VOA标准英语2009年-Thaksin Supporters Gather to Present Pardo

Thousands of people have gathered in Bangkok to present a petition seeking a royal pardon for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The government has warned the crowd against violence and considers the petition illegal.
　
Supporters of former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra attempt to deliver signed petitions seeking a royal pardon to the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, 17 Aug 2009

Supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra say more than four million people have signed the petition asking King Bhumipol Adulyadej to pardon the former prime minister.

The petition is to be presented to the Royal Palace Monday, after a rally of thousands of Mr. Thaksin's supporters, known as red shirts.

Last year, he was convicted of abuse of power and sentenced to two years in jail, but he fled the country. The charge stemmed from a land deal involving his former wife.

The government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dismisses the petition as a political move, and says it will not succeed because Mr. Thaksin needs to serve time in jail to meet the legal requirements for a pardon.

At a recent rally supporting the petition, Kokaew Pikulthong said many of his fellow red shirts think Mr. Thaksin did not receive a fair trial.

"In my point of view, I think the people show this because the people [think] Mr. Thaksin received injustice¹ [from the] system," he said. "Another thing is some people feel troubled because of unskilled government that Mr. Abhisit cannot show successful policy to do anything to improve their life."

In April red shirt supporters forced the government to abandon an international meeting after they broke into a hotel where the conference was taking place. Then the government had to employ emergency powers to end street demonstrations² in Bangkok.

The government has warned Mr. Thaksin's supporters against violence at Monday's rally. There is concern that backers of a politician allied³ with the government could clash with the red shirts.

Thailand's political landscape is deeply divided. Mr. Thaksin maintains strong support among farmers and urban poor. But many in the middle class accused him of abusing his power and of being corrupt⁴. He was ousted⁵ from power in a military coup⁶ in September 2006.

On the other hand, many Thais consider Mr. Abhisit's government to be ineffectual. There is some pressure on him to call elections later this year or early next.

1 injustice   

n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利

参考例句：

• They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。
• All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。

2 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。

3 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

4 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

5 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

6 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。