VOA常速英语2008年-Thailand's New Prime Minister Says UN Should In

By Luis Ramirez
Bangkok
08 February 2008

Thailand's new prime minister, Samak Sundarawej, says the United Nations should step up contacts with Burma's military leaders. The Thai leader said the U.N. Secretary-General should visit Rangoon and use Thailand as a base for possible negotiations² on political reform. VOA's Luis Ramirez reports from Bangkok.

Thailand is Burma's neighbor and closest trading partner. Unlike the United States and other nations, it refrained from imposing³ sanctions on the country after the Burmese generals' bloody⁴ crackdown on monks⁵ and other pro-democracy demonstrators last year.

Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who was sworn in on Wednesday, held his first news conference with foreign journalists on Friday and said Thailand would continue its policy of not imposing sanctions.

He said, instead, his government will encourage negotiation¹ for democratic change in Burma, and he said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon should visit the country soon. The Thai leader invited Mr. Ban to use Thailand as a base for negotiations with the Burmese leaders.

"He should visit Thailand again. When he came here, I had no opportunity, no reputation to talk to him," he said. "Now, if I have the occasion, I should ask to him, 'Mr. Ban Ki-moon, it's only a 35 minute flight from Bangkok to Rangoon, very easy or … you can go by land, and then have a good time talking."

Burma is a major supplier of natural gas to Thailand. The Thai government has come under criticism from some in the international community for not taking a harder stance on the Burmese military leadership.

Thailand itself emerged from military-backed rule this week. The country experienced a coup⁶ in 2006 that ousted⁷ Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He has gone into exile and been banned from politics for five years, but his supporters - led by Mr. Samak - regrouped and came back to power this week after winning the most parliamentary seats in a December election.

Mr. Samak's party won largely because many people identify the party with Mr. Thaksin, who retains huge popularity among Thailand's poor. During his campaign, Mr. Samak said he would bring Mr. Thaksin back, but the new prime minister has suggested he may not do that in the near future.

At Friday's news conference, Mr. Samak said Mr. Thaksin poses no threat to his rule.

Thailand has a long history of military coups⁸. In an apparent effort to keep the military in check, Samak Sundaravej also has assumed the post of defense⁹ minister.

1 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

2 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

3 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

4 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

5 monks   

n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
• He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

7 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。

8 coups   

n.意外而成功的行动( coup的名词复数 )；政变；努力办到难办的事

参考例句：

• China has seen many political coups within the ruling class. 中国统治阶级内部发生过很多政变。 来自互联网
• Thailand has had eighteen coups or coup attendance since nineteen thirty-two. 泰国1932年以来有18次政变或参加政变。 来自互联网

9 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。