VOA标准英语2010-Indian Government Vows to Press Ahead wit

Colleagues watch the cremation¹ of Ranjit Yadav, one of the Indian government soldiers killed in Tuesday's rebel attack, at Dalitpur village, in Pratapgarh district, Uttar Pradesh state, India, 8 Apr 2010

The Indian government has vowed² to press on with an offensive against Maoist rebels, after the guerrillas mounted their biggest attack on security forces, earlier this month. The Maoist rebels are considered as the biggest internal security threat to India.

 

Home Minister P. Chidambaram told parliament Monday that the government is determined³ to quell⁴ the Maoist rebellion in two to three years.   

"A determined, organized armed liberation struggle cannot be allowed in this country.  It strikes at the very root of democracy," Chidambaram said.  "It strikes at the very root of our concept of nation, therefore it has to be squarely and fearlessly met."

His statement came nearly two weeks after Maoist rebels killed 76 paramilitary troops returning from a patrol in the dense⁵ jungles of Chattisgarh state.  The bold attack raised questions about the effectiveness of a big government offensive mounted last year against the rebels in several eastern and central states.

Critics, including human rights groups, have also questioned whether a security operation would be effective in tackling the guerrillas, without tackling the lack of development in areas where they have gained influence.

They point out that there is virtually no government presence in these areas, which are among India's poorest.

Home Minister Chidambaram says the government will pay more attention to the development needs of areas where the Maoists - also known as Naxals - are active, so that it can win the confidence of local people.

"At the same time, we must show greater compassion⁶, greater concern for the poor, greater dedication⁷ in taking development to the places where the Naxals seem to have some dominance," added Chidambaram.

The government says the rebels are deliberately⁸ targeting infrastructure⁹ to prevent development in many of these areas and have destroyed scores of school buildings, telephone towers and exchanges and power houses. Since 2008 the rebels have killed more than 400 people whom they describe as "police informers." 

The government has said thousands of additional paramilitary forces will join the anti-Maoist operation. It has won wide support from opposition¹⁰ parties, which say that the rebellion must be crushed.

The rebels have spread their influence in 20 of India's 28 states and are considered a growing threat in a country battling several other insurgencies.

 

1 cremation   

n.火葬，火化

参考例句：

• Cremation is more common than burial in some countries. 在一些国家，火葬比土葬普遍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Garbage cremation can greatly reduce the occupancy of land. 垃圾焚烧可以大大减少占用土地。 来自互联网

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 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

4 quell   

v.压制，平息，减轻

参考例句：

• Soldiers were sent in to quell the riots.士兵们被派去平息骚乱。
• The armed force had to be called out to quell violence.不得不出动军队来镇压暴力行动。

5 dense   

a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
• The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。

6 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

7 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

8 deliberately   

adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地

参考例句：

• The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
• They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。

9 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

10 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。