VOA标准英语2010年-Former Indonesian President Remembered

Photo: AP
Indonesian military carry the coffin¹ of former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid at his family cemetery² in Jombang, East Java, Indonesia, 31 Dec 2009

 

Former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has been buried after a state funeral. In 1999 Mr. Wahid became Indonesia's first elected president following the fall of military strongman Suharto. While his time in office was short and tumultuous he is remembered as a key figure in Indonesia's transition to democracy and in establishing a national identity of tolerance³.

Thousands of mourners chanted the Islamic prayer, "there is no god but Allah," as former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid was buried near his home in East Java Thursday.

Better known by his nickname Gus Dur, he died Wednesday at the age of 69 of complications arising from diabetes⁴ and strokes he had suffered.

Current President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono led the memorial service.   He says Indonesia has lost one of the best sons of the nation and one of its best statesmen.

Mr. Wahid rose to political prominence⁵ through his role as leader of one of the country's biggest Islamic movements, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). He was a critic of military strongman Mr. Suharto during his nearly three decades in power.

In 1999, soon after Mr. Suharto was forced to resign, national elections were held and Mr. Wahid was selected by the parliament to become Indonesia's fourth president.

Political commentator⁶ Wimar Witoelar was President Wahid's chief presidential spokesman. He says Mr. Wahid established national values of tolerance and equality that today define democracy in Indonesia.

"They have lived on. They have lived on," said Witoelar.  "The things we are praised now for being, … the anti-corruption⁷ going on stream, the military which is taking a back seat into politics, the notion that Chinese and other minorities are equal, their holidays being celebrated⁸, the multi-religiosity, the religious pluralism in which you can see fantastic Christmas carols in the malls of Jakarta are all an offspring of breakthroughs he did."
 
World leaders are sending their condolences to President Wahid's family and the people of Indonesia. U.S. President Barack Obama said President Wahid will be remembered for his commitment to democratic principles, inclusive politics, and religious tolerance.  

Mr. Wahid sought dialogue and conciliation⁹ with ethnic¹⁰ separatists in Aceh and Papua. And he visited East Timor to apologize for Indonesian atrocities¹¹ there and tried unsuccessfully to put in place a truth commission. He also cracked down on Islamist extremists in 2000 after terrorist bombings killed 18 people in Indonesia.

As president, Mr. Wahid challenged traditional power centers. He worked to roll back the role of the military in political life and to decentralize power to Indonesia's far-flung provinces. But his administration was characterized by unpredictable cabinet reshuffles and allegations of nepotism¹².

And he alienated¹³ some Muslim supporters by calling for diplomatic relations with Israel and an end to a Cold War-era ban on communism.

His term ended in 2001 with his impeachment¹⁴ for alleged¹⁵ corruption for misappropriation of state funds. Mr. Wahid initially¹⁶ attempted to remain in power by declaring a state of emergency but eventually stepped down. He denied any wrongdoing and was never tried on criminal charges.

Witoelar says Mr. Wahid was forced out of office because he was unwilling¹⁷ to compromise his political integrity and presidential authority.

"I was a witness into several negotiations¹⁸ in which the Golkar party and others offered a compromise solution but he never thought of accepting them," said Witoelar.  "He said it is too important, his opportunity to uphold moral principles in politics was too important to be sacrificed for the sake of expediency¹⁹."

While President Abdurrahman Wahid's time in office was short, his vision of Indonesia as a tolerant, pluralistic society endures.

1 coffin   

n.棺材，灵柩

参考例句：

• When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
• The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

2 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

3 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。

4 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

5 prominence   

n.突出；显著；杰出；重要

参考例句：

• He came to prominence during the World Cup in Italy.他在意大利的世界杯赛中声名鹊起。
• This young fashion designer is rising to prominence.这位年轻的时装设计师的声望越来越高。

6 commentator   

n.注释者，解说者；实况广播评论员

参考例句：

• He is a good commentator because he can get across the game.他能简单地解说这场比赛，是个好的解说者。
• The commentator made a big mistake during the live broadcast.在直播节目中评论员犯了个大错误。

7 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

8 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

9 conciliation   

n.调解，调停

参考例句：

• By conciliation,cooperation is established.通过调解，友好合作关系得以确立。
• Their attempts at conciliation had failed and both sides were once again in dispute.他们进行调停的努力失败了，双方再次陷入争吵。

10 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

11 atrocities   

n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪

参考例句：

• They were guilty of the most barbarous and inhuman atrocities. 他们犯有最野蛮、最灭绝人性的残暴罪行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The enemy's atrocities made one boil with anger. 敌人的暴行令人发指。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 nepotism   

n.任人唯亲；裙带关系

参考例句：

• The congressman lashed the president for his nepotism.国会议员抨击总统搞裙带关系。
• Many will regard his appointment as the kind of nepotism British banking ought to avoid.很多人会把他的任命看作是英国银行业应该避免的一种裙带关系。

13 alienated   

adj.感到孤独的，不合群的v.使疏远( alienate的过去式和过去分词 )；使不友好；转让；让渡（财产等）

参考例句：

• His comments have alienated a lot of young voters. 他的言论使许多年轻选民离他而去。
• The Prime Minister's policy alienated many of her followers. 首相的政策使很多拥护她的人疏远了她。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 impeachment   

n.弹劾；控告；怀疑

参考例句：

• Impeachment is considered a drastic measure in the United States.在美国，弹劾被视为一种非常激烈的措施。
• The verdict resulting from his impeachment destroyed his political career.他遭弹劾后得到的判决毁了他的政治生涯。

15 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

16 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

17 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

18 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。

19 expediency   

n.适宜；方便；合算；利己

参考例句：

• The government is torn between principle and expediency. 政府在原则与权宜之间难于抉择。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It was difficult to strike the right balance between justice and expediency. 在公正与私利之间很难两全。 来自辞典例句