2007年VOA标准英语-Protests Continue in Burma as Monks Clash with

By Luis Ramirez
Bangkok
06 September 2007

Buddhist¹ monks³ have clashed with government forces in the central Burmese town of Pakokku, and witnesses have been quoted as saying the monks have been holding government officials captive. The incident is the latest in a series of protests against the country's military government during the past two weeks. VOA's Luis Ramirez reports from our Southeast Asia bureau in Bangkok.

Buddhist monks have been among those taking to the streets in the protests of the past two weeks. The demonstrations⁴ were sparked by the military government's decision to raise fuel prices, triggering anger among many people already suffering in one of the region's poorest economies.

Demonstrators march through Rangoon to protest over massive fuel price hikes, 22 Aug 2007

Security forces have put down demonstrations, but protests continue to erupt. One clash occurred Thursday in the town of Pakokku, about 600 kilometers northwest of Rangoon. Town officials went to a monastery⁵ there and ordered the Buddhist monks to stop participating in anti-government marches, resulting in a confrontation⁶.

Telephone communications between Thailand and Burma were down for much of the day, but a reporter with the VOA Burmese service was able to reach several of the monks, who said they had set fire to government vehicles.

One monk² says the vehicles were burned because they are angry over the arrest and beatings of monks during a protest rally the day before.

Witnesses said soldiers fired warning shots over the heads of protesting monks on Wednesday.

One eyewitness⁷ told VOA the town officials arrived at the monastery with at least five vehicles. He says monks threw stones at the vehicles and torched them.

Hours into the confrontation, witnesses said at least some of the officials were still in the monastery. The monks refused to confirm or deny to VOA whether the officials were being held against their will. They said officials had begun to leave the monastery Thursday afternoon.

The authorities have repeatedly tried to halt the demonstrations, and have arrested scores of pro-democracy activists⁸. International human rights organizations have condemned⁹ the government response, saying detainees in many cases have been severely¹⁰ beaten and tortured by security forces and government supporters.

Observers say the military junta¹¹ is especially eager to quell¹² the unrest in Pakokku. The town lies near Mandalay, a religious center in the devoutly¹³ Buddhist country.

Buddhist monks have in the past had a major role in political uprisings, including in 1988, when massive protests led to a crackdown that left 3,000 people dead.

Members of the international community have condemned the latest crackdowns, and called on Burma's military - in control of the country since 1962 - to undertake democratic changes.

The military leadership last week wrapped up preparations for writing a new constitution, a process that took 14 years of on-again, off-again work. U.S. officials have called the constitutional talks a sham¹⁴, since all of the delegates were handpicked by the government, and the major opposition¹⁵ figures either were not allowed or refused to participate.

1 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

2 monk   

n.和尚，僧侣，修道士

参考例句：

• The man was a monk from Emei Mountain.那人是峨眉山下来的和尚。
• Buddhist monk sat with folded palms.和尚合掌打坐。

3 monks   

n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
• He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 monastery   

n.修道院，僧院，寺院

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• She was appointed the superior of the monastery two years ago.两年前她被任命为这个修道院的院长。

6 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

7 eyewitness   

n.目击者，见证人

参考例句：

• The police questioned several eyewitness to the murder.警察询问了谋杀案的几位目击者。
• He was the only eyewitness of the robbery.他是那起抢劫案的唯一目击者。

8 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 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。

10 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

11 junta   

n.团体；政务审议会

参考例句：

• The junta reacted violently to the perceived threat to its authority.军政府感到自身权力受威胁而进行了激烈反击。
• A military junta took control of the country.一个军政权控制了国家。

12 quell   

v.压制，平息，减轻

参考例句：

• Soldiers were sent in to quell the riots.士兵们被派去平息骚乱。
• The armed force had to be called out to quell violence.不得不出动军队来镇压暴力行动。

13 devoutly   

adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地

参考例句：

• She was a devoutly Catholic. 她是一个虔诚地天主教徒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This was not a boast, but a hope, at once bold and devoutly humble. 这不是夸夸其谈，而是一个即大胆而又诚心、谦虚的希望。 来自辞典例句

14 sham   

n./adj.假冒(的)，虚伪(的)

参考例句：

• They cunningly played the game of sham peace.他们狡滑地玩弄假和平的把戏。
• His love was a mere sham.他的爱情是虚假的。

15 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。