2007年VOA标准英语-Hundreds of Buddhist Monks Protest Burmese Mili

By Luis Ramirez
Bangkok
18 September 2007

Hundreds of Buddhist¹ monks² have taken to the streets of Burma's main city, Rangoon - the latest in a wave of demonstrations³ against the military government during the past month.  VOA's Luis Ramirez reports from our Southeast Asia bureau in Bangkok.

 The monks defied orders by Burma's military rulers to refrain from demonstrating.  Witnesses say hundreds of them, cloaked in cinnamon-colored robes, marched quietly through the streets of Rangoon as security forces - including plainclothes police - looked on.

Analysts⁵ say the monks' defiance⁶ of the authorities is a dangerous sign for the ruling generals in a devoutly⁷ Buddhist country where monks are society's most respected figures.  Aung Naing Oo, a Burmese political analyst⁴ exiled in Thailand says the monks are perhaps the biggest political challenge facing the junta⁸. 

"The military should be really, really worried because something like this can trigger wider political protest," he said.

Demonstrations have been going on since last month when the government imposed steep hikes in the cost of fuel.  The hikes triggered anger among the poor in a country where the per-capita income is less than $200 a year.

Activists⁹ say the monks are demanding an apology from the government after members of security forces and their supporters beat demonstrators - who included several monks - at a protest over the price increases in the central Burmese town of Pakokku two weeks ago. 

Reports from Burma say the monks have threatened to cut off contact with members of the military junta and refuse to receive alms from them.  Aung Naing Oo says such gestures from the country's religious leaders would be deeply embarrassing and possibly destabilizing for the military.

"If the monks stop administering religious rites¹⁰ to the military and the military's families, there will be tremendous effects," he said. "The wives will complain, the ordinary soldiers will complain, so the military has to pay really close attention to what the monks are doing right now."

Observers say Burma's military rulers will have to weigh carefully whether to use force to stop the monks from demonstrating, a decision that could backfire and trigger even more protests.

In the past, monks have had key roles in opposition¹¹ efforts.  In 1988, they helped rally support for pro-democracy demonstrations that swept the country.  Those protests ended with a government crackdown that killed about 3,000 people.  

1 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

2 monks   

n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
• He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 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。

4 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

5 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。

6 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。

7 devoutly   

adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地

参考例句：

• She was a devoutly Catholic. 她是一个虔诚地天主教徒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This was not a boast, but a hope, at once bold and devoutly humble. 这不是夸夸其谈，而是一个即大胆而又诚心、谦虚的希望。 来自辞典例句

8 junta   

n.团体；政务审议会

参考例句：

• The junta reacted violently to the perceived threat to its authority.军政府感到自身权力受威胁而进行了激烈反击。
• A military junta took control of the country.一个军政权控制了国家。

9 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 rites   

仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• to administer the last rites to sb 给某人举行临终圣事
• He is interested in mystic rites and ceremonies. 他对神秘的仪式感兴趣。

11 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。