VOA慢速英语2014 改革对缅甸军方触动不大

 

AS IT IS 2014-12-16 Myanmar Military Largely Untouched by Reforms 改革对缅甸军方触动不大

Many changes have taken place in Myanmar over the past few years. The government has eased restrictions¹ on the media and released political prisoners. Foreign investment has risen in Myanmar, also known as Burma. But there have been few changes in the country’s armed forces.               

Myanmar is now preparing for elections in 2015. Myanmar’s economy has experienced major changes in recent years. Government controls on the economy have been reduced. The country has a new banking² system and new land policies. In addition, the value of the nation’s money is now decided³ by the market -- not the government.

These steps and others have helped bring an estimated nine billion dollars in foreign investment to Myanmar since 2011.                         

Economist⁴ Sean Turnell says the many changes have made the economy more functional⁵ to improve operation. But he says they have done little to change the military’s influence in both the economy and in politics.

“In a movement toward some new government reform after 2015 that issue of the military and its role, will it be the central actor? Will it give up some of that economic control? Will it step back in any way, a meaningful way, that really needs to happen? That’s really the big question.”

In Myanmar, the military still controls the country’s largest businesses. It also controls most of the country’s most profitable industries, such as natural gas exploration and gemstone mining.

The military has almost as much economic influence as it does political power. Twenty-five percent of all seats in parliament are set aside for military appointees. That gives the armed forces veto power over all constitutional changes.

This has meant little accountability -- or willingness to accept responsibility -- when military forces are accused of rights abuses.

 Last month, Harvard Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic released a report on Myanmar. The report accused four military officials of war crimes and crimes against humanity in 2005 and 2006. The four include current Home Affairs Minister Major General Ko Ko.

 Matthew Bugher is Harvard’s Global Justice Fellow in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city. He says there is enough evidence to order the arrest of the four officials -- but no charges. He says until top military officials are held responsible in a civilian-controlled justice system, the military will continue to act without fear of punishment.

“The military has set down their foot down, and said that they aren’t willing to address their conduct, and they’re threatening people who do try to address that. We think that reformers in the government and opposition⁶ politicians who may want to deal with these issues haven’t taken a strong enough stand to address human rights abuses and address military conduct. We also think the military is promoting rights abusers up the chain of command and into primary positions.”

Myanmar’s political opposition has gained seats in parliament. But the opposition has been unable to end the military’s influence.                        

Critics have wanted opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to speak out. Critics say the Nobel Peace Prize winner has failed to push for accountability. Some say she has avoided disputes with the military in the hopes it will improve her chances as a possible candidate for president.

Myanmar’s generals are defending their continuing influence in the country. They point to the rebellion by ethnic⁷ fighters in some parts of the country. Myanmar spends 23.2% of its national budget on the military, the highest percentage in Southeast Asia. The military says the money is used, in part, to fight groups that reject the government. But outside observers say the military’s business interests are partly to blame for the rebellions.                                                                     

Harvard’s Matthew Bugher says the military’s economic interest in conflict areas is partly to blame. He says those interests are stretching out the peace process and reducing trust in the government and military.

Last month, government troops shelled a training ground for ethnic minority troops, killing⁸ 27 soldiers. The attack came just one day after peace talks had ended.

The government of President Thein Sein wants to get a ceasefire in place throughout the nation before the elections late next year. A change in Myanmar’s constitution would be needed to reduce the military’s influence in government. Last month, military representatives made clear their unwillingness⁹ to amend¹⁰ the constitution before 2015.   

Words in This Story

changes - n. the process or results of making something different

economy - n. the system by which money, industry and trade are organized

influence - n. the power or ability to have an effect on someone or something

profitable - adj. making money from a business activity

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

5 functional   

adj.为实用而设计的，具备功能的，起作用的

参考例句：

• The telephone was out of order,but is functional now.电话刚才坏了，但现在可以用了。
• The furniture is not fancy,just functional.这些家具不是摆着好看的，只是为了实用。

6 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。

7 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

8 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

9 unwillingness   

n. 不愿意，不情愿

参考例句：

• Her unwillingness to answer questions undermined the strength of her position. 她不愿回答问题，这不利于她所处的形势。
• His apparent unwillingness would disappear if we paid him enough. 如果我们付足了钱，他露出的那副不乐意的神情就会消失。

10 amend   

vt.修改，修订，改进；n.[pl.]赔罪，赔偿

参考例句：

• The teacher advised him to amend his way of living.老师劝他改变生活方式。
• You must amend your pronunciation.你必须改正你的发音。