VOA慢速英语2021--印尼为缅甸危机提调解方案

Indonesia Presses Diplomatic Efforts to Resolve Myanmar Crisis

Indonesia began new diplomatic efforts Wednesday to end Myanmar's political crisis, as protests continued in Yangon and other cities.

Protestors are calling for the country's new military government to step down and for Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government to be returned to power.

Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi traveled to Bangkok, Thailand, where she held talks with Myanmar's recently named foreign minister, Wunna Maung Lwin. Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai also took part in the talks.

Indonesia is seeking to build an effort with neighboring countries to end the political crisis in Myanmar that began with a military coup¹ on February 1.

Speaking to reporters after the talks, Marsudi said she had expressed her country's concern about the situation in Myanmar. "We asked all parties to exercise restraint and not use violence ... to avoid casualties and bloodshed." She noted² the need for negotiation³ and trust-building to resolve the crisis.

Indonesia and others members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are hoping to convince Myanmar's military to take actions to ease tension in the country and avoid violence.

The association believes negotiating with the military leaders will be more successful than sanctions, or other strong measures suggested by some Western nations.

However, there is worry among some pro-democracy activists⁴ that Indonesia's efforts to negotiate with Myanmar's military may legitimize the coup government. Reuters news agency reported this week that Indonesia had proposed sending ASEAN observers to make sure military leaders fulfill⁵ their promise to hold fair, new elections.

Protests in Myanmar continued on Wednesday, with a tense standoff taking place in Mandalay, the country's second-largest city. Armed police blocked the path of about 3,000 teachers and students for two hours. The teachers and students had played protest songs and listened to anti-coup speeches.

On Saturday, police and soldiers shot dead two people in Mandalay as they broke up a strike by port workers. Earlier in the same week, police used batons⁶ against demonstrators during a protest in front of a state bank.

Also Wednesday, about 150 people from a Christian⁸ group gathered in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, to call for a return to democracy. The group also called for the release of Suu Kyi and other civilian⁹ leaders who have been held since the coup.

International pressure against the coup also continues. More than 130 pro-democracy groups released an open letter Wednesday to the United Nations Security Council calling for a halt to worldwide arms sales to Myanmar.

The letter said Myanmar's citizens have lost their democratically elected government and are experiencing human rights violations¹⁰. Myanmar's military has a long history of committing human rights abuses.

The letter also states that the sale "of military-related equipment to Myanmar could provide the means to further repress the people of Myanmar in violation¹¹ of international humanitarian¹² and human rights law."

In addition, the letter says any Security Council measures should be followed up with "monitoring and enforcement."

China and Russia, both members of the security council, are among the top sellers of arms to Myanmar. It is expected that they would veto any effort by the U.N. to enforce a multi-nation arms ban.

Words in This Story

coup - n. a sudden attempt by a small group of people, often military members, to seize and takeover the government of a country often involving violence

sanction - n. restrictions¹³, usually limiting trade, that are meant to cause a country to obey international law

legitimize – v. to make legitimate¹⁴: in accordance with law or established requirements

baton⁷ – n. a heavy stick that is carried by police officers and is used as a weapon

monitor – v. to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time

1 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。

2 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。

3 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。

4 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》

5 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

6 batons   

n.（警察武器）警棍( baton的名词复数 )；（乐队指挥用的）指挥棒；接力棒

参考例句：

• There were many riot policemen with batons. 有许多带警棍的防暴警察。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Chinese police fight? Number one is a person with batons to fight! 满街飘的中国国旗，是一个老华侨在事发时那出来分给大家的，很感动，真的，从来一向多一事不如少一事的中国人今天团结到一起站出来反抗。 来自互联网

7 baton   

n.乐队用指挥杖

参考例句：

• With the baton the conductor was beating time.乐队指挥用指挥棒打拍子。
• The conductor waved his baton,and the band started up.指挥挥动指挥棒，乐队开始演奏起来。

8 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

9 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

10 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

11 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

12 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

13 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

14 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。