2006年VOA标准英语-Maoist Rebels Attack Town in Nepal

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
12 January 2006

Communist rebels have raided a town in western Nepal, attacking several government installations. The renewed violence in the mountain kingdom following the end of a four-month uni-lateral truce¹ called by the rebels.

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Policeman who was injured in an attack by Maoist rebels is treated at a hospital in Beliya  
  

Officials say the rebels attacked the police station in the town of Dhangadi while policemen were having dinner Wednesday. The rebels later opened fire on banks, offices, and an army base, but fled when soldiers returned fire.

Officials say they have regained² control of the town, which lies about 600 kilometers west of the capital Kathmandu.

The attack on the heavily guarded town is the most daring since the rebels announced the end of a four-month unilateral cease-fire earlier this month.

The head of the Center for Contemporary Studies in Nepal, Lok Raj Baral, says the raid follows a warning by the rebels that they would extend their revolt beyond the countryside, where they already control vast stretches of land.

"The Maoists have openly stated they will concentrate on the urban areas, towns, and they will pay attention to the rural areas, but their target is the headquarters and urban centers," said Baral.

The Maoists have been fighting nearly a decade to end the monarchy³ and turn Nepal into a communist republic, but had offered to negotiate with the royalist government during the cease-fire. King Gyanendra, who seized control of the government a year ago, did not match the cease-fire, saying the rebels were insincere.

The government also said that security forces had the rebels on the run. Baral says the rebel attacks in recent days are meant to demonstrate that they remain a strong force.

"The government was telling that it had broken the back of the rebels, but in reply to that the Maoists have now attacked the district headquarters," he added.

 
Woman holds a placard, which says "Boycott⁴ Municipal Elections!" during a demonstration⁵ in Katmandu, Jan. 10, 2006
  
Political parties are mounting pressure on King Gyanendra to restore democracy. When the king ousted⁶ the previous government, he said he acted because political parties had failed to end the communist insurgency⁷.

Political analysts⁸ say anti-monarchy demonstrations⁹ have been growing in size in recent days. Tens of thousands of people took part in a rally organized by an alliance of seven political parties in Janakpur in southeast Nepal.

Baral says opposition¹⁰ to the king is growing across the country.

"The government side tried to undermine the political parties, but now gradually people are gathering¹¹ in large numbers. The Maoists have escalated¹² the violence, the parties are on the move against the established order," he noted¹³.

Members of political parties accuse government troops of harassing¹⁴ people heading to Janakpur by searching trucks and buses and tearing down posters and banners.

The political turmoil¹⁵ and violence in the country have raised worries in the international community. Several countries, including the United States, have urged the king to restore democracy.

1 truce   

n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束

参考例句：

• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
• She had thought of flying out to breathe the fresh air in an interval of truce.她想跑出去呼吸一下休战期间的新鲜空气。

2 regained   

复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地

参考例句：

• The majority of the people in the world have regained their liberty. 世界上大多数人已重获自由。
• She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise. 她犹豫片刻，但很快恢复了镇静。

3 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

4 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

5 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

6 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

7 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

8 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

9 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

10 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。

11 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

12 escalated   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The fighting escalated into a full-scale war. 这场交战逐步扩大为全面战争。
• The demonstration escalated into a pitched battle with the police. 示威逐步升级，演变成了一场同警察的混战。

13 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。

14 harassing   

v.侵扰，骚扰( harass的现在分词 )；不断攻击（敌人）

参考例句：

• The court ordered him to stop harassing his ex-wife. 法庭命令他不得再骚扰前妻。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It was too close to be merely harassing fire. 打得这么近，不能完全是扰乱射击。 来自辞典例句

15 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。