2006年VOA标准英语-Nepalese Prepare for More Demonstrations

By Patricia Nunan
Kathmandu
19 April 2006

A police personnel stands next to a car that was burnt during a demonstration¹ against King Gyanendra in Kathmandu  
  

Diplomatic efforts to stop Nepal from falling deeper into crisis are continuing, with the arrival Wednesday of an Indian envoy² offering to mediate³ between King Gyanendra and those who want him to relinquish⁴ power. The arrival comes as anti-monarchy⁵ protests continue into their 14th day, and ahead of nationwide protests planned for Thursday.

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Indian envoy Karan Singh says New Delhi does not want to interfere⁶ in Nepal's internal affairs, but it also does not want its neighboring country to fall into chaos⁷.  Singh was expected to meet with King Gyanendra and politicians ahead of demonstrations⁸ planned for Thursday, which some fear may turn violent.

Demonstrators have taken to the streets of Nepal's capital for the past two weeks, and a nationwide strike called by a coalition⁹ of political parties has brought the country to a virtual standstill. Residents complain that prices of basic commodities have risen, and some food is in short supply.
 
At times, the demonstrations have turned violent, with security forces firing rubber bullets into crowds and beating protesters.  So far, at least six people have died, and there were reports of the police shooting several more in the eastern part of the country on Wednesday. 

Opposition¹⁰ party supporters shout slogans as policemen block them in Kathmandu  
  
Leaders of an alliance of seven mainstream¹¹ political parties predict that hundreds of thousands of people across the country will join the protests Thursday, in defiance¹² of a government ban.  
 
Opposition member J.N. Khanal says the demonstrators will break through police barriers to demonstrate in the heart of the capital.

"We will have to encircle the palace, encircle King Gyanendra," he said.  "And he's not listening [to] our voice, the people's voice. We have to make him hear."

The protesters want the king to restore the democratic freedoms he revoked¹³ in February last year, when he dismissed parliament and curbed¹⁴ media and civil liberties. 

The police began a pattern of repeatedly arresting hundreds of activists¹⁵ and opposition leaders over the following months. Hundreds are now reportedly in detention¹⁶ after the latest wave of arrests earlier this month.
 
King Gyanendra said he was forced to act because Nepal's political parties did little to stop the country's ten-year old communist insurgency¹⁷.  The rebels, who call themselves Maoists, want to topple the monarchy.
 
Analysts¹⁸ fear Thursday's demonstrations could be the most violent Nepal has seen.
 
The spokesman for the U.N. human rights office in Nepal, Kieran Dwyer, says rights workers have already witnessed several examples of the police using excessive force against protesters.

"Police firing rubber bullets into crowds of demonstrators, as well as police using latti charges - latties of course are long sticks….  One of the problems particularly with those is, we're seeing police often aiming at the head, and therefore sometimes causing serious injuries," he said.  "We've also observed a pattern of severe beatings of individuals once they've already been brought under the control of the police."
 
The United States, India and the United Nations have repeatedly called for the king to restore democracy in Nepal and hold talks with the opposition. 
 
The king has promised parliamentary elections next year, which he says will pave the way for a return to democracy.  So far, he has remained largely unswayed by the political pressure being acted out in the streets.

1 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。

2 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

3 mediate   

vi.调解，斡旋；vt.经调解解决；经斡旋促成

参考例句：

• The state must mediate the struggle for water resources.政府必须通过调解来解决对水资源的争夺。
• They may be able to mediate between parties with different interests.他们也许能在不同利益政党之间进行斡旋。

4 relinquish   

v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手

参考例句：

• He was forced to relinquish control of the company.他被迫放弃公司的掌控权。
• They will never voluntarily relinquish their independence.他们绝对不会自动放弃独立。

5 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。

6 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

7 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

8 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。

9 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

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 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

12 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。

13 revoked   

adj.[法]取消的v.撤销，取消，废除( revoke的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• It may be revoked if the check is later dishonoured. 以后如支票被拒绝支付，结算可以撤销。 来自辞典例句
• A will is revoked expressly. 遗嘱可以通过明示推翻。 来自辞典例句

14 curbed   

v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Advertising aimed at children should be curbed. 针对儿童的广告应受到限制。 来自辞典例句
• Inflation needs to be curbed in Russia. 俄罗斯需要抑制通货膨胀。 来自辞典例句

15 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》

16 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

17 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

18 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。