经济学人175:印度的反腐败抗议

 　　Anti-corruption¹ protests in India

　　印度的反腐败抗议

　　I, the people

　　吾即万民

　　An anti-graft² crusader steamrolls ahapless government

　　一位反腐改革者施压一个不幸的政府

　　Aug 27th 2011 | DELHI | from the print edition

　　SQUELCHING³ barefoot in the sludge atRamlila Maidan, a park in central Delhi, a middle-aged⁴ man praises the people’slove for his guru, Anna Hazare. His eyes shine with zeal⁵ and hunger. His legs have cramp⁶ from fasting, for over a week, beside his 74-year-old leader. Sowhat? We train our bodies to go without food for 30 days, he says. To loseflesh is to gain energy.

　　赤脚穿行于德里市中心Ramlila Maiden兰姆力拉广场公园的淤泥中，一位中年男子表达着对他心目中的领袖安纳·哈扎尔的爱戴之情。他的眼神闪烁着激情和饥饿。一周多来追随其74岁领袖，他的双腿因绝食而痉挛。这又怎样呢？他说，30天来我们绝食来训练我们的身体。牺牲肉身来获取精力。

　　Mr Hazare, who has himself lost 6kg, isprone on a platform nearby, framed by a huge poster of Mahatma Gandhi, whosemethods he has adopted. A bank of television cameras and a devoted⁷ crowd, tensof thousands strong, watch him intently, day and night, cheering and chantingin a sea of mud. Groups of uniformed schoolboys march about, flourishing theIndian tricolour. Young men sport white Gandhi caps with “I am Anna” penned onthe sides.

　　哈扎尔先生本人，已经减轻了6公斤体重，仰卧于附近的一座平台之上，背景是一副巨型的甘地画像，他正沿用着甘地的方式。无数的摄像机，数万名忠实的群众，日夜不分的专心的看着他，在一片泥海中不时发出喝彩和颂扬之声。一群群着装统一的学生挥舞着印度三色旗游行示威。年轻人头戴侧面写有“我是安纳”字样的甘地式帽子。

　　Trade is brisk in Hazare rosettes,headbands, T-shirts, and badges. Five rupees (10 cents) gets three swipes ofpaint—saffron, white, green—on your cheek. Even police X-ray gates have“corruption-free India” scrawled⁸ on them. Dozens of cities have their ownmarches and protests. The country’s thicket⁹ of excitable cable-news networksreports on nothing else.

　　与哈扎尔有关的玫瑰花饰、头带、T恤和徽章生意兴隆。5个卢比（10美分）就可以在你脸上画上橘黄、白、绿三色条。甚至警察的x射线安检门都涂上了“印度远离腐败”。数十个城市都有自己的游行和抗议。该国容易亢奋的有线新闻网团体除此之外什么都不予关注。

　　Mr Hazare’s campaign has turned him froma noted¹⁰ social reformer into a national figure. He has demanded that, by the endof the month, parliament pass a bill his team has written setting up ananti-graft ombudsman, or Lokpal, tooversee every part of government from the serving prime minister and SupremeCourt down, holding every government body accountable for corruption andpotentially becoming a powerful new arm of the state.

　　哈扎尔的举动已经使他从一个知名的社会改革者变成了全国瞩目的人物。他要求在本月底前，议会通过一项他团队草拟的议案，该议案要求设立反腐官员、或委员会（Lokpal），来监管包括总理到最高法院在内的所有政府机构，使每一个政府部门都接受反腐审计，有可能成为国家一个新的有力臂膀。

　　On August 24th, after talks with MrHazare, the ruling Congress Party called an all-party meeting at the primeminister’s residence, which agreed to resist the activist¹². A day earlier theprime minister, Manmohan Singh, had been rebuffed after begging Mr Hazare tocall off the fast for the sake of his health and a “shared” goal of wiping outcorruption.

　　8月24日，在与哈扎尔会谈之后，执政党在总理官邸召开了一次全党会议，会上同意回绝这位活动家。一天前，总理辛格请求哈扎尔看在自身健康和扫除腐败的共同目标的情分上取消绝食的建议遭到拒绝。

　　In the end the government may havelittle option but to give in to the street protesters, but as of August 25th itwas playing for time. Although one ageing but spirited opposition¹³ leader, L.K.Advani, has urged the government to quit and call a fresh election, nobody elseseemed keen. Even Mr Advani’s Bharatiya Janata Party quickly said it did notwant early polls.

　　也许最终政府除了向街头示威者妥协外并无多少选择，不过才25号，它仍有时间。虽然一位年长却精神矍铄的反对派领导人L.K. Advani已经要求政府下台并举行新的大选，但无人响应。甚至Advani自己的印度人民党也很快说无意于提前选举。

　　Quite how Mr Singh’s governmentjustifies its keep, however, is growing harder to see. By turns it has beeninept and indecisive over this affair, while failing to get anything else doneeither. Last week it briefly¹⁴ jailed and tried to muzzle¹⁵ Mr Hazare, whichguaranteed him wide publicity¹⁶ and sympathy instead. That was followed by a daftclaim by Congress that the Americans were egging on the protesters. RahulGandhi, who with three others is supposed to run Congress while his mother,Sonia, gets medical care abroad, has been deafeningly silent, absent from Delhiand offering no leadership.

