VOA常速英语2007年-Commonwealth Suspends Pakistan for Imposing Eme

By Malcolm Webb
Kampala
22 November 2007

The Commonwealth¹ has suspended Pakistan, after President Pervez Musharraf failed to meet a deadline to lift emergency rule and resign as army chief. Malcolm Webb reports for VOA from Kampala, where the decision was taken on the eve of the group's summit.

 

The 53-member Commonwealth announced last week that President Musharraf had until Thursday to lift the state of emergency he imposed on November third.

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, known as CMAG, decided² that recent steps, such as the release of hundreds of prisoners in recent days, are not enough. Security forces continue to enforce strict emergency laws.

Speaking to the press in Kampala, Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon noted³ that Pakistan was suspended before, in 1999, after General Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup⁴. McKinnon said Pakistan had lost substantial benefits of Commonwealth membership.

 

"We did suspend Pakistan back in 1999," said Don McKinnon. "They ceased to get general assistance from the Commonwealth. They weren't able to attend meetings, which to that point they did enjoy being at. They can be very influential⁵ in Commonwealth ministerial meetings all around the Commonwealth. By and large, within a year of that suspension, they were very keen to come back to the Commonwealth. So, they clearly did appreciate the benefits of membership, used the benefits of membership to the full. That is now once again lost to them."

 

CMAG re-admitted Pakistan in 2004 after the Commonwealth recognized that democratic progress had been made.

British Foreign Secretary David Milliband, speaking in Kampala, said the decision was unanimous. He expressed optimism for democratic progress and re-admission of Pakistan.

 

"This decision was taken in sorrow, not in anger," said David Milliband. "You will see very practical steps that the Commonwealth is determined⁶ to take to reach out to Pakistan, including the possibility of a CMAG mission to Pakistan. We're all clear that the choices are for Pakistan now to make the changes that are in its interest, nationally and internationally, and then to re-enter the Commonwealth as a proud and valued member."

 

CMAG was established in 1995 to deal with violations⁷ of Commonwealth rules on democracy. It has nine members, including Papua New Guinea, Malta, Lesotho, Malaysia, St. Lucia and the United Kingdom.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting officially opens with a ceremony in Kampala Friday, without any representation from Pakistan.

1 commonwealth   

n.共和国，联邦，共同体

参考例句：

• He is the chairman of the commonwealth of artists.他是艺术家协会的主席。
• Most of the members of the Commonwealth are nonwhite.英联邦的许多成员国不是白人国家。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

5 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

6 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

7 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。