2007年VOA标准英语-Thailand's Police Chief Fired, as Government Po

By Ron Corben
Bangkok
05 February 2007

Thai prime minister Surayud Chulanont has fired the Thai police chief after he failed to make progress in the investigation¹ of bomb attacks in the capital Bangkok. As Ron Corben reports from Bangkok, new polls show declining support for the military-backed government.

Thai police chief Gen. Kowit Watana (File)

The dismissal of Thai Police Chief General Kowit Wattana follows heavy criticism of investigations² into the bombings in Bangkok on New Year's Eve that left three people dead and dozens wounded.

Last month, police arrested 19 people, but they were all later released without charge. A grenade attack then hit a newspaper office and a hotel, raising further doubts of the police's ability to secure the capital.

Kowit was police chief to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted³ in a September coup⁴.

Chulalongkorn University Economics Professor Somphob Manarangsan believes the dismissal raises hopes of reform.

"The police department has been highly criticized by the public even before the coup d'etat. There is going to be some change in the better direction, it will be an opportunity for the restructuring and reform," he said.

A Thai government spokesman said Police General Seriphisut Temiyawej is the acting⁵ police chief. He has a clean reputation. As crime suppression chief in the 1990's, he faced several death threats due to his investigations of corruption⁶. Somphob believes Seriphisut is a good choice.

"Police General Seriphisut  is quite a liberal and progressive person when we learn from his past experience," he said. "I think he will act to take some action to make some changes to this very important department."

Public opinion polls indicate the military government appears to be losing public support.

Monthly opinion surveys by Bangkok's Assumption University show that Prime Minister Surayud's popularity has fallen from 71 percent in November, to 48 percent in January. At the same time, deposed⁷ prime minister Thaksin gained support, rising from 16 percent to 22 percent, although a majority of respondents believe he should stay out of politics.

The survey indicates Thais fear the current government is too busy grappling with abuses of power by the previous government, and not focusing enough on improving farmers' incomes, and ensuring public safety.

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

3 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。

4 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。

5 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

6 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。

7 deposed   

v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 )；（在法庭上）宣誓作证

参考例句：

• The president was deposed in a military coup. 总统在军事政变中被废黜。
• The head of state was deposed by the army. 国家元首被军队罢免了。 来自《简明英汉词典》