VOA标准英语2010年-Thai Opposition Leader Suggests Nation

Wearing army uniform, former Thailand's Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh talks with reporters as he arrives for a self reporting at the gate of the government's Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) 30 April 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand

Thailand's opposition¹ Puea Thai Party wants to see a government of national unity² installed after elections this year to end the country's political divisions.

 Former Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh says a national unity government is a way to end Thailand's cycle of political conflict that has contributed to eight weeks of protests in the Thai capital.

Mr. Chavalit, the chairman of the opposition Puea Thai Party, spoke³ with VOA Thursday, and said all parties need to join together to bring lasting⁴ peace.

"I recommend to go on a [unity] government - it means a government for all - a government that every party would join together to do things to correct things for the country. After every conflict people have to calm down and sit together, consulting, [and] discussing in detail," he said.

Mr. Chavalit's party is allied⁵ with the United Democratic Front against Dictatorship, which has led thousands of protesters in an occupation of central parts of Bangkok since March. The protesters, known as Red Shirts, had demanded that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva call new elections immediately.

But this week, the UDD leaders agreed to take part in Mr. Abhisit's reconciliation⁶ plan, which includes elections in November, as well as social, political and economic reforms. Mr. Chavalit endorses⁷ that plan.

Puea Thai and the UDD are closely tied with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, now living overseas to avoid a two-year prison term for corruption⁸. He was elected in 2001, promoting rural development programs.

Mr. Thaksin has widespread support from rural and urban poor and working class. But the middle class accused him of corruption. He was overthrown⁹ in a coup¹⁰ in 2006.  Mr. Chavalit supports an amnesty for Mr. Thaksin.

Mr. Chavalit blames Thailand's political conflicts on divisions of wealth and power that have evolved since the country became a constitutional monarchy¹¹ in 1932. Since then, the country has seen 18 military coups¹² or attempted coups to remove elected or appointed prime ministers.

"Everything is coming from one big problem of Thailand that has never been solved since 1932, and that is a democratic system in Thailand," Chavalit added.  "We want people's power, we want a government of the people by the people for the people, but we never had it."

The Red Shirts consider Mr. Abhisit's government illegitimate, because it was appointed by parliament after court rulings removed two elected pro-Thaksin governments in 2008.

At least 27 people have died and hundreds have been wounded in clashes between protesters and security forces since March. And the Red Shirt camp, in the center of a major commercial district, has forced hundreds of businesses to close and lay off workers. 

UDD-backed candidates are expected to win elections this year. But many Thais and political analysts¹³ worry that will not end the country's political disputes, and will instead prompt a new cycle of protests and violence by the UDD's opponents in the urban middle class.

 

1 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。

2 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

5 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。

6 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

7 endorses   

v.赞同( endorse的第三人称单数 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• There isn't one country in the Middle East that now endorses the Eisenhower Doctrine. 但至今没有一个中东国家认可它。 来自辞典例句
• Whether any of this truly endorses Dr Patel's hypothesis is moot. 这些视频能否真正证明帕特的假设成立还是个未知数。 来自互联网

8 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。

9 overthrown   

adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词

参考例句：

• The president was overthrown in a military coup. 总统在军事政变中被赶下台。
• He has overthrown the basic standards of morality. 他已摒弃了基本的道德标准。

10 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。

11 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

12 coups   

n.意外而成功的行动( coup的名词复数 )；政变；努力办到难办的事

参考例句：

• China has seen many political coups within the ruling class. 中国统治阶级内部发生过很多政变。 来自互联网
• Thailand has had eighteen coups or coup attendance since nineteen thirty-two. 泰国1932年以来有18次政变或参加政变。 来自互联网

13 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。