2006年VOA标准英语-Pakistan Bans BLA as Terrorist Organizatio

By Ayaz Gul
Islamabad
10 April 2006

Pakistan has banned a tribal¹ militant² group, the Baluchistan Liberation Army, after declaring it a terrorist organization. The underground group has been accused of bombings and attacks against government installations and security forces in resource-rich Baluchistan Province.

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The ban on the Baluchistan Liberation Army, or BLA, comes amid growing attacks against security forces and sensitive gas and power installations in the largely backward southwestern province.

The BLA has claimed responsibility for carrying out most of these attacks in recent months, including one early this year in which three Chinese engineers were killed.

The group was established in the 1970's, and is believed to be fighting for more provincial³ autonomy. It has accused the federal government of exploiting the province's rich natural resources without passing on the benefits to the local population.

The government counters that the BLA's agenda is to disrupt progress and development.

Federal Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao says the group had been under watch, and is being banned for its involvement in acts of violence.

"They were involved in terrorist activities, they were involved in missile attacks and bomb explosions. And they have themselves admitted responsibility for these acts," said Sherpao.  "We had kept a watch on them, and now the government has decided⁴ to proscribe⁵ this organization."

Residents and human rights activists⁶ say more than 100 civilians⁷ have been killed in Baluchistan since late last year, when security forces launched a crackdown on rebel tribesmen to flush out anyone linked to the BLA.

The government denies allegations it is waging a full-scale military campaign in the region, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.

1 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

2 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

3 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

4 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。

5 proscribe   

v.禁止；排斥；放逐，充军；剥夺公权

参考例句：

• They are proscribed by federal law from owning guns.根据联邦法律的规定，他们不准拥有枪支。
• The sale of narcotics is proscribed by law.法律禁止贩卖毒品。

6 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》

7 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。