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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
By Patricia Nunan
Kathmandu
21 April 2006
Following days of anti-monarchy protests, Nepal's King Gyanendra has called upon opposition1 parties to appoint a new prime minister, who will head an interim2 government until elections are held next year. But that political compromise offered by the king may do little to stop rallies from continuing.
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King Gyanendra
(April 20, 2006)
King Gyanendra says he wants to give political power back to the people.
Speaking on state television Friday, the king called on Nepal's seven main opposition parties to help form an interim government.
The king says he calls upon the seven-party alliance to recommend a name for the post of prime minister to head a council of ministers, as soon as possible, which will govern the country in accordance with the constitution.
The king added that his government will continue to rule, until the new prime minister is named. Parliamentary elections are planned for next year.
The king's concession3 may do little to quell4 a wave of anti-government protests, by people angry at the king's seizure5 of power in February last year. The king justified6 his move by saying Nepal was at risk of becoming a failed state.
Pro-democracy supporters shout slogans and march in demonstration7 against King Gyanendra in Katmandu, Friday
On Friday, tens-of-thousands of people returned to the streets of the capital, on the 16th straight day of anti-monarchy rallies. Many gathered in the suburb of Kalanki, where police killed four demonstrators Thursday. They lit incense8 and placed flowers in tribute to the protesters who died. They also burnt straw effigies9 of the king.
For many, like protester Nischal Khanal, the only solution for Nepal's political crisis is for the king to step down.
"There is no compromise for the king," he said. "He had options for the last two years, but, now, there is no option…. We don't want him as a king in this country. He has to leave the country. That's it."
Nepal's mainstream10 opposition parties have called a general strike to pressure the king to relinquish11 his control of government. Fuel and some food in the capital is in short supply.
At the same time, the government has imposed a series of day-long curfews - with a shoot-on-sight order issued to police - to prevent demonstrations12. But those orders have not been strictly13 enforced.
The international community had also been pressuring King Gyanendra to make a political compromise. India sent a senior envoy14 to meet with the king to offer assistance to resolve the political stand-off. The U.S. ambassador warned that the king could be forced to leave the country, if he did not reach a political compromise with the opposition.
1 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
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2 interim | |
adj.暂时的,临时的;n.间歇,过渡期间 | |
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3 concession | |
n.让步,妥协;特许(权) | |
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4 quell | |
v.压制,平息,减轻 | |
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5 seizure | |
n.没收;占有;抵押 | |
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6 justified | |
a.正当的,有理的 | |
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7 demonstration | |
n.表明,示范,论证,示威 | |
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8 incense | |
v.激怒;n.香,焚香时的烟,香气 | |
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9 effigies | |
n.(人的)雕像,模拟像,肖像( effigy的名词复数 ) | |
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10 mainstream | |
n.(思想或行为的)主流;adj.主流的 | |
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11 relinquish | |
v.放弃,撤回,让与,放手 | |
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12 demonstrations | |
证明( demonstration的名词复数 ); 表明; 表达; 游行示威 | |
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13 strictly | |
adv.严厉地,严格地;严密地 | |
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14 envoy | |
n.使节,使者,代表,公使 | |
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