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VOA慢速英语--泰国活动人士无视政府的抗议禁令 再次走上街头

时间:2020-10-22 23:59:13

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Thousands of Thai activists1 took to the streets of Bangkok on Thursday, violating a state of emergency order and a government ban on protests.

The protest followed a demonstration2 Wednesday involving tens of thousands of student-led activists who gathered outside the office of Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

The protesters are demanding the resignation of Prayuth. He is a former army general who has led the country under military rule since his group seized power in 2014. The activists are also pushing for changes to the constitution and reforms of the country's monarchy3.

Late Wednesday, Prayuth declared a state of emergency that banned gatherings5 of more than five people. The order gives police powers to detain people temporarily without charge. It also bars the publication of news "through electronic media that can affect national security," a government spokesman said in a statement.

After the declaration was issued, police moved in to clear out a group of demonstrators who refused to leave. Several top leaders of the protest movement were detained. One of them declared later on his Facebook page that he had been denied contact with a lawyer and was forced onto a helicopter and taken to a city in the country's north. Police said they had made 22 arrests.

On Thursday, several thousand people gathered in a different part of the city for a new protest in violation6 of the emergency order. The protesters – many wearing face coverings - cheered "Prayuth get out," and "Free our friends" as they marched down streets in a major shopping area.

Thailand had already been under a national state of emergency as part of its efforts to fight the coronavirus.

"A full-blown crisis"

Several large pro-democracy protests have happened in Thailand over the past few months. All of them – including the latest ones – have been largely peaceful. But in one incident on Wednesday, police pushed protesters away from a motorcade carrying Thailand's Queen Suthida, The Associated Press reported.

The incident led to a moment captured in photos and video and widely shared on social media. Images appeared to show protesters gesturing and shouting just meters away from the royal motorcade. Such actions are unheard of in Thailand, where those waiting for a royal motorcade usually sit or lie on the ground as a sign of respect.

"In the past when the royals drive by, we cannot even walk around the area," a protester who saw video of the incident told the French press agency AFP. "We have to stop everything and kneel on the ground." The protester added, "I am so surprised. It is happening now, we are changing a lot and it has moved forward. We are breaking taboos8."

Thailand's royal family is protected by laws that prevent criticism of any of its members. The laws have often been used to silence critics who risk up to 15 years in prison if they are found to have insulted the monarchy.

Michael Montesano is with the Thailand Studies Program at the ISEAS-Yusof Isak Institute in Singapore. He told the AP the Prayuth government had been dealing9 with the pro-democracy demonstrations10 "with reasonable success." But following the incident involving the queen's motorcade and the arrests of protest leaders, Montesano said the situation had become "a full-blown crisis." He added, "Unlike even 48 hours ago, the country is in dangerous territory now."

A government spokesman said Thursday the prime minister had ordered police to take strict action against anyone attempting to interfere11 with royal motorcades or otherwise insult the monarchy.

Student demonstrators first issued unprecedented12 criticism of the monarchy and issued calls for its reform at a protest gathering4 in August. Using direct language in public for the first time, activists criticized the wealth of King Maha Vajiralongkorn. They also questioned his influence and noted13 that he spends much of his time in Germany, not Thailand.

Conservative royalist Thais accuse the protest movement of seeking to end the monarchy, a charge its leaders deny.

Words in This Story

monarchy – n. a system of government in which a country is ruled by a king and queen whose power is limited by a constitution

shopping - n. the activity of buying things for pleasure

motorcade – n. a series of cars and other motor vehicles that moves slowly along a road carrying someone important

gesture – v. to move the hands, arms, head, etc. to express an idea or feeling

royal – adj. belonging or connected to a king or queen or member of their family

kneel – v. to move your body in which a knee is on something

taboo7 – adj. an action that is avoided for religious or social reasons

unprecedented – adj. not done or experienced before


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 activists 90fd83cc3f53a40df93866d9c91bcca4     
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》
2 demonstration 9waxo     
n.表明,示范,论证,示威
参考例句:
  • His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
  • He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。
3 monarchy e6Azi     
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。
4 gathering ChmxZ     
n.集会,聚会,聚集
参考例句:
  • He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
  • He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。
5 gatherings 400b026348cc2270e0046708acff2352     
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。
6 violation lLBzJ     
n.违反(行为),违背(行为),侵犯
参考例句:
  • He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说,那是违反规则的。
  • He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。
7 taboo aqBwg     
n.禁忌,禁止接近,禁止使用;adj.禁忌的;v.禁忌,禁制,禁止
参考例句:
  • The rude words are taboo in ordinary conversation.这些粗野的字眼在日常谈话中是禁忌的。
  • Is there a taboo against sex before marriage in your society?在你们的社会里,婚前的性行为犯禁吗?
8 taboos 6a690451c8c44df41d89927fdad5692d     
禁忌( taboo的名词复数 ); 忌讳; 戒律; 禁忌的事物(或行为)
参考例句:
  • She was unhorsed by fences, laws and alien taboos. 她被藩蓠、法律及外来的戒律赶下了马。
  • His mind was charged with taboos. 他头脑里忌讳很多。
9 dealing NvjzWP     
n.经商方法,待人态度
参考例句:
  • This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
  • His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
10 demonstrations 0922be6a2a3be4bdbebd28c620ab8f2d     
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。
11 interfere b5lx0     
v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰
参考例句:
  • If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话,可能弊多利少。
  • When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件,棘手的事情就来了。
12 unprecedented 7gSyJ     
adj.无前例的,新奇的
参考例句:
  • The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
  • A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。
13 noted 5n4zXc     
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。

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