VOA标准英语2009年-Asylum Seekers Adrift on Australian Boat

By Kaite Hamann
Jakarta
27 October 2009

The governor of Indonesia's Riau Islands has refused to allow a boatload of Sri Lankan refugees to land in the province.  The decision deals a blow to Australia's efforts to transfer the problem of refugees seeking asylum¹ on its shores.

 
Photo shows Sri Lankan asylum seekers who were caught in Indonesian waters while trying to sail to Australia, 26 Oct 2009
The 78 Sri Lankans were plucked from the sea by an Australian navy vessel² more than a week ago, as they were attempting the journey from Indonesia's Sumatra Island to Australia.
 
Indonesia agreed to accept the group on humanitarian³ grounds after a visit by Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
 
But the boat has been idling in Indonesian waters, awaiting instructions and coordination⁴ between Indonesian authorities.  On Tuesday it was scheduled to dock at the Riau Island's port of Kijang.
 
But the governor of the Riau Islands refused the boat permission to land. He says unless he receives a direct order from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the Sri Lankans will not be allowed to leave the vessel.
 
The governor's spokesman, Irmasyah, who goes by one name, says there are concerns the islands will become a dumping ground for refugees
 
"We do not want our region to become a shelter," he said.  We are worried because we do not know how long they will stay or how we will take care of them.  Also we are concerned that our people may protest their presence."
 
Australian Prime Minister Rudd is reported to have proposed a so-called "Indonesia solution" to the problem of escalating⁵ illegal boat arrivals on Australian shores.  The plan involves Australia funding facilities to house and process refugees in Indonesia.
 
Indonesia's President Yudhoyono is expected to visit Australia sometime next month for further negotiations⁶.

More than 40 boats carrying refugees seeking asylum in Australia have been intercepted⁷ this year, a sharp increase from previous years.  Australian opposition⁸ politicians say the increase is the result of Mr. Rudd's decision to end the mandatory⁹ detention¹⁰ of boat people.  But his government says conflicts in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Afghanistan have caused the surge.

1 asylum   

n.避难所，庇护所，避难

参考例句：

• The people ask for political asylum.人们请求政治避难。
• Having sought asylum in the West for many years,they were eventually granted it.他们最终获得了在西方寻求多年的避难权。

2 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

3 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

4 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

5 escalating   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的现在分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The cost of living is escalating. 生活费用在迅速上涨。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cost of living is escalating in the country. 这个国家的生活费用在上涨。 来自辞典例句

6 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

7 intercepted   

拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻

参考例句：

• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave the hotel. 他正要离开旅馆，记者们把他拦截住了。
• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave by the rear entrance. 他想从后门溜走，记者把他截住了。

8 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。

9 mandatory   

adj.命令的；强制的；义务的；n.受托者

参考例句：

• It's mandatory to pay taxes.缴税是义务性的。
• There is no mandatory paid annual leave in the U.S.美国没有强制带薪年假。

10 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。