VOA标准英语2009-Mumbai Marks Anniversary of Last Year's Terr

One year after ten Pakistani gunmen attacked India's financial capital, many say they still feel vulnerable

Mumbai   26 November 2009

A man waves an Indian flag outside the Taj Mahal hotel, one of the sites of Mumbai terror attacks, on the first anniversary of the attacks in Mumbai, India, 26 Nov 2009

Citizens of Mumbai took part in a string of ceremonies Thursday to honor the more than 160 victims killed in last year's terror attack.  One year after ten Pakistani gunmen attacked India's financial capital, many say they still feel vulnerable.  

Mumbai's security forces marched from the iconic Gateway¹ of India and along the Arabian Sea Thursday to mark the anniversary of the Mumbai terror attack.  

One year ago, ten Pakistani gunmen seized India's financial capital in a three day massacre² that left more than 160 people dead.  The Pakistani-based terrorist group, Lashkar-e-Taiba is blamed for the attack.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, speaking to reporters in Washington, took a moment to honor the fallen victims.

"The supreme³ sacrifice that so many of our countrymen and women and those from far distant foreign lands made last November will not go in vain," Mr. Sing said.  

Back in Mumbai, citizens watched as Mumbai's Police Commandos, Quick Response Team (QRT), State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) and the city's elite⁴-unit Force One showcased new weaponry and sea-patrol vehicles.  

A dozen land-and-sea compatible vehicles cruised past, in an effort to inspire confidence amongst the public.

"It was amazing; it was a symbol of Mumbai police. They showed their arms and ammunition⁵ and the tanks that they've got," Neerav Parmar said.

But, not everyone was impressed.

"Everyday I go home I thank God that I am still in one piece because living in this city is actually living on the edge and you really can't be sure," Ruchita Bamane said.

Also in the crowd - Dhaval Barmukh who loads boats at a Mumbai port that borders the Arabian Sea from which the terrorist entered.

"I do not feel safer. This parade feels contrived," he said.

India's government was criticized for allowing last year's hostage crisis to drag on for three days as the nation, and the world, watched in horror.  A recent report from the Rand Corporation, a U.S.-based think tank, notes India's elite security force, the National Security Guards, took five hours to arrive.

Mumbai's Joint⁶ Commissioner⁷ of Police Rakesh Maria says the force is better prepared now and will respond to future attacks within half-an-hour.

"Today we are in a position to match any police agency in the world when it comes to facing terrorist strikes," Maria said.

The sea of khaki uniforms, red beret, and black barrels lining⁸ Mumbai's waterfront Thursday brought Rakesh Maria's point to life.  The march ended at the city's Chowpatty Beach - the same spot where the only surviving gunman Ajmal Kasab was apprehended⁹ by local police one year ago.

But, for many watching from the sidelines, the show of force was not enough to curb¹⁰ the painful memories of last year's attack.

"The pain is still there and I think it will go on, this pain will go on. And this pain will perhaps give strength to the people to do something about this so it doesn't reoccur in the future," Dilnawaz Bana said.

1 gateway   

n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法

参考例句：

• Hard work is the gateway to success.努力工作是通往成功之路。
• A man collected tolls at the gateway.一个人在大门口收通行费。

2 massacre   

n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀

参考例句：

• There was a terrible massacre of villagers here during the war.在战争中，这里的村民惨遭屠杀。
• If we forget the massacre,the massacre will happen again!忘记了大屠杀，大屠杀就有可能再次发生！

3 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

4 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

5 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

6 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

7 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

8 lining   

n.衬里，衬料

参考例句：

• The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
• Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。

9 apprehended   

逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解

参考例句：

• She apprehended the complicated law very quickly. 她很快理解了复杂的法律。
• The police apprehended the criminal. 警察逮捕了罪犯。

10 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。