VOA标准英语2010年-Malaysian Opposition Leader Intends to

In Malaysia, the politically charged trial of opposition¹ leader Anwar Ibrahim on charges of sodomy has begun.  The former deputy prime minister maintains the case is a conspiracy² to end his political career. 

Lawyers for Anwar Ibrahim's said they intend to call Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife as witnesses.  They accuse the couple of taking part in a conspiracy to end Anwar's political career.

Reporters, legal observers, and diplomats³ from the United States, Japan and European nations packed the courtroom for the opening day of the trial.

In March of 2008 Anwar lead an opposition alliance, which won a third of the parliamentary seats in the general elections.  Five months later he was charged with sodomizing a 25-year-old male former aide.  Anwar denies the charges.

This is the second time Anwar has been charged with this crime. He spent six years in prison after being convicted of sodomy and corruption⁴, following his ouster from the cabinet in 1998 during a power struggle with then leader Mahathir Mohamad.  He maintained his innocence⁵ all along and was freed in 2004 when Malaysia's top court overturned the sodomy conviction.

Political science professor James Chin, of the Monash University in Malaysia, says even if he is not convicted, the repeated charges of sodomy could hurt Anwar politically. 

"Sodomy is such a serious offense⁶ in a Muslim community," Chin said. "By charging him again with sodomy you simply reinforce the image that this guy is involved with other men."

A conviction could result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years.  It also would bar Anwar from politics for five years from the date of his release. Defense⁷ lawyers say the trial could drag on for eight months.  Chin says the National Front coalition⁸ government wants the trial to last a long time. 

"I think the general consensus⁹ among the educated and middle class in Malaysia is that this is a politically motivated trial [and] the ruling party will try to drag it out as long as possible simply because they want to distract Anwar from using a stronger opposition," Chin said.  

But the trial could also stain Malaysia's long-held image as a moderate Muslim-majority nation.  In addition to this highly publicized trial, in the past few months there have been fire bombings and vandalism of churches and mosques¹⁰ over a religious dispute and a young woman was sentence to caning¹¹ for drinking beer.
 

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 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。

3 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 innocence   

n.无罪；天真；无害

参考例句：

• There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
• The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。

6 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

7 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。

8 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。

9 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

10 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。

11 caning   

n.鞭打

参考例句：

• Whether tried according to the law of the state or the Party discipline, he cannot escape the caning he deserves. 无论是按国法， 还是按党纪，他都逃不了挨板子。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• His fingers were still stinging from the caning he had had. 他的手指经过鞭打后仍旧感到刺痛。 来自辞典例句