cleared several times of charges related to corruption, but the junta has appointed a panel to investigate his official and business dealings.
Since Tuesday, coup leaders have declared martial17 law, banned public gatherings18 and restricted the media.
Governments around the world have condemned19 the coup and the United States says it will review its assistance to Thailand.
The military junta has pledged to select a civilian20 prime minister within two weeks. Then an interim21 government will write a new constitution to pave the way for elections by the end of 2007.
1 restive | |
adj.不安宁的,不安静的 | |
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2 coup | |
n.政变;突然而成功的行动 | |
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3 volatile | |
adj.反复无常的,挥发性的,稍纵即逝的,脾气火爆的;n.挥发性物质 | |
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4 overthrew | |
overthrow的过去式 | |
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5 Buddhist | |
adj./n.佛教的,佛教徒 | |
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6 quell | |
v.压制,平息,减轻 | |
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7 odds | |
n.让步,机率,可能性,比率;胜败优劣之别 | |
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8 deployed | |
(尤指军事行动)使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 ); 施展; 部署; 有效地利用 | |
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9 junta | |
n.团体;政务审议会 | |
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10 unity | |
n.团结,联合,统一;和睦,协调 | |
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11 revered | |
v.崇敬,尊崇,敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12 reconciliation | |
n.和解,和谐,一致 | |
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13 influential | |
adj.有影响的,有权势的 | |
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14 coups | |
n.意外而成功的行动( coup的名词复数 );政变;努力办到难办的事 | |
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15 turmoil | |
n.骚乱,混乱,动乱 | |
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16 corruption | |
n.腐败,堕落,贪污 | |
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17 martial | |
adj.战争的,军事的,尚武的,威武的 | |
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18 gatherings | |
聚集( gathering的名词复数 ); 收集; 采集; 搜集 | |
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19 condemned | |
adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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20 civilian | |
adj.平民的,民用的,民众的 | |
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21 interim | |
adj.暂时的,临时的;n.间歇,过渡期间 | |
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