VOA标准英语2008年-Thai FM Quits After Backlash Over Disputed Temp

Thailand's foreign minister has announced his resignation from the government just days after a court ruling said he had violated the constitution by signing a communiqué with Cambodia without parliamentary approval. As Ron Corben reports from Bangkok there is increasing political pressure on Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to reorganize his Cabinet.
　
Thailand's Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama gestures during press conference in Bangkok, 10 Jul 2008

Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said he was resigning and taking responsibility for signing a communiqué with Cambodia concerning a 900-year-old Khmer temple.

But Noppadon, who returned overnight from Canada after the Preah Vihear temple was granted World Heritage status, said he had "not betrayed the nation" by signing the agreement with Cambodia earlier this year.

The agreement enabled Phnom Penh to seek World Heritage status for the temple, which Thailand had in the past challenged because of a border dispute.

But Noppadom denied Thai territorial¹ sovereignty has been impeded² by signing the agreement. Earlier this week, the Constitution Court found him guilty of violating the Thai constitution by not submitting the agreement to parliament.
　
Thai tourists visit Preah Vihear temple near Thai border in Preah Vihear province, north of Phnom Penh (File)

A representative for Human Rights Watch in Thailand, Sunai Pasuk, said the court's decision and Noppadon's resignation severely³ weakens the five-month-old government of Prime Minister Samak Sundarvej.

"The court ruled that the foreign minister has taken action in violation⁴ of the constitution by signing an agreement without consulting the parliament, the Cabinet has endorsed⁵ it. The government has lost its credibility completely. So now already this government is a lame⁶ duck," said Sunai Pasuk.

There is mounting pressure on Mr. Samak to undertake a wider Cabinet reorganization in an effort to restore public confidence in the administration.
　
Deposed⁷ Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra speaks at press conference as his wife Pojaman Shinawatra looks on, in Bangkok, 28 Feb 2008

The government has faced street protests from groups criticizing its close links with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is facing several charges of corruption⁸.

Chulalongkorn University political scientist Thitinan Pongsudhirak says Mr. Samak's government faces a struggle of survival over the next several months.

"Samak at a minimum will have to carry a major reshuffle to overhaul⁹ his Cabinet. But that would only buy him some time, but it would not end the protests in the streets against his administration and against his Cabinet - so Samak, down the road, his days are numbered," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak.

Several other major court decisions, including the finding this week that a key executive member of the governing party had breached¹⁰ electoral laws may lead to the People's Power Party being banned. Mr. Samak is also facing corruption investigations¹¹ for his term as Bangkok governor.

 

1 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

2 impeded   

阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Work on the building was impeded by severe weather. 楼房的施工因天气恶劣而停了下来。
• He was impeded in his work. 他的工作受阻。

3 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

4 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

5 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 lame   

adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的

参考例句：

• The lame man needs a stick when he walks.那跛脚男子走路时需借助拐棍。
• I don't believe his story.It'sounds a bit lame.我不信他讲的那一套。他的话听起来有些靠不住。

7 deposed   

v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 )；（在法庭上）宣誓作证

参考例句：

• The president was deposed in a military coup. 总统在军事政变中被废黜。
• The head of state was deposed by the army. 国家元首被军队罢免了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

9 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

10 breached   

攻破( breach的现在分词 )； 破坏，违反

参考例句：

• These commitments have already been breached. 这些承诺已遭背弃。
• Our tanks have breached the enemy defences. 我方坦克车突破了敌人的防线。

11 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。