VOA标准英语2009年-Sri Lanka Objects to US Plan to Interview

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
03 November 2009

Sri Lanka has raised strong objections to plans by United States authorities to interview the country's army chief, who is currently visiting the country. The Sri Lankan government expects the general to be questioned about alleged¹ war crimes committed during the country's civil war.  

 
General Sarath Fonseka (File)
 
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama wants the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to drop plans to quiz General Sarath Fonseka.

Army chief Fonseka, who is visiting his daughters in Oklahoma City, holds an American permanent-residency card. Sri Lankan officials say U.S. immigration authorities have asked the general to be available for questioning on Wednesday before renewing his card.

That request has raised a storm in Sri Lanka and prompted Foreign Minister Bogollagama to tell the American ambassador in Colombo that the U.S. government should "resist" from attempts to interview the general.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry² says American authorities want to question the army chief about allegations of war crimes committed during the final months of a war which ended with the defeat of the Tamil Tiger rebels in May.

The victory ended Sri Lanka's quarter-century civil war, but has been clouded with questions raised by the international community about reports of widespread human rights abuses committed in the course of the military campaign.

The head of Colombo's Center for Policy Alternatives, Paikiasothy Saravanmutu, says the Sri Lankan government is touchy³ about such allegations.

"It is quite sensitive because, after all, they are very grave allegations as far as war crimes and crimes against humanity are concerned," he noted⁴. "And, the Sri Lankan government has taken the view that nothing of the sort happened and that if there are allegations they are best addressed nationally."

Officials in Colombo are especially concerned that the American authorities will press the Sri Lankan army chief about the alleged involvement of Sri Lankan Defense⁵ Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in human rights violations⁶. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is the president's brother. He, along with General Fonseka, is credited with crafting the successful military campaign against the Tamil Tigers.

A U.S. State Department report last month called on the Sri Lankan government to investigate alleged rights abuses and punish any people responsible.

The Sri Lankan government has described the report as "unsubstantiated", but has promised to appoint an independent committee to investigate the charges. However, analysts⁷ say a domestic probe would not be credible⁸.

1 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 touchy   

adj.易怒的；棘手的

参考例句：

• Be careful what you say because he's touchy.你说话小心，因为他容易生气。
• He's a little touchy about his weight.他对自己的体重感到有点儿苦恼。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

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 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

8 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？