VOA标准英语2008年-Thai PM Vows to Stay in Office Despite Resignat

Thailand Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej says he will not resign despite growing pressure for him to step down. The Thai leader's vow¹ came as anti-government protesters occupied his headquarters for a fifth day. Ron Corben in Bangkok has this report.
　
Samak Sundaravej (file photo)

Speaking to a crowd of cheering supporters Saturday, Thai Prime Minister, Samak Sundarvej vowed² to resist calls by anti-government protesters for him to resign, saying he would stand up to the threats.

Earlier, Mr. Samak met with the country's monarch³, King Bhumipol Adulyadej, briefing the king on the five days of anti-government protests that have pushed the country into a fresh political crisis.

Representatives from the seven month old six-party coalition⁴ government on Saturday gave their backing to Mr. Samak's leadership while calling for a special parliamentary session to debate possible solutions to the crisis.
　
Anti-government protesters rally on the lawn of the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, 30 Aug 2008

The anti-government protests, led by the People's Alliance for Democracy are calling for the entire cabinet of Mr. Samak to resign. The protesters accuse Mr. Samak of being too close to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted⁵ in a 2006 coup⁶ and is accused of corruption⁷.

On Friday Thai police tried to force demonstrators from the government administration compound. Brief scuffles occurred before the police pulled back.

Panitan Wattanayagorn, a political scientist from Chulalongkorn University, says the prime minister has yet to address the issues raised by the protesters, especially concerns over the influence of Mr. Thaksin.

"This is, of course, a political crisis," said Panitan. "On top of these battles the political demands have not been met or entered by the administration - especially the Prime Minister. So even though they can arrest and disperse⁸ and arrest some of the protesters many expect the protesters will regroup, not only in Bangkok but in various places.

Thailand's national rail system was locked up Saturday after national train services were disrupted for a second day after rail workers failed to turn up for work. This followed moves by state enterprise unions to support the PAD.

Sunai Pasuk, Thailand representative for the U.S. based, Human Rights Watch, says moves by State Enterprise Unions to lend support to the PAD will deepen the crisis.

"A political crisis like this will not end with one crackdown or one raid," he said. "There will be an aftermath, a long standing⁹ confrontation¹⁰ between the two sides now that at least the state enterprise unions are going to join the PAD as well."

Mr. Samak has accused the anti-government protesters of seeking to trigger a military coup against his government. On Friday he met with senior military officials. But the military has said it does not have a plan to stage a coup. The last military coup, in 2006, led to the ouster of former Prime Minister, Thaksin.

 

1 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

2 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

3 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。

4 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

5 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。

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 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。

8 disperse   

vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散

参考例句：

• The cattle were swinging their tails to disperse the flies.那些牛甩动着尾巴驱赶苍蝇。
• The children disperse for the holidays.孩子们放假了。

9 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

10 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。