VOA常速英语2007年-Pakistan's Bhutto Vows Uprising Unless Musharra

By Barry Newhouse
Islamabad
07 November 2007

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has vowed¹ to launch a massive protest march unless President Pervez Musharraf steps down as head of the army and restores the constitution by next Tuesday. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from Islamabad that the address marks an escalation² of tactics by Mr. Musharraf's opponents.

Ms. Bhutto told a rally here that she would lead a 300-kilometer "long march" from Lahore to Islamabad if General Musharraf does not reverse his emergency decree by November 13.

She demanded that Mr. Musharraf appear on television to restore the constitution and free all of those who have been arrested, including senior judges. She also insisted he fulfill³ his promise to resign as army chief by November 15 and announce when national elections will be held in early January.

Ms. Bhutto said Mr. Musharraf's emergency declaration had endangered Pakistan.

"Our country is in danger from the extremism that has spread under dictatorship," she said. "We believe we can save our country by saving democracy."

The former prime minister said some 400 members of her party have been arrested under the emergency law. It is unclear how many people overall have been detained since Saturday, but the number is believed to be at least a few thousand.

She called for all Pakistanis to volunteer to be arrested if she and the leadership of her party are detained.

"We appeal to the people to find busy marketplaces and court arrest," said Ms. Bhutto.

Ms. Bhutto said Pakistanis demanding the restoration of the constitution could eventually fill Pakistan's jails.

Following her address, more than 100 of her supporters approached barricades⁴ near parliament and clashed with police.

While the protesters chanted against Mr. Musharraf outside parliament, inside members of the national assembly voted to endorse⁵ Mr. Musharraf's declaration of emergency. All opposition⁶ parties have either resigned from the assembly or boycotted⁷ the vote.

SPEAKER: "All those in favor of the resolution may say Aye."

LAWMAKERS: "Aye."

SPEAKER: "Against, may say No."

LAWMAKERS: (silence)

SPEAKER: "Consequently the resolution is adopted."

Ms. Bhutto announced her party's next protest rally will be in Rawalpindi on Friday and she expects it to be peaceful. Local officials have said they will not allow the demonstration⁸ to take place.

1 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。

2 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

3 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

4 barricades   

路障，障碍物( barricade的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The police stormed the barricades the demonstrators had put up. 警察冲破了示威者筑起的街垒。
• Others died young, in prison or on the barricades. 另一些人年轻时就死在监牢里或街垒旁。

5 endorse   

vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意

参考例句：

• No one is foolish enough to endorse it.没有哪个人会傻得赞成它。
• I fully endorse your opinions on this subject.我完全拥护你对此课题的主张。

6 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。

7 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。

8 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。