VOA标准英语2012--Aung San Suu Kyi Cautions Leaders on Burma Reforms

 

Aung San Suu Kyi Cautions Leaders on Burma Reforms

Aung San Suu Kyi told the forum¹ there is too much focus on Burma's economic reforms and not enough on political ones.

"Even the best investment law would be of no use whatsoever² if there are no courts that are clean enough and independent enough to be able to administer those laws justly," she said. "This is our problem. And, so far, we have not been aware of any reforms on the judicial³ front."

She urged responsible investment in Burma to help create jobs, calling youth unemployment a "time bomb."

"We do not want investment to mean greater inequality," she added. "We do not want corruption⁴ to mean greater privileges for the already privileged. We want investment to mean, quite simply, jobs, as many jobs as possible. It’s as simple as that."

Over the years Burma's poor economy and unemployment have led migrant workers to seek opportunity in Thailand, where about 2 million now live.

"I really want to see Aung San Suu Kyi so I don't care if I'm punished for my absence from work. It is a rare opportunity to see her, maybe once in a lifetime," said Sai Sai, a migrant worker.

Meeting with the Burmese migrant and refugee community was a top priority of her first trip outside Burma in 24 years, but her presence among 600 business and political leaders at the World Economic Forum drew the most attention.

Helene Gayle is president and CEO of CARE, a U.S.-based aid organization and co-chair of the forum.

"What she's doing by being here, is incredibly significant," said Gayle. "It begins that opportunity for a dialogue that I think will be very important for Burma but also for the rest of this region."

The Vahu Development Institute's Aung Thu Nyein backs up Aung San Suu Kyi's focus on jobs, because he says most foreign investment in Burma is still centered on extracting natural resources.

"This is my biggest concern you know," he said. "The investment just pouring into the country will be working mostly on the extractive service sectors⁵ rather than, you know, to employ people in the country and to develop the system in the country."

With Aung San Suu Kyi in parliament, and now traveling the world stage, Burma's aspirations⁶ for improvement now have a well-respected voice.

1 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。

2 whatsoever   

adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么

参考例句：

• There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
• All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。

3 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

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 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 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。