VOA标准英语2008年-Singh Warns Terrorism Could Undermine Peace Bet

The Indian Prime Minister has warned that terrorism could undermine a peace process between India and Pakistan. He also called for peace in Indian Kashmir, which has been wracked by massive anti-India protests in recent days. As Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, the remarks came during an address to the nation on the occasion of India's 61st Independence Day.
　
Manmohan Singh (File)

Speaking from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort in New Delhi on Friday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, said that a suicide bombing at the Indian Embassy in Kabul has cast a shadow over efforts to normalize ties with Islamabad.

India and Afghanistan have blamed Pakistan's spy agency, for involvement in the July 7 bombing - Islamabad denies the charges.

The Indian prime minister urged Pakistan to clamp down on terrorism.

Mr. Singh says support for terrorism will negate¹ the good intentions that "we have for our two people to live in peace and harmony", and make it difficult to pursue peace
initiatives.

India has long accused Pakistan of supporting groups that carry out terror attacks in the country and encouraging Muslim separatists in Indian Kashmir - but in the last four years a tentative peace process resulted in friendlier ties between the South Asian rivals.

The prime minister also called terrorism, fundamentalism and communalism the biggest challenges to Indian unity².

The government is worried over the situation in Indian Kashmir, which has been wracked by massive protests in recent days. The protests stem from a dispute over a plot of land in the Kashmir valley on which Hindus want to build shelters for pilgrims. The government first allotted³ the land, then cancelled it following objections by Muslims.

Since then, violence has engulfed⁴ both the Muslim dominated Kashmir Valley and the Hindu dominated Jammu region. The situation is worse in Kashmir, which has witnessed massive demonstrations⁵.

So far the government's attempts to solve the impasse⁶ between the two communities have met with no success.

Mr. Singh appealed for calm in Kashmir and called on all political parties to help find a solution.

Mr. Singh says in this hour of crisis divisive politics will not lead the country anywhere. He asked all political parties to find a solution keeping in view the long-term interests of Jammu and Kashmir.

But those words were not heeded⁷ in Kashmir valley, where streets were deserted⁸ as separatist groups called for a boycott⁹ of Independence Day celebrations.

There was tight security both in Kashmir and the rest of the country for the celebrations. Tens of thousands of police fanned out in the capital, Delhi and other major cities to prevent attacks by terror groups and Maoist rebels.

 

1 negate   

vt.否定，否认；取消，使无效

参考例句：

• Our actions often negate our principles.我们的行为时常与我们所信奉的原则背道而弛。
• Mass advertising could negate the classical theory of supply and demand.大宗广告可以否定古典经济学的供求理论。

2 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

3 allotted   

分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I completed the test within the time allotted . 我在限定的时间内完成了试验。
• Each passenger slept on the berth allotted to him. 每个旅客都睡在分配给他的铺位上。

4 engulfed   

v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was engulfed by a crowd of reporters. 他被一群记者团团围住。
• The little boat was engulfed by the waves. 小船被波浪吞没了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 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。

6 impasse   

n.僵局；死路

参考例句：

• The government had reached an impasse.政府陷入绝境。
• Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse.谈判似乎已经陷入僵局。

7 heeded   

v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She countered that her advice had not been heeded. 她反驳说她的建议未被重视。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I heeded my doctor's advice and stopped smoking. 我听从医生的劝告，把烟戒了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

9 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。