VOA标准英语2008年-Tea, Tourism Affected by Violence in India's Da

By Nilanjana Bhowmick
Darjeeling/Kolkata, India
18 June 2008

India's scenic¹ Darjeeling district is known for its teas and draws tens-of-thousands of tourists each year. But political turmoil² in the multi-ethnic³ district is threatening to undermine the tourism industry and the tea trade. Leaders of an ethnic minority pushing for a separate state have called an indefinite strike. Nilanjana Bhowmick spoke⁴ with the leader of the movement, who says he will not compromise, even though the government has rejected demands for part of West Bengal to become a separate state.
　

Indian supporters of Gorkha People's Liberation Front (GJM) shout slogans as they stage protest in Darjeeling, 17 Jun 2008

Members of the Gorkha community in the Indian state of West Bengal began protest strikes last week to demand an independent state, shutting down transportation in some areas and stranding⁵ many tourists. The strike was temporarily suspended last week to allow tourists to leave.

In response to the latest protests, the West Bengal government met on Tuesday with the leaders of all the major political parties in the state. The communist government in West Bengal has offered to meet with the leaders of the Gorkha independence movement, but has ruled out demands for a Gorkha state.

The leader of the separatist movement, Bimal Gurung, said he declined to meet with the West Bengal chief minister, and that the strike would continue.

Gurung says his movement is peaceful. He says he called for the indefinite shutdown after consultation⁶ with people from the grassroots level and it has wide support.

The Gorkha community fought for a separate state in the 1980s, and at least 1200 people died. The group later settled for greater autonomy.

Gurung says the Gorkhas have fought many decisive wars for India, starting under colonial rule. Gurung says many Gorkhas belong to the forces manning India's borders.

He says, "if tomorrow I give a call, they will leave their posts unmanned and come here to fight for their Gorkhaland. Then what will happen to India's borders?" He says, "I am saying, 'give us our demand and see how we continue to shed blood for the country.'"

Leaders of the Gorkha say they are ready to talk with the central government in New Delhi, along with all the major parites in West Bengal state.

1 scenic   

adj.自然景色的，景色优美的

参考例句：

• The scenic beauty of the place entranced the visitors.这里的美丽风光把游客们迷住了。
• The scenic spot is on northwestern outskirts of Beijing.这个风景区位于北京的西北远郊。

2 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

3 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。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 stranding   

n.（船只）搁浅v.使滞留，使搁浅( strand的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The airport had to be closed, stranding tourists. 机场被迫关闭，造成游客滞留。 来自辞典例句
• The stream of history had changed course away from him, stranding him in failure. 历史潮流已经改变方向，与他背道而驰，使他陷于失败之中。 来自辞典例句

6 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。