VOA标准英语2008年-Violence in India's Bengal Claims Lives, Forces

By Nilanjana Bhowmick
Nandigram, India
29 May 2008

India's rapid economic development is taking a toll¹ on some segments of the population, and a recent village council election in a district of west Bengal, where the ruling party was ousted² after 30 years rule, has highlighted the clash between rural farmers and proponents³ of industrialization. Nilanjana Bhowmick visited the area of Nandigram, where the ruling Marxist party's defeat reignited violence that over the past 18 months has claimed dozens of lives and forced hundreds from their homes.

Villagers in the region of Nandigram say there has been renewed violence since the Communist Party of India-Marxist was ousted in council elections earlier this month in Nandigram and Singur, two districts in west Bengal state, where the government has earmarked vast tracks of farmland for industrial development.

Following its drubbing at the polls, the Marxist party backed off its plan to acquire and develop the farmland.

There have been repeated clashes in Nandigram between supporters of the ruling Marxists and their opponents ever since the development plan was unveiled 18 months ago. Amnesty International says at least 25 people were killed in clashes in January and March of last year, and at least 20 women were "sexually assaulted by private militias⁴ allied⁵ to the ruling [Marxists]."

The Marxists and their opponents blame each other for the post election violence.

Bhabani Das is the leader of the a group called the Committee against Land Acquisition, known as the BUPC, which represents mostly farmers opposed to the industrialization plan.

Das says the election results, have made the ruling party more desperate. He says the police cannot be trusted, because they are not impartial⁶.

Hundreds of people have fled the latest violence to a relief camp.

Mehrunnisa Bibi says she escaped with her husband and daughter-in-law, who she says were beaten up.

Bibi says "thugs" backing the Marxists entered their home Friday morning, breaking down the door and saying they would be killed for voting against the ruling party.

The doctor in charge of the Nandigram hospital, Suvabrata Maiti, says a steady stream of injured have been arriving since Friday.

"I have treated 10 to 15 patients in the last two hours," said Maiti. "Some serious patients I have sent to the town hospital. There was one patient who was almost dying today. Others have been beaten severely⁷. Some have their heads smashed in. I have treated more than 700 patients since the strife⁸ started [Friday]."

 

The displaced say the authorities are doing nothing for them and there is not enough to eat.

Bablu Bhowmick, the village development officer, says people returning home should have police protection.

Bhowmick says authorities have been working in cooperation with the police. He says some people who were sent back to their villages earlier returned to the camp because of the latest violence. He says authorities have to depend on the police to ensure that the villagers can go home safely.

Amnesty International reported in January human rights abuses during violence in November 2007 "took place in the face of inaction by or acquiescence⁹" of state authorities.

On Friday, the police initiated¹⁰ a new round of talks between the Marxists and the main political opponents, the Trinamool Congress party.

Suvendu Dasgupta, a leading development economist¹¹, says the violence in Nandigram shows what happens when the government does not take people's interests into account in pursuing its rapid economic growth policies.

"I think it will be remembered as a sign of protest against the WTO [World Trade Organization] related policies and programs, that ultimately the interest of the common man, their interest has to be taken into consideration. Nandigram is a sign towards that I must say," said Dasgupta.

Although the Marxist party retained control of 13 of 17 districts in west Bengal, the violence in Nandigram underscores it is increasingly vulnerable.

1 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

2 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。

3 proponents   

n.（某事业、理论等的）支持者，拥护者( proponent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Reviewing courts were among the most active proponents of hybrid rulemaking procedures. 复审法院是最积极的混合型规则制定程序的建议者。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• Proponents of such opinions were arrested as 'traitors. ' 提倡这种主张的人马上作为“卖国贼”逮捕起来。 来自辞典例句

4 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

5 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

6 impartial   

adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的

参考例句：

• He gave an impartial view of the state of affairs in Ireland.他对爱尔兰的事态发表了公正的看法。
• Careers officers offer impartial advice to all pupils.就业指导员向所有学生提供公正无私的建议。

7 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。

8 strife   

n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争

参考例句：

• We do not intend to be drawn into the internal strife.我们不想卷入内乱之中。
• Money is a major cause of strife in many marriages.金钱是造成很多婚姻不和的一个主要原因。

9 acquiescence   

n.默许；顺从

参考例句：

• The chief inclined his head in sign of acquiescence.首领点点头表示允许。
• This is due to his acquiescence.这是因为他的默许。

10 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

11 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。