VOA标准英语2010年-Thailand Beefs Up Security in Capital

The Thai prime minister says anti-government groups could resort to violence before the anniversary of the country's 2006 coup¹. But the rights groups question whether the threat is sufficient for the government to keep the capital under emergency rule.

The discovery of three unexploded bombs around Bangkok this week prompted Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to warn of more violence in the coming days, possibly caused by supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Mr. Thaksin was ousted² in a military coup on September 19, 2006. His supporters, known as red shirts, led massive protests earlier this year that choked central Bangkok before the army broke up the demonstrations³.

Kiat Sittheeamorn is president of the Thailand Trade Representative Office and a senior member of Mr. Abhisit's Democrat⁴ Party. He says the risk of violence is serious.

"We have some concerns over the next couple of weeks that there might be certain movements," Kiat said. "And that's the reason why we have to continue to keep the state of emergency for Bangkok and for a few other provinces in order to ensure that the officers can exercise their duty effectively."

Bangkok has been under emergency rule since April, during the protests. Before they ended, about 90 people - red shirts, bystanders, journalists and soldiers - died in fighting.

Security forces have arrested scores of red shirts and some of their leaders fled the country. Many red shirts now say the movement is in disarray⁵ and severely⁶ weakened.

Even so, last week, the government stepped up security in Bangkok, placing armed troops at 460 locations, such as railway stations and major government buildings.

Sunai Pasuk is the representative for Human Rights Watch here. While he says the threat appears genuine, he questions the need to maintain the state of emergency. The emergency powers allow the government to ban public gatherings⁷, control the media and detain suspects for 30 days without charge.

"But what Human Rights Watch is deeply concerned is that the government seem to be manipulating fears … to justify⁸ the on-going enforcement of the emergency decree," said Sunai. "All these threats they are real but not to the extent that they will undermine the survival of the Thai state."

Thailand has been gripped by political uncertainties⁹ since 2005, when Mr. Thaksin's opponents organized protests against him, which eventually led to the coup.

His critics, mostly from Thailand's urban middle and upper class, say Mr. Thaksin abused his power and was corrupt¹⁰. His supporters, from rural areas and city slums, say he addressed their needs with programs such as cheaper health care and village development loans.

Mr. Thaksin faces a two-year jail term for corruption¹¹ charges and lives overseas. But he stays in contact with his supporters, including leaders of the opposition¹² Puea Thai Party.
 

1 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。

2 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。

3 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。

4 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

5 disarray   

n.混乱，紊乱，凌乱

参考例句：

• His personal life fell into disarray when his wife left him.妻子离去后，他的个人生活一片混乱。
• Our plans were thrown into disarray by the rail strike.铁路罢工打乱了我们的计划。

6 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

7 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

8 justify   

vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护

参考例句：

• He tried to justify his absence with lame excuses.他想用站不住脚的借口为自己的缺席辩解。
• Can you justify your rude behavior to me?你能向我证明你的粗野行为是有道理的吗？

9 uncertainties   

无把握( uncertainty的名词复数 )； 不确定； 变化不定； 无把握、不确定的事物

参考例句：

• One of the uncertainties of military duty is that you never know when you might suddenly get posted away. 任军职不稳定的因素之一是你永远不知道什么时候会突然被派往它处。
• Uncertainties affecting peace and development are on the rise. 影响和平与发展的不确定因素在增加。 来自汉英非文学 - 十六大报告

10 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。

11 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。

12 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。