2007年VOA标准英语-Philippines Begins Offensive Against Islamic In

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Jakarta
14 August 2007

The Philippine military has launched a large offensive against Islamic insurgents¹ on the country's southern Jolo Island, following the deaths of more than 20 troops. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins in Jakarta has more.

 

Arroyo2 " hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070817/1509310.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo says troops are targeting Muslim insurgents from the Abu Sayyaf and are not directing attacks against either the Moro National Liberation Front or the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

 

The Moro National Liberation Front signed a peace accord with the government in 1996. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is engaged in peace talks with Manila.

 

The Abu Sayyaf is blamed for the worst terrorist attacks in the country, including bombings, kidnappings, and beheadings. The group is linked to the Southeast Asia terrorist group, Jemaah Islamiyah and with the al-Qaida network.

 

Mrs. Arroyo has taken the unprecedented³ step of temporarily ordering the transfer of the army headquarters from Manila to the southern city of Zamboanga to direct the offensive.

 

Chief negotiator and spokesman for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Mohaqher Iqbal, says his group will fight only if attacked.

"We have a substantial number of forces in Sulu and that is why the other day we called upon the government cease-fire committee to make a ground arrangement wherein our forces in Sulu would be positioning in a certain area where they would not be affected⁴ by the offensive but up to this moment there is no arrangement on the ground," said Iqbal.

remains5 of fellow soldiers at a funeral parlor6 in Zamboanga City, southern Philippines, 10 Aug 2007<br />" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070817/1509311.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

A government soldier views the remains of fellow soldiers at a funeral parlor in Zamboanga City, southern Philippines, 10 Aug 2007

More than 20 soldiers were killed in fighting last week - the largest troop loss in a single day in recent years. That battle followed the beheadings last month of 10 marines on nearby Basilan island.

 

Officials say last week's clashes involved a breakaway faction⁷ of Moro National Liberation Front fighters.

 

Moro Islamic Liberation Front spokesman Iqbal says Manila and the Moro National Liberation Front should resume talking.

 

"We have urged the government and the Moro National Liberation Front to return to a dialogue," said Iqbal. "They should discuss the issue in Sulu right now so that the fighting would stop immediately. We also urge the government to call off its offensive against the Moro National Liberation Front in Sulu."

 

Thousands have been displaced by the fighting. Canada and Japan have threatened to withdraw aid workers from the area if the fighting escalates⁸.

 

About 100 United States troops are on Jolo to help train the Philippine military, but they are forbidden under Philippine law to engage in combat.

1 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

2 arroyo   

n.干涸的河床，小河

参考例句：

• She continued along the path until she came to the arroyo.她沿着小路一直走到小河边。
• They had a picnic by the arroyo.他们在干枯的河床边野餐过。

3 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

6 parlor   

n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅

参考例句：

• She was lying on a small settee in the parlor.她躺在客厅的一张小长椅上。
• Is there a pizza parlor in the neighborhood?附近有没有比萨店？

7 faction   

n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争

参考例句：

• Faction and self-interest appear to be the norm.派系之争和自私自利看来非常普遍。
• I now understood clearly that I was caught between the king and the Bunam's faction.我现在完全明白自己已陷入困境，在国王与布纳姆集团之间左右为难。

8 escalates   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的第三人称单数 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• As the challenge escalates, the need for teamwork elevates. 面临的挑战越大，越需要团队协同合作。 来自互联网
• I cannot understand why a minor disagreement escalates into a fist-fight. 我真不明白为什么一点意见不合就变成了拳头相见。 来自互联网