2006年VOA标准英语-Political Tensions Rise in Thailand Over Bomb P

By Ron Corben
Bangkok
31 August 2006

Political tensions in Thailand have heightened after police said they broke up a bomb plot aimed at Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Polls point to growing skepticism over the allegations - a sign of Mr. Thaksin's credibility problems in the country's urban center - Bangkok.

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The news media and political analysts¹ are openly doubtful about the reports of a bomb plot against Thailand's prime minister. And a Bangkok University poll shows only one in five people in the capital are convinced there was a plot.  

squad2 members inspect a car loaded explosives near the house of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Bangkok, 24 August 2006 " src="/upimg/allimg/070417/1520420.jpg" width="210" border="0" /> Bomb squad members inspect a car loaded explosives near the house of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Bangkok, 24 August 2006

On August 24 the police arrested an army lieutenant³ as he drove a car near Mr. Thaksin's residence. The police say the car was loaded with powerful explosives and detonators, meant to kill the prime minister.

Mr. Thaksin's critics say the arrest was only an attempt to win support ahead of the scheduled October 15 elections.

Jakrapob Penkair, Mr. Thaksin's deputy secretary, says the government is confident investigations⁵ will clear up any doubts and that the elections will go ahead.

"I believe that after the investigation⁴ has been conducted thoroughly⁶ and the results have been released to the public at large things would be put in perspective and all the culprits would be put to the judicial⁷ process so democracy in Thailand would march on," he said.

The doubts about the bomb plot are a sign of Mr. Thaksin's low credibility among the country's urban middle class. For more than a year, thousands of people have regularly joined demonstrations⁸ declaring that the prime minister has abused his office to grab power and enrich himself and his friends. His problems began a few years ago, when the government tried to oust⁹ the auditor¹¹ general, Jaruvan Maintaka, who has wide public support.

Somphob Manarangsan, an economics professor at Chulalongkorn University, says Jaruvan took a leading role in uncovering graft¹².

"Her organization is one of the very crucial bodies for the financial management involved with high ranking government officials and politicians," said Somphob. "This kind of investigative body is very important for fighting or combating corruption¹³ in this country."

The government challenged her 2001 selection as auditor general in a series of court cases. In 2004, a court ruled that her appointment was unconstitutional, and she was ordered to leave the job.

Jaruvan refused to leave unless she was dismissed by King Bhumipol Adulyadej, who had endorsed¹⁴ her appointment.

The State Auditors¹⁵ Commission suspended Jaruvan in mid-2004 and locked her out of her office. But early this year, the commission reversed its stance after the king withheld¹⁶ his assent¹⁷ to the new nominee¹⁸ for the post.

She returned to her job in February.

"What did I do wrong? It's my right to come into the office - even though I was stopped by the audit¹⁰ commission at that time - not to give me any work. I feel I have been insulted," she said. "To lock the door - and the door of the auditor general of the whole nation - very stupid."

Jaruvan and many political observers in Thailand say the move to oust her was a result of her office's investigations of government officials.

Chris Baker¹⁹, a political commentator²⁰ in Bangkok and author of several books about Thai history and economics, says Jaruvan became a focus for those concerned about official abuses of power.

"She acted as lightening rod. Before questioning of her removal came up there was a lot of concern about corruption in this government but none had really crystallized," he said. "The removal of her seems such a blatant²¹ attempt to remove someone of genuine talent and commitment in this area of anti-corruption fighting."

Mr. Thaksin further angered many Thais in January, when his family sold its stake in the telecommunications company Shin Corporation, which they had controlled. The family earned nearly two billion dollars tax-free from the sale.

That prompted huge demonstrations in Bangkok. Thousands of people gathered to demand that Mr. Thaksin resign.

Instead, he called a snap election in April, which the opposition²² boycotted²³ because they considered the short time period before the vote to be unfair. Courts have since ruled the election was improper²⁴ and must be held again - next month. But that left the country in a state of uncertainty²⁵. With no sitting parliament, no legislation has been proposed or voted on, and no new policies have been implemented²⁶ for months.

The auditor general's office is investigating whether the Thaksin family should have paid tax the Shin Corporation sale. It expects to issue a report by late September.

Despite the anger among middle-class urban voters, Mr. Thaksin remains²⁷ popular, especially in rural areas and among the poor. His policies of cheap health care and easier credit access for farmers have won strong support.

His Thai Rak Thai Party and its allies are expected to win a majority of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives - although far fewer than the 374 they held before April.

1 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。

2 squad   

n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组

参考例句：

• The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
• A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。

3 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

4 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

5 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

6 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

7 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

8 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。

9 oust   

vt.剥夺，取代，驱逐

参考例句：

• The committee wanted to oust him from the union.委员会想把他从工会中驱逐出去。
• The leaders have been ousted from power by nationalists.这些领导人被民族主义者赶下了台。

10 audit   

v.审计；查帐；核对；旁听

参考例句：

• Each year they audit our accounts and certify them as being true and fair.他们每年对我们进行账务审核，以确保其真实无误。
• As usual,the yearly audit will take place in December.跟往常一样，年度审计将在十二月份进行。

11 auditor   

n.审计员，旁听着

参考例句：

• The auditor was required to produce his working papers.那个审计员被要求提供其工作底稿。
• The auditor examines the accounts of all county officers and departments.审计员查对所有县官员及各部门的帐目。

12 graft   

n.移植，嫁接，艰苦工作，贪污；v.移植，嫁接

参考例句：

• I am having a skin graft on my arm soon.我马上就要接受手臂的皮肤移植手术。
• The minister became rich through graft.这位部长透过贪污受贿致富。

13 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。

14 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 auditors   

n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生

参考例句：

• The company has been in litigation with its previous auditors for a full year. 那家公司与前任审计员已打了整整一年的官司。
• a meeting to discuss the annual accounts and the auditors' report thereon 讨论年度报表及其审计报告的会议

16 withheld   

withhold过去式及过去分词

参考例句：

• I withheld payment until they had fulfilled the contract. 他们履行合同后，我才付款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There was no school play because the principal withheld his consent. 由于校长没同意，学校里没有举行比赛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 assent   

v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可

参考例句：

• I cannot assent to what you ask.我不能应允你的要求。
• The new bill passed by Parliament has received Royal Assent.议会所通过的新方案已获国王批准。

18 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

19 baker   

n.面包师

参考例句：

• The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
• The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。

20 commentator   

n.注释者，解说者；实况广播评论员

参考例句：

• He is a good commentator because he can get across the game.他能简单地解说这场比赛，是个好的解说者。
• The commentator made a big mistake during the live broadcast.在直播节目中评论员犯了个大错误。

21 blatant   

adj.厚颜无耻的；显眼的；炫耀的

参考例句：

• I cannot believe that so blatant a comedy can hoodwink anybody.我无法相信这么显眼的一出喜剧能够欺骗谁。
• His treatment of his secretary was a blatant example of managerial arrogance.他管理的傲慢作风在他对待秘书的态度上表露无遗。

22 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。

23 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。

24 improper   

adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的

参考例句：

• Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
• Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。

25 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

26 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

27 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。