VOA标准英语2015--缅甸受边境巡逻船只“侵犯”

On The Scene: Myanmar Gets Aggressive With Border Patrols 缅甸受边境巡逻船只“侵犯”

MAUNGDAW, MYANMAR—

It is a bright, hot day on the Naf river, which forms part of Myanmar’s western border with Bangladesh, an area where human smugglers pick up people on both sides of the border.

But in this section of the border region, security is tight. A barbed wire fence stretches almost the entire 63 kilometer length of the Naf, from the ocean to the interior.

Deputy Border Police Chief Myo Swe says since they began patrolling the waterways and coast two years ago, no human traffickers have been found here.

“Since there is fencing all along this border it’s impossible to leave from this point,” he said.

Further north, Myanmar’s borders with neighboring countries have much less security. And to the south, near the regional capital Sittwe, long stretches of coastline have many fewer patrols.

But here, on this fortified¹ section of the border, authorities have built 27 concrete outposts to prevent smugglers from carrying their human cargo² to sea.

Harsh conditions on ships

In the past month, the country’s navy has rescued more than 900 people from two different boats.

The first ship carried 208 men. Authorities say 200 were from Bangladesh. But officials did not give VOA access to the eight Rohingya on board.

At the detention³ center where they are being held while awaiting repatriation⁴, the men from Bangladesh tell VOA of the harrowing conditions they faced at sea.

Mohammed says it was a real-life nightmare.

“My experience, on that fishing trawler is the worst, which I’ve never suffered like this my entire life. We were fed rice twice a day on board and we survived.”

He adds they were given only a little bit of fresh water and were beaten if they asked for more.

Many, from Bangladesh and Myanmar, take to the seas seeking work or escape from oppression. Others, like Ismail, say he went to the Bangladesh port of Cox’s Bazzar in search of local employment, but ended up traveling much further after he met a job broker⁵ who promised gainful employment if he loaded onto one of the infamous⁶ boats.

“When I get there, a broker trapped me into this mess. I did not intend to go to Malaysia,” he said.

With summer’s arrival in southeast Asia, sailing season for human smugglers is over. But when the weather turns in October and ocean conditions improve, there could be many more ships, packed with desperate Rohingya and Bengalis.

1 fortified   

adj. 加强的

参考例句：

• He fortified himself against the cold with a hot drink. 他喝了一杯热饮御寒。
• The enemy drew back into a few fortified points. 敌人收缩到几个据点里。

2 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

3 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

4 repatriation   

n.遣送回国，归国

参考例句：

• The Volrep programme is the preferred means of repatriation. 政府认为自愿遣返计划的遣返方法较为可取。 来自互联网
• Arrange the cargo claiming and maritime affairs,crews repatriation,medical treatment,traveling so on. （六）洽办货物理赔，船舶海事处理，办理船员遣返，就医，旅游等。 来自互联网

5 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

6 infamous   

adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的

参考例句：

• He was infamous for his anti-feminist attitudes.他因反对女性主义而声名狼藉。
• I was shocked by her infamous behaviour.她的无耻行径令我震惊。