VOA慢速英语2015 疑柬埔寨因政治因素取消送水节（在线收听）

AS IT IS 2015-12-08 Politics Suspected in Halt to Cambodian Water Festival 疑柬埔寨因政治因素取消送水节

For the fourth time in five years, officials of Cambodia’s annual water festival canceled the event.

柬埔寨年度送水节官员五年内第四次取消了送水节。

Officials say low water levels and a lack of rain are the reasons for the cancellation.

官方人员表示取消送水节的原因是水位较低且降水稀少。

But others in the Southeast Asian country think politics are at work.

但是东南亚国家的其他人则认为是政治问题在作怪。

Bon Om Touk, also known as the Cambodian Water Festival, is a three-day festival held on the full moon in October or November.It celebrates the reversal of direction of the Tonle Sap river system.

送水节，又称作柬埔寨的泼水节，是在10月份或者11月份满月时举行的节日，为期3天。节日是为了庆祝洞里萨河的转向。

But the festival has a deadly history.In 2010, more than 350 people were killed in a stampede.Besides the weather-related cancellations, officials say the festival was halted for safety reasons.

但是，送水节历史还是一部死伤史。2010年踩踏事件，造成350多人死亡。官方表示，除了气候因素之外，取消送水节也是出于安全的考虑。

Cambodia’s political climate has changed in the past months.Two opposition politicians were beaten outside of parliament earlier this year.An arrest warrant was issued for the country’s opposition leader, Sam Rainsy.

过去几个月间，柬埔寨的政治气候发生了很大改变。今年初，两名反对派政客在议会外遭到了殴打。对反对党领袖Sam Rainsy发出了逮捕通知。

Sam Rainsy is the president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party.In October, he was charged with racial incitement and destruction of property.He left Cambodia to live in self-imposed exile in France.If he returns to Cambodia, he risks being arrested.

Sam Rainsy是柬埔寨救国党主席。10月份时，他被指控煽动种族仇恨并破坏财物。他逃离柬埔寨，到法国自我放逐。若回柬埔寨，则有被捕的风险。

Political analyst Sebastian Strangio noted that the large crowds mixed with tense politics led to government concerns.He thinks the concerns can be connected to the festival cancellation.

政治分析师Sebastian Strangio注意到混杂激进政治活动的大量人群引起了政府的关注。他认为这与取消送水节有关。

The festival was last held in 2014.The 2016 festival is scheduled for late November.

最后一次送水节于2014年举行。2016年送水节定于11月底举行。

Words in This Story

festival – n. a special time or event when people gather to celebrate something

stampede – n. an occurrence in which a large group of frightened or excited people run together in a wild and uncontrolled way to escape from something

warrant – n. a document issued by a court that gives the police the power to do something