　　如何证明其执政的正当性，辛格政府对此保持沉默，然而，这一点也越发难以体现。无力在其他事上有所突破的同时，在这件事上的转变只代表其无能和犹豫不决。上周辛格政府只是拘禁了哈扎尔，试图使其闭嘴，这反而使得哈扎尔名声大震而且深得同情。之后国会发表一份可笑的申明，说美国人在抗议者中煽风点火。当其母Sonia在国外接受医疗的时候，Rahul Gandhi和其他三人一起被认为是国会领导人，但她装聋作哑，既不在德里也不承担任何领导职责。

　　Those dismayed by both graft andpoliticians’ hopelessness have felt increasingly inclined to fall in behind MrHazare. Protesters moved from public squares to camp outside the Delhi homes ofgovernment ministers and MPs, unsettling the occupants. One protester set fireto himself on August 23rd.

　　那些对腐败和政客的无能感到失望的人们逐渐倾向于支持哈扎尔。示威者们从公共广场转移到政府部长和议员们位于德里的住址外围安营扎寨，使这些官员很不安。8月23日一位示威者还纵火自焚。

　　By mid-week Mr Hazare’s supportersclaimed they were within sight of a great triumph. They brushed aside questionsabout parliamentary democracy being undermined by a minority of streetprotesters. A bunged-up system needed a jolt¹⁷, they retorted. A newly assertiveurban middle class looks ever readier to push elected leaders (and unelectedones, like Mr Singh) to act in their interest.

　　截至周中哈扎尔的支持者们说他们看到了伟大胜利的曙光。他们对议会民主被一小部分街头抗议者侵蚀的质疑置之不理。他们反驳说，一个阻塞的系统需要敲击。一个新兴的自信的城市中层阶级似乎已准备迫使民选领袖（以及未经选举的领袖，如辛格）代表他们的利益。

　　Cooler heads, however, are wary¹⁹. Tocraft a campaign against corruption into a movement around a single figure isfaintly troubling. The claim that “Anna is India, India is Anna” sounds closeto cult-speak. As it happens, the Supreme¹¹ Court, the auditor-general, a panoplyof civil activists²⁰ and a more assertive¹⁸ press have all helped to hold thecorrupt to account this year. Several powerful figures have been jailed.

　　然而，冷静的头脑行事谨慎。将一个反腐败运动塑造成围绕某单一个人的行动毫不费力。“安纳即印度、印度即安纳”这个口号听起来很像一个邪教的说法。巧合的是，最高院、总检察长、一位民主活动家的盛典和一家坚决果断的媒体都有助于今年开展腐败审查。一些权势人物已经锒铛入狱。

　　Other doubts exist about Mr Hazare. SomeMuslim leaders are suspicious of the nationalist, and what they see as at timesHindu-dominated, tone and imagery of his campaign. Low-caste Dalits, whorallied separately in Delhi on August 24th, also question his stand. They fretthat if street protesters can, in effect, make one constitutional change, anattack might follow on a treasured but controversial constitutional provision reservingjobs and more for the lowest castes.

　　也有一些对哈扎尔的疑问。一些穆斯林领导人对其民族主义心存疑虑，他们在其运动中时常看到印度教为主的语调和图像。8月24号，在德里单独集会的低等级的贱民们，也质疑其立场。他们忧愁于如果街头抗议者真能有效的做出宪法的修改，接下来可能就会攻击一个宝贵而有争议的宪法条款，即提供一些保留职位，而其中绝大部分是给最底层民众的。

　　Mostly sceptics bristle²¹ at Mr Hazare’smethods. The most revered²² Dalit leader, the late B.R. Ambedkar, chief draftsmanof India’s constitution, has been much quoted this week for an early warningabout the “grammar of anarchy”, by which he meant using Gandhi-style fasts toimpose your will on a democratic government. Hunger strikes, a form ofblackmail, might have been justified²³ against the British, but not againstelected leaders.

　　绝大部分怀疑者不满于哈扎尔的方法。最受尊敬的贱民领袖，印度宪法主起草人，B.R.Ambedkar，其早前对他所谓的用甘地式的绝食把自己的意愿强加于民主政府的“无政府原则”的警告本周被多次援引。绝食抗议作为一种勒索方式，也许可以用于英国殖民者，却不应针对民选领袖。

　　Such grumbles²⁴ will not dent²⁵ Mr Hazare’sprogress. His camp hints at possible future campaigns on electoral changes andeducation reform. Rival fasters might also jump in since a hunger strike’sextended drama so clearly suits live television. Yet elected politicians canpush back. They have an easy way to remind voters how they matter, by gettingon and passing many long-promised bills, for example on further economicreform. Dull and undramatic: but for many voters it matters at least as much ascorruption.

