VOA慢速英语2015 缅甸民主派歌手被缅甸拒签

 

AS IT IS 2015-01-15 Pro-Democracy Myanmar Singer Denied a Visa 缅甸民主派歌手被缅甸拒签

Thousands of people who fled Myanmar in recent years have returned. They have decided¹ to do so because of democratic changes, a growing economy, and more political freedoms in the country.

But not everyone is welcome.

Mun Aung is a musician and activist². He fled to Norway 26 years ago. He is now staying in northern Thailand.

He says he wants to bring a message of peace to his people. But he was recently denied a visa to enter Myanmar. He does not know why, because officials did not give him a reason for refusing to let him return home.

“Maybe they think that we are going to cause problems or trouble in the country. I just recently finished recording³ my new album, which is called ‘Raindrops of Peace.’”

Mun Aung says he hoped to sing his songs in public to help ethnic⁴ Kachin refugees. About 100,000 people have been living in camps in rebel-controlled areas of Kachin state for the past four years. The Kachin fighters are the only ethnic army that has not signed a cease-fire agreement with the government.

Mun Aung knows about the problems in Kachin. He grew up in the area.

He says one of the country’s main problems is that the military has controlled the country for many years. He says it is not easy for people to give up power after having it for so long.

“The problem in Burma today is the power-sharing because the power has been in military or previous military government or so-called governments in last 50 years. All the state, the power and authority -- everything -- has been in the hands of the military. So it is the military decision whether they want to give up the power or not.”

Mun Aung’s music has become popular among pro-democracy activists⁵ in Myanmar. That might be one of the reasons he cannot go back. During an ethnic celebration near the border of Thailand and Myanmar, Mun Aung played some of his best-known songs. Kachin singers asked him to do so. They wanted to raise money for people displaced by fighting.   

Mun Aung says he is happy about the changes in Myanmar, even if he cannot be there to see them for himself.

“When I released ‘Battle for Peace’ album in 1992, it was very difficult because it was considered as illegal, so everyone who owned my cassette or copy of the album could go to jail. To release a new album, I hope it will be easier than 20 years ago. There is no restriction⁶ on distribution of music, for example, such as censorship and permission from authorities.”

Mun Aung plans to return to his family in Norway, but he says his thoughts of peace will remain in Myanmar with his people.

Words in this Story

deny – v.  to refuse to give (something) to someone; to prevent someone from having or receiving (something)

rebel – n. a person who opposes or fights against a government

censorship – n.  the system or practice of censoring books, movies and letters

1 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。

2 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

3 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

4 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。

5 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》

6 restriction   

n.限制，约束

参考例句：

• The park is open to the public without restriction.这个公园对公众开放，没有任何限制。
• The 30 mph speed restriction applies in all built-up areas.每小时限速30英里适用于所有建筑物聚集区。