VOA慢速英语2014 Rights Groups: Thailand Suppresses Freedom

 

AS IT IS 2014-09-04 Rights Groups: Thailand Suppresses Freedom

Thailand’s military and police have stopped the release of an independent report on human rights. The report examines human rights in Thailand during the first 100 days under military rule.

A discussion on the subject was cancelled. Organizers feared they would be arrested if they failed to obey a request from military leaders not to hold the event. 

The meeting was to be held at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand in the Thai capital, Bangkok. But a policeman went to the meeting place and spoke¹ with representatives from three groups: Amnesty International, the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights and the Cross Cultural Foundation. The policeman said he has a personal copy of the request for each of them. He said the order came from the National Council for Peace and Order.

Thailand is currently under martial² law. Martial law is control of an area by the military, not the police. Martial law was declared in Thailand on May 20 and is still in effect. There are restrictions³ on any meetings thought to be political. Freedom of the press has been restricted. So are activities that may be critical of the junta⁴, or military leaders.

General Prayuth Chan-ocha is the army chief who ousted⁵ Thailand’s civilian⁶ government. He says the junta will work on security throughout the country. He says martial law needs to remain in effect to guarantee order. General Prayuth has chosen the members of Thailand’s new legislature. The legislature recently approved the general as the country’s official leader or prime minister. Twelve members of his cabinet are active or retired⁷ officers of the security forces.

Pawinee Chumsri is with the organization Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. She says it was wise to honor the request to stop the human rights discussion.

She says the groups call canceling the event a violation⁸ of their freedom of expression. She adds that citizens should have the right to receive information about human rights in Thailand. She promised the report on human rights would be released in the near future.

Some international rights organizations have condemned⁹ the detention¹⁰ of politicians, activists¹¹ and journalists by the Thai military. Most of those held have been released with warnings after a week or less. However, some of those detained face criminal charges.

The junta says it wants to return happiness to the Thai people. General Prayuth says he promises to have general elections before the end of 2015.

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 junta   

n.团体；政务审议会

参考例句：

• The junta reacted violently to the perceived threat to its authority.军政府感到自身权力受威胁而进行了激烈反击。
• A military junta took control of the country.一个军政权控制了国家。

5 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。

6 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

7 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

8 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

9 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

10 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

11 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》