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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
By Roger Wilkison
Bangkok
26 October 2006
The general who ousted1 Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a coup2 last month says an investigation3 into corruption4 allegations against the former leader has failed to yield solid evidence. General Sondhi Boonyaratglin's admission could undermine one of the main reasons he gave for carrying out the coup.
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Thailand's Army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin speaks during a press conference in Bangkok, September 20, 2006
In an interview with The Nation newspaper, General Sondhi said he wishes he had more time to search for evidence of graft5 by the former prime minister.
Sondhi said he worries the military could lose public support if investigators6 do not find evidence of corruption against Mr. Thaksin.
The ruling junta7 set up several bodies to investigate alleged8 wrongdoing by Mr. Thaksin and his associates, including corruption and abuse of power, which the generals used as a rationale for deposing9 the twice-elected prime minister.
A leading Thai political scientist, Thitinan Pongsudirak of Chulalongkorn University, says if the generals take much longer to investigate corruption charges against Mr. Thaksin, they risk weakening one of the main justifications10 for their coup.
"The judicial11 process is slow, and it takes time. So, in a sense, General Sondhi is trying to say the various investigation committees need more time," he said. "But, at the same time, if they do not move more quickly, they will undermine their own rationale - one of the main rationales - for the coup."
Thaksin Shinawatra
But the general said the probe into Mr. Thaksin's assets has to proceed in line with the law. He said he is aware the military-appointed government is being closely scrutinized12 by the international community.
Thitinan says the military should also step up its probe into charges that Mr. Thaksin abused power during his rule, by interfering13 with government institutions and condoning14 extra-judicial killings15 of suspected drug dealers16 and Muslim separatists.
Otherwise, he says, the generals will have no legitimate17 reason to prevent Mr. Thaksin, who is now in London, from returning to Thailand.
General Sondhi implied in the interview that Mr. Thaksin, who is a billionaire, could try to use his fortune to stage a comeback. He told The Nation Mr. Thaksin would not be allowed to return until martial18 law is lifted, and he did not say when that would happen.
Professor Thitinan says martial law is a double-edged sword for the military.
"They cannot lift martial law too quickly, because that would open up a space for the pro-Thaksin elements, and there are many of them still, to come out into the open to challenge the coup," he added. "At the same time, the longer they impose martial law, the more frustrated19, the anti-Thaksin coalition20, will become. So this is a dilemma21 for the coup-makers. They have to do away with martial law, but not too soon."
Thitinan says Mr. Thaksin, who won his two elections by large majorities, is looking for a way to return. He still has support in the countryside, Thitinan says, and if the generals cannot justify22 their actions against him, the country could be in store for more turmoil23.
1 ousted | |
驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 ); 革职; 罢黜; 剥夺 | |
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2 coup | |
n.政变;突然而成功的行动 | |
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3 investigation | |
n.调查,调查研究 | |
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4 corruption | |
n.腐败,堕落,贪污 | |
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5 graft | |
n.移植,嫁接,艰苦工作,贪污;v.移植,嫁接 | |
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6 investigators | |
n.调查者,审查者( investigator的名词复数 ) | |
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7 junta | |
n.团体;政务审议会 | |
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8 alleged | |
a.被指控的,嫌疑的 | |
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9 deposing | |
v.罢免( depose的现在分词 );(在法庭上)宣誓作证 | |
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10 justifications | |
正当的理由,辩解的理由( justification的名词复数 ) | |
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11 judicial | |
adj.司法的,法庭的,审判的,明断的,公正的 | |
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12 scrutinized | |
v.仔细检查,详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13 interfering | |
adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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14 condoning | |
v.容忍,宽恕,原谅( condone的现在分词 ) | |
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15 killings | |
谋杀( killing的名词复数 ); 突然发大财,暴发 | |
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16 dealers | |
n.商人( dealer的名词复数 );贩毒者;毒品贩子;发牌者 | |
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17 legitimate | |
adj.合法的,合理的,合乎逻辑的;v.使合法 | |
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18 martial | |
adj.战争的,军事的,尚武的,威武的 | |
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19 frustrated | |
adj.挫败的,失意的,泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 );挫败;使受挫折;令人沮丧 | |
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20 coalition | |
n.结合体,同盟,结合,联合 | |
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21 dilemma | |
n.困境,进退两难的局面 | |
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22 justify | |
vt.证明…正当(或有理),为…辩护 | |
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23 turmoil | |
n.骚乱,混乱,动乱 | |
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