2007年VOA标准英语-Obscure Groups Claim Responsibility for Nepal B

By Steve Herman
New Delhi
03 September 2007

Two ethnic¹ groups from southern Nepal are claiming responsibility for Sunday's deadly bombings in the Himalayan nation's capital. VOA's Steve Herman reports from our South Asia bureau in New Delhi.

Nepalese police officials inspect a blast site at a busy market place in Kathmandu, Nepal, 02 Sept 2007

Two obscure ethnic groups on Monday claimed responsibility for several near-simultaneous bombings in Kathmandu the day before - which killed two people and injured about 30 others.

Officials and Nepalese media identified the groups as the Terai Army and the Nepal People's Army.

The Terai Army is threatening more bombings unless its demands for a separate state in the south are met. The Terai plains of southern Nepal are primarily inhabited by the Madheshis, who are of Indian origin. They have long complained of discrimination.

The Indian government has condemned² the bombings.

"It is despicable, it is horrible. It is horrendous³ and it has to put down with the firmest hand," said Abhishek Manu Singhvi, spokesman for India's governing Congress Party. "Terrorism cannot be compromised with. It does not matter whether it occurs in India, whether it occurs in Nepal, whether it is ethnic, whether it is social, whether it is cultural, whether it is political."

The Nepal Peoples' Army says it carried out the attacks as part of its campaign to abolish the monarchy⁵ and declare Nepal a republic.

That is a demand shared by the Maoists, who are now part of the interim⁶ government. The communist group ended a 10-year civil war against the government last year and agreed to join the electoral process. The decade-long insurgency⁷ left 13,000 people dead.

Nepalese officials are skeptical⁸ that either group carried out the relatively⁹ sophisticated bombings. They note there are 18-armed groups trying to derail national elections set for November 22.

Nepal's government has promised the country's 40 ethnic minority groups they will enjoy more rights under the new constitution, to be drafted after the November vote.

The election will select a constituent¹⁰ assembly, which will likely determine the fate of Nepal's unpopular monarch⁴, King Gyanendra, who has already been stripped of most of his powers.

The United Nations and other observers warn the security situation in some parts of Nepal could jeopardize¹¹ carrying out credible¹² polling.

1 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

2 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

3 horrendous   

adj.可怕的，令人惊惧的

参考例句：

• He described it as the most horrendous experience of his life.他形容这是自己一生中最可怕的经历。
• The mining industry in China has a horrendous safety record.中国的煤矿工业具有令人不安的安全记录。

4 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。

5 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

6 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

7 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

8 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

9 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

10 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。

11 jeopardize   

vt.危及，损害

参考例句：

• Overworking can jeopardize your health.工作过量可能会危及你的健康。
• If you are rude to the boss it may jeopardize your chances of success.如果你对上司无礼，那就可能断送你成功的机会。

12 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？