VOA标准英语10月-Thai Public Calls for Talks to End Violence

In Thailand, the government and opposition¹ groups are being urged to restart talks after bloody² street clashes. As Ron Corben reports from Bangkok, the opposition Democrat³ Party says a full investigation⁴ into the violence on both sides must be carried out.
　

Thai soldiers secure area outside Government House in Bangkok, 08 Oct 2008

A day after the worst political violence in Thailand in 16 years, the news media and political commentators⁶ are pressing the government to restart a dialogue with the opposition People's Alliance for Democracy.

Talks halted late last week after two PAD leaders were arrested for leading a blockade at the prime minister's office since late August.

On Tuesday, the police fought repeatedly with PAD supporters who surrounded the parliament building to prevent Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from delivering a speech. Mr. Somchai took office late last month and has pledged to reconcile with the PAD.

Hundreds were injured - receiving mostly minor⁷ wounds, but at least two deaths were linked to the violence. Several police officers were also injured.

On Wednesday, the city was quiet, and the PAD supporters had retreated from the parliament back to the prime minister's office.

Opposition demands investigation

The opposition Democrat Party says there should be an investigation into the violence. Buranaj Sumatharak is the party spokesman.

"The immediate⁸ demand must be that the government end the systematic⁹ crackdown using excessive force and violenceBuranaj said. "And secondly¹⁰, those responsible for issuing orders and those responsible for carrying them out resulting in the use of excessive force must be found and held responsible."

Alleged¹¹ political links fuel anger

The PAD has led protests for months, demanding an overhaul¹² of the political system that would reduce the number of directly elected members of parliament.
　

Thailand's acting13 PM and deputy leader of the ruling People's Power Party, Somchai Wongsawat

It accuses Mr. Somchai and his People's Power Party of acting as a proxy¹⁴ for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He fled to Britain in August to avoid trial on corruption¹⁵ charges. Mr. Somchai is the brother-in-law of Thaksin.

Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science professor at Chulalongkorn University, thinks the PAD must accept some responsibility for the violence.

"The reason that we have come to this point with the violence yesterday is because the PAD was being out-maneuvered," Thitinan said. "It looked as the Somchai government was finding some way out of the crisis - they were talking about dialogue - about setting up a new constitution drafting assembly and then the PAD took it upon themselves to take matters into its own hands to retake the initiative."

Will army play role in Thailand's future?

Some analysts¹⁶, such as author and commentator⁵, Chris Baker¹⁷, say there may be a role for the head of the army, General Anupong Pajionda, in negotiating an end to the political crisis. Anupong has said he does not want the army involved and that he is concerned that some of the opposition might want to push the military into staging a coup¹⁸.

"The key to what happen now is very much Anupong's attitude," Baker noted¹⁹. "He must come out publically and to act as the host for negotiation²⁰ between the two sides to get away this violent confrontation²¹."

Thailand's political tensions during recent years have pitted the urban middle class, who accuse Mr. Thaksin of corruption and abuse of power, against the poor and rural voters who back the former leader.

1 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。

2 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

3 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

4 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。

5 commentator   

n.注释者，解说者；实况广播评论员

参考例句：

• He is a good commentator because he can get across the game.他能简单地解说这场比赛，是个好的解说者。
• The commentator made a big mistake during the live broadcast.在直播节目中评论员犯了个大错误。

6 commentators   

n.评论员( commentator的名词复数 )；时事评论员；注释者；实况广播员

参考例句：

• Sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 体育解说员翻来覆去说着同样的词语，真叫人腻烦。
• Television sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 电视体育解说员说来说去就是那么几句话，令人厌烦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

8 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

9 systematic   

adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的

参考例句：

• The way he works isn't very systematic.他的工作不是很有条理。
• The teacher made a systematic work of teaching.这个教师进行系统的教学工作。

10 secondly   

adv.第二，其次

参考例句：

• Secondly,use your own head and present your point of view.第二，动脑筋提出自己的见解。
• Secondly it is necessary to define the applied load.其次，需要确定所作用的载荷。

11 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

12 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

13 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。

14 proxy   

n.代理权，代表权；（对代理人的）委托书；代理人

参考例句：

• You may appoint a proxy to vote for you.你可以委托他人代你投票。
• We enclose a form of proxy for use at the Annual General Meeting.我们附上委任年度大会代表的表格。

15 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。

16 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。

17 baker   

n.面包师

参考例句：

• The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
• The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。

18 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。

19 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

20 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

21 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。