2006年VOA标准英语-Thailand's Coup Leaders Say Civilian Government

By Ron Corben
Bangkok
29 September 2006

 
Thai soldiers in Bangkok, Sept. 23, 2006
  
Thailand's military council says the new civilian¹ government it intends to install will move quickly to ease restrictions² imposed on the media after the September 19 coup³. But Thai media associations are calling for controls to be lifted sooner.

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Thai coup leaders say they feared that reporting in favor of ousted⁴ Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra could create "confusion," so they restricted broadcasts with the aim of, in their words - "leaving it quiet for a while."

A spokesman for the military, Major General Thaweep Maiyalarb, said Friday it would be up to the incoming civilian government to decide when to lift media restrictions.

"[I am sure] that, once we have the interim⁵ government and the interim government will start working on [easing the restrictions] right away," he said.

The military moved quickly on September 19 to shut down local broadcasters and block international stations on cable TV. The cable stations are now back on the air, but local television is closely monitored.

The military also closed several hundred small radio stations in northern Thailand - a stronghold of the ousted prime minister. Many of the stations' owners have political or business ties to Mr. Thaksin.

The coup also led to the resignation of the board of state-owned TV operator, MCOT. On the night of the coup, MCOT TV began to broadcast an emergency decree issued by Mr. Thaksin - who was out of the country - but the military stopped the transmission. MCOT's board has since been replaced and the operator is back on the air.

Newspapers and broadcasters have all been warned against reporting negative opinions about the coup.

Supinya Klangnarong, from the Campaign for Popular Media Reform, says the military should lift the media restrictions and remove the soldiers stationed outside media outlets⁶.

"Our standpoint is, we still believe that the military have no right, they should not give any order to shut down any media, even those [community] radio stations," she said. "It is still not fair, [it is] not legitimate⁷ for the military to issue an order to shut down."

General Winai Phattiyakul, one of the coup leaders, told foreign journalists Friday that the military wanted the foreign media to "understand the real situation in Thailand."

The military says the coup was necessary to avoid violence between pro- and anti-Thaksin forces.
 

Thaksin Shinawatra (file photo)   
  
They also say Mr. Thaksin planned to use emergency powers to strengthen his control over the armed forces.

Mr. Thaksin had been under pressure to resign since early this year over allegations of abuse of power and corruption⁸.

The coup leaders have promised to install a new civilian government by October 4.

Thai media are reporting that the new prime minister is likely to be General Surayud Chulanont, a retired⁹ officer and a member of revered¹⁰ Thai King Bhumipol Adulyadej's key advisory¹¹ body.

Human rights groups and governments around the world, including the United States, have criticized the coup. But opposition¹² in Thailand to the takeover has been minimal¹³.

1 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

2 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

3 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

4 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

5 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

6 outlets   

n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店

参考例句：

• The dumping of foreign cotton blocked outlets for locally grown cotton. 外国棉花的倾销阻滞了当地生产的棉花的销路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They must find outlets for their products. 他们必须为自己的产品寻找出路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

8 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

9 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

10 revered   

v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• A number of institutions revered and respected in earlier times have become Aunt Sally for the present generation. 一些早年受到尊崇的惯例，现在已经成了这代人嘲弄的对象了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Chinese revered corn as a gift from heaven. 中国人将谷物奉为上天的恩赐。 来自辞典例句

11 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

12 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。

13 minimal   

adj.尽可能少的，最小的

参考例句：

• They referred to this kind of art as minimal art.他们把这种艺术叫微型艺术。
• I stayed with friends, so my expenses were minimal.我住在朋友家，所以我的花费很小。