　　这些牢骚不会阻碍哈扎尔的脚步。其营地暗示在未来有可能发起对选举和教育的改革的运动。既然绝食抗议这部大戏如此适合电视直播，敌对的绝食者也可能会跳出来。不过当选的政客也能接招。他们只需通过大量远期的法案，如更深刻的经济改革，就可以很容易的提醒选民们他们对此十分在意。（这种手法）乏味而平淡无奇，但对许多选民而言，这和腐败一样重要。

1 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。

2 graft   

n.移植，嫁接，艰苦工作，贪污；v.移植，嫁接

参考例句：

• I am having a skin graft on my arm soon.我马上就要接受手臂的皮肤移植手术。
• The minister became rich through graft.这位部长透过贪污受贿致富。

3 squelching   

v.发吧唧声，发扑哧声( squelch的现在分词 )；制止；压制；遏制

参考例句：

• I could hear his broken shoes squelching in the water. 我可以听到他的破鞋在水中格喳格喳作响。 来自辞典例句
• The armies got bogged down in the thick squelching mud. 军队都陷入泥沼中，行进时烂泥扑哧作声。 来自互联网

4 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

5 zeal   

n.热心，热情，热忱

参考例句：

• Revolutionary zeal caught them up,and they joined the army.革命热情激励他们，于是他们从军了。
• They worked with great zeal to finish the project.他们热情高涨地工作，以期完成这个项目。

6 cramp   

n.痉挛；[pl.](腹)绞痛；vt.限制，束缚

参考例句：

• Winston stopped writing,partly because he was suffering from cramp.温斯顿驻了笔，手指也写麻了。
• The swimmer was seized with a cramp and had to be helped out of the water.那个在游泳的人突然抽起筋来，让别人帮着上了岸。

7 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

8 scrawled   

乱涂，潦草地写( scrawl的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I tried to read his directions, scrawled on a piece of paper. 我尽量弄明白他草草写在一片纸上的指示。
• Tom scrawled on his slate, "Please take it -- I got more." 汤姆在他的写字板上写了几个字：“请你收下吧，我多得是哩。”

9 thicket   

n.灌木丛，树林

参考例句：

• A thicket makes good cover for animals to hide in.丛林是动物的良好隐蔽处。
• We were now at the margin of the thicket.我们现在已经来到了丛林的边缘。

10 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

11 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

12 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

13 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。

14 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

15 muzzle   

n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默

参考例句：

• He placed the muzzle of the pistol between his teeth.他把手枪的枪口放在牙齿中间。
• The President wanted to muzzle the press.总统企图遏制新闻自由。

16 publicity   

n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告

参考例句：

• The singer star's marriage got a lot of publicity.这位歌星的婚事引起了公众的关注。
• He dismissed the event as just a publicity gimmick.他不理会这件事，只当它是一种宣传手法。

17 jolt   

v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸

参考例句：

• We were worried that one tiny jolt could worsen her injuries.我们担心稍微颠簸一下就可能会使她的伤势恶化。
• They were working frantically in the fear that an aftershock would jolt the house again.他们拼命地干着，担心余震可能会使房子再次受到震动。

18 assertive   

adj.果断的，自信的，有冲劲的

参考例句：

• She always speaks an assertive tone.她总是以果断的语气说话。
• China appears to have become more assertive in the waters off its coastline over recent years.在近些年，中国显示出对远方海洋的自信。

19 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。

20 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

21 bristle   

v.（毛发）直立，气势汹汹，发怒；n.硬毛发

参考例句：

• It has a short stumpy tail covered with bristles.它粗短的尾巴上鬃毛浓密。
• He bristled with indignation at the suggestion that he was racist.有人暗示他是个种族主义者，他对此十分恼火。

22 revered   

v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• A number of institutions revered and respected in earlier times have become Aunt Sally for the present generation. 一些早年受到尊崇的惯例，现在已经成了这代人嘲弄的对象了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Chinese revered corn as a gift from heaven. 中国人将谷物奉为上天的恩赐。 来自辞典例句

23 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

24 grumbles   

抱怨( grumble的第三人称单数 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声

参考例句：

• He grumbles at his lot instead of resolutely facing his difficulties. 他不是果敢地去面对困难，而是抱怨自己运气不佳。
• I'm sick of your unending grumbles. 我对你的不断埋怨感到厌烦。

25 dent   

n.凹痕，凹坑；初步进展

参考例句：

• I don't know how it came about but I've got a dent in the rear of my car.我不知道是怎么回事，但我的汽车后部有了一个凹痕。
• That dent is not big enough to be worth hammering out.那个凹陷不大，用不着把它锤平。