2007年VOA标准英语-Thailand Approves Constitution

By Luis Ramirez
Bangkok
20 August 2007

Thailand's rulers say the country will hold elections in December to restore democratic rule following a military coup¹ last year. The announcement came Monday after voters on Sunday approved a new constitution. However, as VOA's Luis Ramirez reports from Bangkok, a huge number of 'No' votes suggests the elections will be hotly contested.

ballot2 paper while counting votes at the end of constitutional referendum in Thailand's restive3 southern Pattani province, 19 Aug 2007" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070825/1341500.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

A volunteer shows a ballot paper while counting votes at the end of constitutional referendum in Thailand's restive southern Pattani province, 19 Aug 2007

Voters approved the constitution but analysts⁴ say the more than 42 percent who voted against it did not give the backers of last year's military coup the kind of endorsement⁵ they hoped to get.

Analysts say the large number of voters who voted 'No' shows Thailand remains⁶ deeply divided between urban dwellers⁷ who oppose ousted⁸ Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and those in his largely rural base in the north of the country.

Some analysts say it is a good thing that voters approved the constitution because not approving it would have complicated plans to restore democracy.

Some Thais interviewed after the vote say they want to see an end to the turmoil⁹ and uncertainty¹⁰ that the country has endured since the start of demonstrations¹¹ last year that culminated¹² with the September coup.

Narong Natiyum - a resident of central Bangkok - says he voted in favor of the constitution because he says that, in any case, having an elected government in Thailand again will be step forward.

Narong said that everything has been bad for a long time, and that the situation in the country will be better once an election is held.

Thaksin Shinawatra (file photo)

The leaders installed by the military following Mr. Thaksin's ouster in September 2006 have been working to prevent the former leader from making a comeback. He was deposed¹³ while he attended the United Nations in New York in September last year, following months of protests by opponents who accused him of corruption¹⁴ and abuse of power. He has stayed abroad since then.

The document approved Sunday is the 18th constitution that Thailand has had since the country moved from an absolute monarchy¹⁵ to a democracy in 1932. It limits the power of the executive branch by - among other things - limiting the prime minister's term to no more than eight years.

It also pardons the generals for their role in the 2006 coup.

Thailand's stock market rose Monday following confirmation¹⁶ that the constitution was approved and the announcement that elections will be held. Officials said the poll would be in mid¹⁷ to late December.

1 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。

2 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

3 restive   

adj.不安宁的，不安静的

参考例句：

• The government has done nothing to ease restrictions and manufacturers are growing restive.政府未采取任何措施放松出口限制,因此国内制造商变得焦虑不安。
• The audience grew restive.观众变得不耐烦了。

4 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

5 endorsement   

n.背书；赞成，认可，担保；签(注)，批注

参考例句：

• We are happy to give the product our full endorsement.我们很高兴给予该产品完全的认可。
• His presidential campaign won endorsement from several celebrities.他参加总统竞选得到一些社会名流的支持。

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

7 dwellers   

n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes. 城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They have transformed themselves into permanent city dwellers. 他们已成为永久的城市居民。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 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。

9 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。

10 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

11 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

12 culminated   

v.达到极点( culminate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• a gun battle which culminated in the death of two police officers 一场造成两名警察死亡的枪战
• The gala culminated in a firework display. 晚会以大放烟火告终。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 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》

14 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。

15 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

16 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

17 mid   

adj.中央的，中间的

参考例句：

• Our mid-term exam is pending.我们就要期中考试了。
• He switched over to teaching in mid-career.他在而立之年转入教学工作。