VOA标准英语2010年-Thai Protesters Take to Streets to Exp

One red-shirted protester in Thailand holds a picture of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted¹ in a coup² in 2006

Thailand is again gripped by political unrest. But unlike some previous demonstrations³, which were mainly seen as part of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's struggle against those who deposed⁴ him, political analysts⁵ say the new rallies have become a forum⁶ for people who feel marginalized and want broad political change.

Tens of thousands of Thais poured into Bangkok over the past week demanding fresh elections.

The red-shirted protesters are usually associated with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup in 2006.

But many do not care about Mr. Thaksin. They want elections because they think the government does not serve the poor.

PROTESTER: "If we have election, and I have the government be mine, be ours, it's good, better than now."

After court cases forced out an elected government in 2008, parliament selected Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, under rules set up by the military government that ousted Mr. Thaksin.

Pan, a maid, is one of the thousands of people who cheered as the demonstrators paraded in Bangkok. She wants a new election because she thinks Mr. Abhisit is insensitive to the needs of the poor.

"He [says] to people he [will] do this and do this, but he [does] not do…. He lied to people, he lied to [the] people of Thailand," she said.

Chulalongkorn University political science professor Naruemon Thabchumpon says many people do not directly benefit from the government's economic programs.

"I think this is the big problem of the Abhisit government because his government still believes in trickle-down effect," she said.  "Basically, his stimulus⁷ economic package only goes to formal sector⁸ of the economy."

But 62 percent of Thai workers are in the informal sector, such as contract workers, farmers, street hawkers, and motorcycle-taxi drivers. And she says they dominate the protesters.

Naruemon thinks the protesters carry diverse grievances⁹ that have found a common identity.

While Prime Minister Abhisit says he will not call elections under pressure, he acknowledges the grievances of many of the protesters.  He says the government is working to solve issues such as the income gap and poor housing.

But without real progress, political analysts and voters say the government will find it difficult to convince people like Pan, who says she wants to vote for a leader who responds to her needs.
 

1 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。

2 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。

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 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》

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

6 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

7 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

8 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

9 grievances   

n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚

参考例句：

• The trade union leader spoke about the grievances of the workers. 工会领袖述说工人们的苦情。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He gave air to his grievances. 他申诉了他的冤情。 来自《简明英汉词典》