voa标准英语2008-Thai Anti-Government Protesters Focus on Airport

Anti-government protesters abandoned their occupation of a government administration building in the Thai capital Bangkok, and are focusing on the airports they have blockaded. As Ron Corben reports from Bangkok, the shift comes ahead of a court decision this week that may oust¹ the current government.

Leaders from the People's Alliance for Democracy, or PAD, asked protesters to leave the government office Monday afternoon, ending a siege that began in August.
　

Anti-government protesters cheer during a rally at Suvarnabhumi international airport, 01 Dec 2008

PAD leaders told supporters to move to the two airports the group has occupied and shut down over the past week, saying it was no longer safe for protesters to remain at the office building. Over the past few weeks there have been several small explosions at the compound that have resulted in injuries among protesters and at least two deaths.

The protests are part of a campaign against the government led by the People's Power Party. The PAD accuses the government of acting² on behalf of ousted³ Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The closure of the city's international and domestic airports is now in its sixth day. Tens of thousands of travelers are stranded⁴, and there are estimates the occupation costs the economy $85 million a day.

Attention is now shifting to a constitutional court decision that is expected Tuesday or Wednesday. The court could rule that the PPP and its coalition⁵ partners must be dissolved for campaign law violations⁶ before the December 2007 election.

Chris Baker⁷ is an author and commentator⁸ on Thai politics.

"It seems very likely they will dissolve the PPP and possibly other parties; at which point the government falls. What happens after that is less clear. You would still have a functioning parliament. Therefore the next constitutional step would be for that parliament to select another prime minister," he said.

But Baker said the opposition⁹ may attempt to block the vote for a new prime minister.

The PPP has already created a new party identity, which could allow it retain control of the government until a general election is held.

PPP party spokesman Kudeb Saikrajang said he is confident the government will remain in power.

"The strategy is clear; we have set up a new party, Puan Thai, to welcome members of PPP to join them en mass so that we can continue our majority in parliament. Anyway we don't give up. We will let the newcomers to replace us right now," che said.
　

Pro-government supporters gather for a rally Monday, 01 Dec 2008, in Bangkok

A ruling against the PPP could prompt the protesters to end their airport blockades. But there is concern in Bangkok that government supporters might become violent, because some have said any verdict that ousts¹⁰ the government would be a "coup¹¹ by judiciary," which they would oppose.

Like former Prime Minister Thaksin, most of the PPP's support comes from the working class and rural communities. The PAD is largely supported by the urban middle class, which considers Mr. Thaksin corrupt¹².

1 oust   

vt.剥夺，取代，驱逐

参考例句：

• The committee wanted to oust him from the union.委员会想把他从工会中驱逐出去。
• The leaders have been ousted from power by nationalists.这些领导人被民族主义者赶下了台。

2 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。

3 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。

4 stranded   

a.搁浅的，进退两难的

参考例句：

• He was stranded in a strange city without money. 他流落在一个陌生的城市里， 身无分文，一筹莫展。
• I was stranded in the strange town without money or friends. 我困在那陌生的城市，既没有钱，又没有朋友。

5 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

6 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。

7 baker   

n.面包师

参考例句：

• The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
• The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。

8 commentator   

n.注释者，解说者；实况广播评论员

参考例句：

• He is a good commentator because he can get across the game.他能简单地解说这场比赛，是个好的解说者。
• The commentator made a big mistake during the live broadcast.在直播节目中评论员犯了个大错误。

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 ousts   

驱逐( oust的第三人称单数 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

11 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。

12 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。