voa标准英语2008年-Thailand's Cabinet Enacts Emergency Laws to End

Thailand's Cabinet plans to declare a state of emergency around two Bangkok airports to end opposition¹ blockades. As Ron Corben reports from Bangkok the failure to break the political deadlock² has led to increased fears of violence between pro- and anti-government supporters.
　

Thailand's Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat talks with reporters in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand, 26 Nov 2008

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's Cabinet made the decision to impose emergency law at the airports in a meeting Thursday in the northern city of Chiang Mai.

Thousands of protestors led by the People's Alliance for Democracy occupy the international and domestic airports at Bangkok, halting all flights.

Kudeb Saikrajang, a spokesman for the governing People's Power Party (PPP), says the plan is to create an emergency zone around the airports. The question, however, is whether security forces will enforce the decision.

"The government has to order the law enforcement officers to do their duty to clear the area. But whether the law enforcement officers will do their duty by the order of the government - I don't know," Kudeb said.

The PAD leaders ignored calls by the prime minister and the Thai army chief to end the occupation of the international airport, which began Tuesday, and the blockade of the domestic airfield³, which started Thursday.

The army chief also has called on the prime minister to dissolve parliament and call new elections, which Mr. Somchai says he will not do.

Thousands of passengers have had travel plans disrupted. The Thai news media and members of the tourism industry have widely criticized the PAD.

But PAD spokesman Parnthep Pourpongpan says the occupation will continue until the prime minister resigns. Mr. Somchai rejects that demand, saying his government is democratically elected.

"We don't worry about [the public backlash] because we follow the constitution - we still have a right to continue our rally peacefully. That is what we are doing - we are going to fight for," Parnthep said.

The government also says the situation may force it to cancel the annual meeting of the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The meeting is to be held next month in Chiang Mai.

The PAD's steadfast⁴ stance adds to fears of increasing clashes with government supporters. In recent days several small explosions have occurred in Bangkok and there have been sporadic⁵ battles between groups. Small blasts at a PAD compound in the city have killed two protesters and injured scores.

Many political analysts⁶ and Thai citizens express fear that violence would push the military to step in, leading to widespread bloodshed or a takeover.

The PAD accuses Mr. Somchai of acting⁷ as a proxy⁸ for his brother-in-law, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He was ousted⁹ in a coup¹⁰ two years ago after being accused by the urban middle class of corruption¹¹ and authoritarianism¹². Mr. Thaksin fled Thailand in August just before a court sentenced him to two years in jail for corruption.

But he remains¹³ popular with the urban working class and in rural areas because of his populist economic policies.

1 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。

2 deadlock   

n.僵局，僵持

参考例句：

• The negotiations reached a deadlock after two hours.两小时后，谈判陷入了僵局。
• The employers and strikers are at a deadlock over the wage.雇主和罢工者在工资问题上相持不下。

3 airfield   

n.飞机场

参考例句：

• The foreign guests were motored from the airfield to the hotel.用车把外宾从机场送到旅馆。
• The airfield was seized by enemy troops.机场被敌军占领。

4 steadfast   

adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的

参考例句：

• Her steadfast belief never left her for one moment.她坚定的信仰从未动摇过。
• He succeeded in his studies by dint of steadfast application.由于坚持不懈的努力他获得了学业上的成功。

5 sporadic   

adj.偶尔发生的 [反]regular；分散的

参考例句：

• The sound of sporadic shooting could still be heard.仍能听见零星的枪声。
• You know this better than I.I received only sporadic news about it.你们比我更清楚，而我听到的只是零星消息。

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

8 proxy   

n.代理权，代表权；（对代理人的）委托书；代理人

参考例句：

• You may appoint a proxy to vote for you.你可以委托他人代你投票。
• We enclose a form of proxy for use at the Annual General Meeting.我们附上委任年度大会代表的表格。

9 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。

10 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。

11 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。

12 authoritarianism   

权力主义，独裁主义

参考例句：

• Modern authoritarianism is a vestige of traditional personal rule. 现代独裁主义则是传统的个人统治的残余。
• In its latter days it was a byword for authoritarianism, incompetence, and corruption. 在后期，它是独裁、无能和腐化的代号。

13 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。