2006年VOA标准英语-Female Suicide Bomber Targets Sri Lanka's

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
25 April 2006

 
Soldier stands guard at the entrance of the army headquarters after a suicide bomb attack in Colombo
  
In Sri Lanka, a suicide bomb attack has critically injured the country's army chief and killed at least eight other people. More than 10 people were wounded in the blast. The bombing is a major setback¹ to a four-year peace process that was already under strain.

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Officials say a woman exploded a powerful bomb in front of a vehicle carrying military commander Sarath Fonseka into the heavily-guarded army headquarters in Colombo. The other people killed or wounded include members of the general's security detail and civilians².

Police say the bomber³ was disguised as a pregnant woman. She died on the spot. The general, who sustained serious injuries, has undergone emergency surgery.

The army accused the separatist Tamil Tiger movement of carrying out Tuesday's attack - the deadliest suicide bombing blamed on the rebels since they began a peace process with the government four years ago.

Ketesh Loganathan, the deputy head of the government department dealing⁴ with the peace process, says the bombing is a major setback to efforts to end the country's three-decade long ethnic⁵ conflict.

"Given the target in today's suicide attack, the army commander, many are tempted⁶ to say that this is actually an act of war," he said.

The Tamil Tigers have been blamed for scores of suicide attacks in the past, including one that killed the country's president in 1993. They were also accused of assassinating⁷ the country's foreign minister last year.

The latest bombing follows a wave of violence in the Tamil-dominated north and the east this month. At least 70 people, including soldiers and civilians have been killed in landmine⁸ attacks and ethnic riots. The Tamil Tigers have been blamed for the attacks targeting the military, while the rebels accuse paramilitaries supported by the government of killing⁹ their supporters.

Last week, the Tamil Tigers indefinitely postponed¹⁰ peace talks to be held this week after accusing the government of creating a "war-like" situation.

Loganathan says the government is committed to the four-year truce¹¹, but the rising violence could jeopardize¹² the peace process.

"There is no question of the government going back to war. But at the same time, continuing actions of this nature will bring the ceasefire agreement under extreme strain," added Loganathan.

The 2002 truce had raised hopes of ending the country's ethnic conflict, which was triggered by rebel demands for an autonomous¹³ homeland for the minority Tamil community. But peace talks have made little progress in the last three years, and the rebels have warned they could return to war if their demands remain unfulfilled.

1 setback   

n.退步，挫折，挫败

参考例句：

• Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
• She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。

2 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

3 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

4 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

5 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

6 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

7 assassinating   

v.暗杀( assassinate的现在分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏

参考例句：

• They struck a blow for freedom by assassinating the colonial governor. 他们为了自由而奋力一博，暗杀了那位殖民地总督。 来自互联网

8 landmine   

n.地雷

参考例句：

• A landmine is a kind of weapon used in war.地雷是一种运用于战争的武器。
• The treaty bans the use,production and trade of landmine.那条约禁止使用生产和交易雷。

9 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

10 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

11 truce   

n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束

参考例句：

• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
• She had thought of flying out to breathe the fresh air in an interval of truce.她想跑出去呼吸一下休战期间的新鲜空气。

12 jeopardize   

vt.危及，损害

参考例句：

• Overworking can jeopardize your health.工作过量可能会危及你的健康。
• If you are rude to the boss it may jeopardize your chances of success.如果你对上司无礼，那就可能断送你成功的机会。

13 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。