2006年VOA标准英语-Thai Opposition Parties to Boycott Snap El

By Scott Bobb
Bangkok
27 February 2006

Thai demonstrators calling on Mr. Thaksin to resign  
  
Thailand's three major opposition¹ parties say they will boycott² snap elections due in five weeks because Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has rejected their calls for political reform. Opposition leaders made the remarks Monday, one day after tens of thousands of protesters rallied in Bangkok demanding the prime minister's resignation.

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Leaders of Thailand's three main opposition parties -Democrat, Mahachon, Chart Thai - say they will not field any candidates for snap elections on April 2 because Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has turned down their proposals to amend³ the constitution and strengthen checks-and-balances to the political system.

Mr. Thaksin Sunday agreed to discussions but would not commit to the proposals, which, in essence, call for him to resign.

The political standoff followed a mass rally in Bangkok Sunday night.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators chanted for Mr. Thaksin to get out. They dismissed as a political ploy⁴ his move Friday to dissolve parliament and call new elections in five weeks.

Mr. Thaksin has been under increasing pressure since his family sold nearly $2 billion worth of stock in the company he founded without paying any taxes. The tax-free sale was legal but angered many Thais.

The controversial sale galvanized academics, unions and civic⁵ groups, and bolstered⁶ their charges of corruption⁷ and abuse of power against the Thaksin government.

However, Mr. Thaksin, who enjoys considerable support among rural people and the poor, has vowed⁸ to fight. And over the past few days several demonstrations⁹ were also held in support of the embattled Thai leader.

1 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。

2 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

3 amend   

vt.修改，修订，改进；n.[pl.]赔罪，赔偿

参考例句：

• The teacher advised him to amend his way of living.老师劝他改变生活方式。
• You must amend your pronunciation.你必须改正你的发音。

4 ploy   

n.花招，手段

参考例句：

• I think this is just a government ploy to deceive the public.我认为这只是政府欺骗公众的手段。
• Christmas should be a time of excitement and wonder,not a cynical marketing ploy.圣诞节应该是兴奋和美妙的时刻，而不该是一种肆无忌惮的营销策略。

5 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

6 bolstered   

v.支持( bolster的过去式和过去分词 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助

参考例句：

• He bolstered his plea with new evidence. 他举出新的证据来支持他的抗辩。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The data must be bolstered by inferences and indirect estimates of varying degrees of reliability. 这些资料必须借助于推理及可靠程度不同的间接估计。 来自辞典例句

7 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。

8 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

9 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。