Britain's Burma-Bound PM Hints at Sanction Relief

 　　British Prime Minister David Cameron says his country could soon ease sanctions on Burma, as he prepares to make an historic visit to the once-isolated country.

　　Cameron told the BBC on Thursday that Britain will be quick to "respond in kind" if Burma continues making democratic progress. But he said he wants to witness the changes first-hand before making any decisions.

　　The prime minister on Friday will become the first major Western leader to travel to Burma since it ended five decades of military rule last year.

　　Cameron is due to meet with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose political party claimed a landslide¹ victory in parliamentary by-elections this month.

　　His five-day Southeast Asian tour has also included visits to Indonesia and Malaysia.

　　The United States announced last week it is easing some sanctions on Burma, including restrictions² on travel and investment. Other Western nations are also re-examining their policies following April 1 by-elections in which Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy captured 43 of 45 available seats.

　　She and her allies will take their seats on April 23, becoming the main opposition³ party in a parliament dominated by military-backed political parties.

　　The NLD boycotted⁴ the 2010 elections that ended decades of military rule in Burma.  Since taking office a year ago, President Thein Sein has enacted⁵ a series of democratic reforms, including greater press freedom and the release of many political prisoners.

1 landslide   

n.(竞选中)压倒多数的选票；一面倒的胜利

参考例句：

• Our candidate is predicated to win by a landslide.我们的候选人被预言将以绝对优势取胜。
• An electoral landslide put the Labour Party into power in 1945.1945年工党以压倒多数的胜利当选执政。

2 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

3 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。

4 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。

5 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