Thailand's political crisis has moved toward resolution, after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva presented a national reconciliation plan welcomed by anti-government opponents. The plan centers on national elections this year, as well as social and economic reforms.
泰国政治危机正开始趋向缓解，之前泰国总理阿披实提出的一个全国和解方案受到反政府抗议者的欢迎。这项方案以今年的全国大选为主，还包括社会和经济改革。
Thailand's seven-week political crisis moved toward resolution as anti-government protest leaders lent conditional support to a national reconciliation plan from Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
泰国已经持续了7个星期的政治危机正开始缓解，反政府抗议领导人表示在一定前提下支持阿披实总理提出的全国和解方案。
The development may avert potential violence in Thailand. The government recently threatened to clear commercial and retail areas in the capital Bangkok where the so-called Red Shirt protesters have been camped out since early April.
这一进展可能会使泰国避免发生政治暴乱。泰国政府最近威胁要对首都曼谷的商业和零售区进行整顿，那一地区是所谓的红衫军抗议者们从4月初就开始露营的地方。
The protests, led by the United Democratic Front Against Dictatorship, have been held in support of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The Red Shirts aimed to pressure the government to resign and hold early elections, saying their goal was greater democracy in the country.
红衫军的目的是迫使现政府辞职，并提前举行选举。他们说，他们的目标是让泰国能实现更多的民主。
Mr. Vejjajiva's reconciliation plan calls for holding parliamentary elections on November 14, about a year ahead of schedule. The prime minister's proposal is offered on the condition that protesters agree to a five-point reconciliation process.
阿披实总理的和解方案要求在11月14日举行国会选举，这比原定选举时间提前了大约一年。阿披实总理的这项提议有一个前提，那就是红衫军同意一个包括五个方面的和解进程。
UDD spokesman Sean Boonpracong said his group thinks the plan is a good start. "We welcome this framework," he said. "I think if Mr. Abhisit would like to see no more body counts within a framework of peace step-by-step negotiation, I think it is a good direction. [But] a time frame in terms of an election is a little bit too long from our standpoint."
西恩·帕松说：“我们欢迎这项提议的框架。我认为如果阿披实总理不希望看到在一步一步进行的和平谈判中再有人付出生命的代价，那就是一个好的方向。但是从我们的角度来看，从现在到举行选举的时间有点长。”
Support for the protests comes mostly from the rural and urban poor and working class, who support Mr. Thaksin's populist economic polices. The prime minister was ousted in a coup in 2006 and fled to Thailand in 2008, evading a two-year jail term for corruption.
对这些抗议活动的支持大都来自农村和城市的贫穷和工人阶层，他们支持他信的民粹主义经济政策。他信在2006年的一次政变中被推翻，并在2008年为了躲避因腐败罪名被判的两年监禁而逃离泰国。
UDD sources told VOA, Mr. Thaksin backs the reconciliation plan.
On Monday, Mr. Abhisit set out the plans' details in a televised address to the nation and later in an address to Parliament.
Mr. Abhisit said the plan included protection of the monarchy, amendments to the constitution, an independent committee to investigate violence that killed 27 people and wounded several hundred other people - both civilian and military.
But growing acts of civil disobedience, including the uncovering of weapons held by Red Shirt supporters, raised fears a government crackdown on the demonstrators could lead to further bloodshed. Mr. Abhisit told journalists the government is determined to clear the protest area in the days ahead.
Chulalongkorn University economist Somphob Manarangsan says the moves to end the protests mark a major step to easing social tensions.
朱拉隆功大学经济学家颂蓬说，为了结束抗议活动而采取的这些措施为缓解社会紧张局势迈出了一大步。
"If the Red Shirts accept, it is good news for Thailand because it can get the breakthrough," he said. "Because we are quite afraid of the catastrophic confrontation that is quite likely to take place if the events are going on."
颂蓬说：“如果红衫军接受这个提议，这对泰国是个好消息，因为这可以带来突破性进展。我们很害怕会发生灾难性的对抗，而如果抗议活动继续进行下去，这种事很有可能会发生。”
The plan had received support from academics, rights groups and the business sector with the Thai stock market climbing 30 points amid signs of easing tensions. Armed forces and police have been out in large numbers patrolling Bangkok's center, where the protest rallies have shut down hundreds of retail stores, leaving people out of work and businesses with millions of dollars in losses.
The government has prepared a special budget to assist employees and businesses hardest hit by the closures and protests.
The protests, the most severe in 20 years, revealed deep social divisions that international commentators such as Human Rights Watch said bordered on a potential civil war.
这些抗议活动是泰国20年来最严重的，揭示出泰国严重的社会分化问题。 |