VOA标准英语2008年-Muslims Demonstrate in Indian Kashmir Over Land

Muslim protests over the transfer of land to expand a Hindu shrine¹ in Indian administered Kashmir are continuing for a sixth straight day. On Friday a sea of people hit the streets in the summer capital Srinagar demanding the revocation² of the land transfer. Street protests and clashes with police were also reported from many areas on Saturday. Officials say at least three people have been killed. Shahnawaz Khan reports from Srinigar.
　
Kashmiri protesters shout pro-freedom slogans as they march through a street in Srinagar, India, 28 June 2008

Tens of thousands of people in Indian administered Kashmir took to the streets on Friday in one of the biggest demonstrations³ in recent years.

The demonstrations came after four days of street protests and clashes over a controversial transfer of forestland to a Hindu Shrine Board by the state government. Formed in 2001 the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board manages the annual Hindu pilgrimage to Amarnath cave shrine in Indian administered Kashmir. The new land would allow facilities for pilgrims to be built around the shrine.

Kashmiri separatists allege⁴ the land transfer is a conspiracy⁵ to change the demography⁶ of the mainly Muslim Kashmir Valley. They fear the land would be used to settle Indian Hindus in largely Muslim Kashmir.

The issue has brought two estranged⁷ factions⁹ of the Kashmiri separatist alliance "All Parties Hurriyat Conference" together five years after they split.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani heads the hardline faction⁸ of the Hurriyat Conference.

"As far as the yatra (pilgrimage) itself is concerned we are not against any religion or rituals or religious functions. No not at all," he said. "But when the religious rituals will become
[politicized], the basic rights of the people snatched, their land, their basic rights, their civilization attacked, then it should be [fought]. "

Local laws forbid sale of land in Indian administered Kashmir to outsiders, which means Indian citizens cannot own land in Kashmir. Any violations¹⁰ are strongly protested.

In addition to the deaths caused by the demonstrations, hundreds have been injured in police action against protestors this week. Life has come to a virtual halt with roads shutdown and businesses and offices closed.

Protestors shouted anti-India and pro-freedom slogans and hoisted¹² green flags over a historical clock tower in the main city square of Srinigar, where authorities hoist¹¹ Indian flags on its independence and republic days.

Drowned in the sea of people, Indian paramilitary troops which have a post at the base of the tower, remained mute spectators.

Large-scale processions were common in Indian administered Kashmir in the early 1990s soon after the outbreak of an anti-India armed insurgency¹³ in the region. A strong police presence later made such processions almost impossible.

On Friday as people came out of mosques¹⁴ after noon prayers, they met lesser¹⁵ resistance from police than the previous four days. The region's police chief said police and paramilitary units were asked to exhibit restraint.

Majority Muslim parties in the state's legislature want the land transfer revoked¹⁶.

However, the rightwing Hindu nationalist party, the Bhartiya Janata Party, is opposing revocation moves and has stirred protests in the Hindu dominated Jammu province making the government's decision difficult.

Indian officials dismiss the allegations about the land transfer saying India has never tried to encourage Hindu migration¹⁷ to the Kashmir region.

 

1 shrine   

n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣

参考例句：

• The shrine was an object of pilgrimage.这处圣地是人们朝圣的目的地。
• They bowed down before the shrine.他们在神龛前鞠躬示敬。

2 revocation   

n.废止，撤回

参考例句：

• the revocation of planning permission 建筑许可的撤销
• The revocation of the Edict of Nantes was signed here in 1685. 1685年南特敕令的废除是在这里宣布的。 来自互联网

3 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。

4 allege   

vt.宣称，申述，主张，断言

参考例句：

• The newspaper reporters allege that the man was murdered but they have given no proof.新闻记者们宣称这个男人是被谋杀的，但他们没提出证据。
• Students occasionally allege illness as the reason for absence.学生时不时会称病缺课。

5 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

6 demography   

n.人口统计，人口学

参考例句：

• Demography is the analysis of population variables.人口学是对人口变量的分析。
• It was once a rule of demography that people have fewer children as their countries get richer.按人口统计学的一贯规律，一个国家里的人民越富有，他们所拥有的孩子就越少。

7 estranged   

adj.疏远的，分离的

参考例句：

• He became estranged from his family after the argument.那场争吵后他便与家人疏远了。
• The argument estranged him from his brother.争吵使他同他的兄弟之间的关系疏远了。

8 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。

9 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

10 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

11 hoist   

n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起

参考例句：

• By using a hoist the movers were able to sling the piano to the third floor.搬运工人用吊车才把钢琴吊到3楼。
• Hoist the Chinese flag on the flagpole,please!请在旗杆上升起中国国旗！

12 hoisted   

把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He hoisted himself onto a high stool. 他抬身坐上了一张高凳子。
• The sailors hoisted the cargo onto the deck. 水手们把货物吊到甲板上。

13 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

14 mosques   

清真寺； 伊斯兰教寺院，清真寺； 清真寺，伊斯兰教寺院( mosque的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why make us believe that this tunnel runs underneath the mosques? 为什么要让我们相信这条隧洞是在清真寺下？
• The city's three biggest mosques, long fallen into disrepair, have been renovated. 城里最大的三座清真寺，过去年久失修，现在已经修复。

15 lesser   

adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地

参考例句：

• Kept some of the lesser players out.不让那些次要的球员参加联赛。
• She has also been affected,but to a lesser degree.她也受到波及，但程度较轻。

16 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

17 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。