VOA标准英语2011-Basque's ETA Announces Permanent Ceasefir

The Basque separatist group ETA has declared a permanent ceasefire. The group has waged a violent campaign to form an independent state in northern Spain and southwest France.

A video posted on the website of Basque newspaper "Gara" shows masked people purportedly¹ from the separatist group ETA.

One of the masked people says ETA has decided² to declare a permanent and general ceasefire that can be verified by the international community.

A democratic process is needed, the representative says, that will represent the will of the Basque people.

ETA has killed more than 800 people since the group surfaced around half a century ago.

It is not the first time the group has laid down their weapons. In September, the group called a temporary ceasefire, which the Spanish government and Basque officials said was not enough. They wanted a permanent end to the violence, without conditions.

A crackdown by Spanish and French police against ETA has weakened the militant³ group. A number of top leaders have recently been tracked down and arrested, and ETA's political wing, Batasuna, has urged the group to end its military campaign and tackle its aims politically.

People on the streets of Spain's capital, Madrid welcomed the ceasefire news.

Madrid citizen Jesus says this is what they have been waiting for, this is definitive⁴.

But others are wary⁵ and say they do not believe ETA will stick this ceasefire out.

This Spanish man says it would be great if the news was true, but he does not trust ETA.

ETA first claimed responsibility for a violent attack in 1968 after shooting and killing⁶ a police chief. Its most recent deadly attack was in July of 2009.

1 purportedly   

adv.据称

参考例句：

• This is purportedly the oldest tree in the world. 据称这是世界上最古老的一棵树。 来自互联网
• Mayor Oh Se-Hoon launched the campaign last year, purportedly to improve efficiency. 据悉，首尔市市长吴世勋于去年提出了这项旨在提高工作效率的计划。 来自互联网

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

4 definitive   

adj.确切的，权威性的；最后的，决定性的

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• No one has come up with a definitive answer as to why this should be so.至于为什么该这样，还没有人给出明确的答复。

5 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。

6 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。