VOA常速英语2007年-Rebellious Philippine Soldiers End Siege After

By Douglas Bakshian
Manila
29 November 2007

There has been a peaceful end to the takeover of a luxury hotel in Manila by a handful rebel soldiers who called for the ouster of the Philippines government. Meanwhile, an overnight curfew (midnight to 5 a.m.) has been imposed on Manila and surrounding areas. Douglas Bakshian reports from the Philippine capital.

 

The leader of the rebel group, Senator Antonio Trillanes, said he gave up after a six-hour siege by government forces to prevent the loss of innocent life that might have occurred in a shoot-out. He is a former military officer accused in a 2003 coup¹ attempt.

"This is not our loss. What we did here is our obligation to the people," he said. "We are public servants, we have to stand up for them. And what we did is just fulfilling that obligation. So this is not a loss. If somebody lost here it is the whole nation."

Senator Trillanes was a surprise winner in this year's congressional elections. People voted for him even though he was in a military prison on coup charges.

He announced his surrender not long after security forces threw tear gas into the hotel lobby and an armored personnel carrier smashed down the entrance.

During the siege, the rebel soldiers said they wanted an end to what they consider to be the corrupt² and illegitimate government of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo³. Another of the rebel soldiers' leaders, General Danilo Lim, read a statement to the media.

"The die is cast ... thus we make this fateful step of removing Mrs. Macapagal Arroyo from the presidency⁴ and undertake the formation of a new government," he said.

The incident began when the rebel soldiers walked out of a court hearing for the 2003 coup, and headed over the to the hotel where they set up camp. Authorities say that as the rebels moved they were joined by armed people in civilian⁵ clothes who later changed into military fatigues⁶.

President Arroyo's spokesman, meanwhile, said she has no concerns about the loyalty⁷ of the military as a whole.

Mrs. Arroyo has survived two impeachments⁸ and several coup plots. The opposition⁹ accuses her of corruption¹⁰ and cheating in the 2004 Presidential election, allegations she denies.

There have been numerous coup plots and attempts against various governments since 1986 when dictator Ferdinand Marcos was ousted¹¹ in a military backed people power movement.

1 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。

2 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

3 arroyo   

n.干涸的河床，小河

参考例句：

• She continued along the path until she came to the arroyo.她沿着小路一直走到小河边。
• They had a picnic by the arroyo.他们在干枯的河床边野餐过。

4 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

5 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

6 fatigues   

n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 )；杂役；厌倦；（士兵穿的）工作服

参考例句：

• The patient fatigues easily. 病人容易疲劳。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Instead of training the men were put on fatigues/fatigue duty. 那些士兵没有接受训练，而是派去做杂务。 来自辞典例句

7 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

8 impeachments   

n.控告( impeachment的名词复数 )；检举；弹劾；怀疑

参考例句：

• The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. 参议院独自拥有审理一切弹劾案的全权。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• Clause 6:The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. 6.所有弹劾案，只有参议院有权审理。 来自互联网

9 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。

10 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。

11 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。