2006年VOA标准英语-Nepal's Highways Empty as Maoists Call for

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
14 March 2006

Villagers walk past a Nepalese army armored vehicle at Khanikhola, Nepal, Tuesday, March 14, 2006  
  

In Nepal, a transport blockade called by Maoist rebels has halted traffic to the country's major cities. The blockade began a day after the government offered an amnesty to the rebels, who have been waging a decade-long fight to turn the Himalayan kingdom into a communist republic.

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The Nepal government posted soldiers along key mountain highways and offered armed escorts to vehicles defying the Maoist call for a blockade - but roads leading to the capital Kathmandu and other towns remained deserted¹.

The rebels ordered the indefinite blockade starting Tuesday as part of their movement to topple the monarchist government led by King Gyanendra.  

The Maoists have so far relied on intimidation² and fear of reprisals³ to ensure compliance⁴ with the ban, but in the past they have set up roadblocks and attacked vehicles to enforce similar blockades.

Editor of Samay magazine, Yuvraj Ghimire, says there are concerns the blockade could cut off major cities and lead to shortages, despite assurances from authorities that they have stockpiled sufficient supplies.   

"Certainly there is a fear that it has already had some kind of impact and things are not moving into Kathmandu and that there could be a crisis of essential commodities in the days to come if the blockade is not lifted," Ghimire says. "Although the Maoists are under pressure from human rights groups, from media, from major democratic, political parties to call off the blockade considering the agony that the ordinary people of this country are going to face."

Some observers say it is too early to judge the impact of the blockade, because it has coincided with the Hindu festival of colors - a major holiday in the country.

On Monday the government renewed an amnesty offer to the Maoists, promising⁵ the rebels up to 14 thousand dollars if they surrender with their weapons in the next three months. Officials also offered other incentives⁶, such as land and jobs, and said legal cases against the insurgents⁷ would be withdrawn⁸.

Samay magazine's Ghimire says similar offers by the government in the past have failed to undermine the decade-long Maoist rebellion.

"It might have some kind of very limited impact, but it is not going to put a halt to the entire insurgency⁹ problem," Ghimire says. "It is a tactical, administrative¹⁰ move. It does not raise so much hope."

Nepal's King Gyanendra seized power last year after sacking the government for failing to halt the rebellion. But his royalist administration has done little to stem the insurgency. In fact the Maoists have threatened to spread their revolt from the countryside to the cities - and have called for a nationwide strike from early next month.

1 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

2 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

3 reprisals   

n.报复（行为）( reprisal的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They did not want to give evidence for fear of reprisals. 他们因为害怕报复而不想作证。
• They took bloody reprisals against the leaders. 他们对领导进行了血腥的报复。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

5 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

6 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

7 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

8 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

9 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

10 administrative   

adj.行政的，管理的

参考例句：

• The administrative burden must be lifted from local government.必须解除地方政府的行政负担。
• He regarded all these administrative details as beneath his notice.他认为行政管理上的这些琐事都不值一顾。