2006年VOA标准英语-Nepal's Political Factions Vow to Work Tog

By Patricia Nunan
Kathmandu
26 April 2006

After months of confrontation¹, Nepal's king and opposition² political parties say they will work together to bring peace and democracy to the country. Parliament is expected to be reinstated Friday - a major concession³ by King Gyanendra, who seized power last year. Still, there are signs that the struggle for political stability in Nepal has just begun.

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Opposition party supporters demonstrate against King Gyanendra as it rains in Katmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, April 18, 2006  
  

Among the thousands celebrating King Gyanendra's capitulation to Nepal's democracy movement this week is Krishna Pahadi, a human rights activist⁴ based in the capital, Kathmandu.

Pahadi was detained by security forces in January after speaking out against the king. At a victory rally after his release Tuesday, he knew exactly what he wanted - but was under no illusions that his demands would be easily met.

"I think that the political parties should declare immediately an unconditional⁵ Constituent⁶ Assembly election, and they must address the Maoist problem," he said. " We are going to create history. It's just beginning."

The history so many Nepalese hope to create is peace and stability in the country, which has been wracked by 10 years of fighting between the government and Maoist insurgents⁷, and more recently months of political paralysis⁸ in the capital.

Tensions remain high in the country. On Wednesday, soldiers in the southeast opened fired on a crowd protesting the death of a woman the night before, and reportedly killed several of them.

With the king's surrender after weeks of non-stop democracy demonstrations⁹, however, many people are cautiously optimistic that both goals can be achieved.

The political crisis was sparked in February of last year, when King Gyanendra took full control of the government, arresting scores of political opponents and restricting civil liberties.

That served to unite Nepal's seven mainstream¹⁰ political parties, which formed an alliance. Even the Maoist insurgents began a loose cooperation with the politicians. The alliance organized massive political demonstrations, which earlier this week forced the king to reinstate parliament.

Kunda Dixit is the editor of the Nepali Times. He says the 15 months of political upheaval¹¹ sparked by the takeover may have had a positive effect. For the first time, he says, the king, the parties and the Maoists are realizing they have to work together for real change to take place.

"We've gone through the euphoria and disillusionment not once, not twice, but multiple times with political parties that have promised everything - and then they get bogged¹² down in their own bickering¹³. But I think this time is different," said Dixit. "There's not just a question of restoration of democracy, but making it inclusive, making it work."

The Maoists have criticized the parties for accepting the king's offer to restore parliament, calling it a ploy¹⁴ by him to hang on to power. But on Wednesday, the rebels lifted a blockade they had imposed on the capital, and said they would keep it open through Friday - when the restored parliament is due to meet.

Analysts¹⁵ say the Maoists are watching to see what will come out of parliament, and whether Constituent Assembly elections - one of their key demands - will truly be called.

1 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

2 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。

3 concession   

n.让步，妥协；特许(权)

参考例句：

• We can not make heavy concession to the matter.我们在这个问题上不能过于让步。
• That is a great concession.这是很大的让步。

4 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

5 unconditional   

adj.无条件的，无限制的，绝对的

参考例句：

• The victorious army demanded unconditional surrender.胜方要求敌人无条件投降。
• My love for all my children is unconditional.我对自己所有孩子的爱都是无条件的。

6 constituent   

n.选民；成分，组分；adj.组成的，构成的

参考例句：

• Sugar is the main constituent of candy.食糖是糖果的主要成分。
• Fibre is a natural constituent of a healthy diet.纤维是健康饮食的天然组成部分。

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 paralysis   

n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症)

参考例句：

• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。
• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。

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。

10 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

11 upheaval   

n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱

参考例句：

• It was faced with the greatest social upheaval since World War Ⅱ.它面临第二次世界大战以来最大的社会动乱。
• The country has been thrown into an upheaval.这个国家已经陷入动乱之中。

12 bogged   

adj.陷于泥沼的v.（使）陷入泥沼， （使）陷入困境( bog的过去式和过去分词 )；妨碍，阻碍

参考例句：

• The professor bogged down in the middle of his speech. 教授的演讲只说了一半便讲不下去了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The tractor is bogged down in the mud. 拖拉机陷入了泥沼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 bickering   

v.争吵( bicker的现在分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁

参考例句：

• The children are always bickering about something or other. 孩子们有事没事总是在争吵。
• The two children were always bickering with each other over small matters. 这两个孩子总是为些小事斗嘴。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

14 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。

15 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。