VOA标准英语2010-Economic Changes, Former PM Spur Thai Div

An anti-government demonstrator dances to traditional music during a rally in the commercial district of Bangkok, Thailand, 16 Apr 2010

 

The demonstrations¹ that have clogged² the Thai capital for weeks reveal deep social rifts⁴ in the country. Political analysts⁵ say the divisions stem from political changes exploited by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who angered an established elite⁶ threatened by his popularity.

The red-dressed protesters who have taken over a large section of central Bangkok are mainly from the rural north. They say the country's elites⁷ - royalists, the urban middle class and senior army commanders - have removed democratically elected leaders who favor farmers and the working class.

Many of the protesters twice voted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra into power. He was ousted⁸ by the military in 2006 and now lives in exile to avoid jail time for corruption⁹ charges.

A controversial figure, Mr. Thaksin was criticized for a war on drugs that led to thousands of extra-judicial killings¹⁰, a botched attempt to end an insurgency¹¹ in the south, and for curbing¹² media freedoms.

But he won the hearts of the urban and rural poor with low-interest loans and subsidized health care. 

Andrew Walker is a professor of politics at Australia's National University. He says Mr. Thaksin took advantage of changes already forming in the countryside. "As controversial as he was, we have to see him as reflecting long-term changes in Thai society. He understood the aspirations¹⁴ of rural people for economic and political inclusion. His policies called populist were a response to that aspiration¹³. That threatened traditional middle and upper class in Bangkok," he said.

A year after the coup¹⁵, Mr. Thaksin's supporters won national elections, but that led to months of demonstrations by his yellow-dressed opponents. Eventually, politically charged court rulings on election law violations¹⁶ ousted his allies from power.

Thongchai Winichakul is a professor of history at the University of Wisconsin. He says while Mr. Thaksin challenged the elites with his popularity, it was the yellow shirts and their supporters who brought the red shirts to the streets. 

"I'm not pro-Thaksin. I criticize him. I say now that he abuses human rights. His policy in the south is bad. His war on drugs was horrible. But, I would not say that he is undemocratic. I would not say that he created a rift³ in this society. The traditional elites who deny the changes, who deny people's voices, who use all undemocratic methods - the coup - and dubious¹⁷ court rulings to deny people's voices. Those people created the rift," Winichakul explained.

The rift is far from healed. In the past two weeks, thousands of pro-government demonstrators have called for an end to the red-shirt protests. And the yellow shirts threaten to enter the fray¹⁸ if the government fails to end the reds' protests by the end of the week.

There are rising fears that the protests will end in violence. Already, the red shirts and security forces have clashed - on April 10th a street battle left at least 24 people dead and hundreds injured.

Hundreds of armed soldiers now guard a Bangkok commercial district, and commanders vow¹⁹ to stop any red shirt protest in the area, with guns if necessary. The government has warned the public to stay clear of demonstrators.

As tensions rise, so have voices expressing concern that another clash could lead to civil war.

Political analysts say Mr. Thaksin, himself a former policeman, holds sway over much of Thailand's police force. As prime minister, he put those loyal to him in top positions; the current government sidelined many of those commanders.

The divisions in the security forces are visible in apparent leaks to the protesters about the government's plans. Newspapers write of "watermelon soldiers" - who wear the green army uniform but are red supporters in their hearts - and "cantaloupe soldiers" - those favor the yellow shirts.

Pavin Chachawongpongpan is a researcher with Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. "A large portion of military men, and some of them are quite high ranking, these people have already defected to the Thaksin camp. Why they defected? Because, I think these people can see that you know … it's better to create or to build some kind of alliance with the red shirts now. So, that when the red shirts come to power after the election, then you know, then these people can get the benefit,"  he said.

The government offered to hold elections in nine months and says it is prepared to negotiate. Protest leaders say they are no longer interested in negotiations²⁰ and demand that the government step down immediately.

Many Thais and political analysts, however, fear that elections will not heal the divisions. Many expect Mr. Thaksin's allies to win a vote, prompting yet another round of yellow shirt protests.

 

1 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。

2 clogged   

（使）阻碍( clog的过去式和过去分词 )； 淤滞

参考例句：

• The narrow streets were clogged with traffic. 狭窄的街道上交通堵塞。
• The intake of gasoline was stopped by a clogged fuel line. 汽油的注入由于管道阻塞而停止了。

3 rift   

n.裂口，隙缝，切口；v.裂开，割开，渗入

参考例句：

• He was anxious to mend the rift between the two men.他急于弥合这两个人之间的裂痕。
• The sun appeared through a rift in the clouds.太阳从云层间隙中冒出来。

4 rifts   

n.裂缝( rift的名词复数 )；裂隙；分裂；不和

参考例句：

• After that, through the rifts in the inky clouds sparkled redder and yet more luminous particles. 然后在几条墨蓝色云霞的隙缝里闪出几个更红更亮的小片。 来自汉英文学 - 现代散文
• The Destinies mend rifts in time as man etches fate. 当人类想要再次亵渎命运的时候，命运及时修正了这些裂痕。 来自互联网

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 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

7 elites   

精华( elite的名词复数 )； 精锐； 上层集团； （统称）掌权人物

参考例句：

• The elites are by their nature a factor contributing to underdevelopment. 这些上层人物天生是助长欠发达的因素。
• Elites always detest gifted and nimble outsiders. 社会名流对天赋聪明、多才多艺的局外人一向嫌恶。

8 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。

9 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。

10 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

11 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

12 curbing   

n.边石，边石的材料v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Progress has been made in curbing inflation. 在控制通货膨胀方面已取得了进展。
• A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation. 为了抑制通货膨胀实施了一系列的政策。

13 aspiration   

n.志向，志趣抱负；渴望；(语)送气音；吸出

参考例句：

• Man's aspiration should be as lofty as the stars.人的志气应当象天上的星星那么高。
• Young Addison had a strong aspiration to be an inventor.年幼的爱迪生渴望成为一名发明家。

14 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

15 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。

16 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

17 dubious   

adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的

参考例句：

• What he said yesterday was dubious.他昨天说的话很含糊。
• He uses some dubious shifts to get money.他用一些可疑的手段去赚钱。

18 fray   

v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗

参考例句：

• Why should you get involved in their fray?你为什么要介入他们的争吵呢？
• Tempers began to fray in the hot weather.大热天脾气烦燥。

19 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。

20 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。