VOA标准英语2013--Security Forces Gear Up for Muted Iranian Elections

 

Security Forces Gear Up for Muted Iranian Elections

 

This is the exception -- Iranians at a funeral of a reform-minded cleric in Isfahan earlier this month chanting, "Death to the dictator" while cheering on the appearance of moderate candidate Hassan Rowhani.

It has been described as Iran's biggest anti-government protest in two years, yet such bouts¹ of enthusiasm have been rare.

“The Revolutionary Guard is playing a much more hands-on role than it did in previous elections," noted² Middle East analyst³ James Phillips at the Heritage Foundation.

Phillips said the post-election protests of 2009, following allegations of vote rigging that gave President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a second term, have been seared in the minds of security officials -- some talking publicly about the need to make this election, in their words, more reasonable.

“I think the regime is sitting on a volcano and it knows it,” he added.

With the vote drawing near, Amnesty International has described what it calls a surge in human rights violations⁴ -- detailing the recent arrests of supporters of Hassan Rowhani at a June 1 rally, as well as the ongoing⁵ arrests and harassment⁶ of activists⁷ and union leaders.

Much of it is subtle, done by plain-clothed or undercover agents.

“They are very, very aware of what can happen," Human Rights Watch researcher Faraz Sanei said, "that there are trigger points that may lead to larger protests and as a result the security situation in Tehran and in other cities around the country is very, very different and much more stifling⁸ than it has been in the past.”

There are also the national police and the Basij, a paramilitary force loyal to the Revolutionary Guard known for violent attacks, including several on reformist leader Mehdi Karroubi and his son, one attack leaving both with bruises⁹ and bitemarks.

Despite the crackdown, Supreme¹⁰ Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is calling for high voter turnout.

“Iran is not a totalitarian state, it is an authoritarian¹¹ state, which means these elections do provide an outlet¹² for criticism of policies and of the situation of the status quo," noted the Atlantic Council's Barbara Slavin.

Part of what some analysts¹³ say is an overall plan to give Iranians just enough of a voice to keep the calm. 

 

1 bouts   

n.拳击（或摔跤）比赛( bout的名词复数 )；一段（工作）；（尤指坏事的）一通；（疾病的）发作

参考例句：

• For much of his life he suffered from recurrent bouts of depression. 他的大半辈子反复发作抑郁症。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It was one of fistiana's most famous championship bouts. 这是拳击界最有名的冠军赛之一。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

4 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

5 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

6 harassment   

n.骚扰，扰乱，烦恼，烦乱

参考例句：

• She often got telephone harassment at night these days.这些天她经常在夜晚受到电话骚扰。
• The company prohibits any form of harassment.公司禁止任何形式的骚扰行为。

7 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 stifling   

a.令人窒息的

参考例句：

• The weather is stifling. It looks like rain. 今天太闷热，光景是要下雨。
• We were stifling in that hot room with all the windows closed. 我们在那间关着窗户的热屋子里，简直透不过气来。

9 bruises   

n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He was covered with bruises after falling off his bicycle. 他从自行车上摔了下来，摔得浑身伤痕。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The pear had bruises of dark spots. 这个梨子有碰伤的黑斑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 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。

11 authoritarian   

n./adj.专制(的)，专制主义者，独裁主义者

参考例句：

• Foreign diplomats suspect him of authoritarian tendencies.各国外交官怀疑他有着独裁主义倾向。
• The authoritarian policy wasn't proved to be a success.独裁主义的政策证明并不成功。

12 outlet   

n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄

参考例句：

• The outlet of a water pipe was blocked.水管的出水口堵住了。
• Running is a good outlet for his energy.跑步是他发泄过剩精力的好方法。

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。