2007年VOA标准英语-Sri Lanka's Military Says Last Rebel Bastion in

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
11 July 2007

Sri Lanka's military says it has captured the last stronghold of Tamil Tiger rebels in the east of the country. As Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, the military is claiming a major victory in its fight against the rebels, who have mounted a quarter century-long campaign for an autonomous¹ Tamil homeland.

A defense² military statement says commandoes and soldiers took control of Thoppigala jungle base in the eastern Batticaloa district around dawn Wednesday.

Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe says the capture of the jungle base from the rebels, who are also known as the LTTE, is significant.

"It's a major victory, because that is the area where the LTTE had the strongest bases for the past so many years. They are doing the clearing operations and mopping up operations," he said.

In recent months, government and rebel forces have battled intensely for control of the Thoppigala area. The rebels used it as their main command and control center for the eastern province since the mid-1990s. It was their last remaining bastion in the east, where they have steadily³ lost ground in the past year after being routed from several bases.

The capture of the Thoppigala base brings eastern Sri Lanka under government control for the first time in 15 years.

Defense analysts⁴ say that resistance by the rebels is likely to continue however. They point out that military gains in the east will not help to bring an end to the rebel campaign for a separate Tamil homeland in the east and north of the country.

The rebels still control huge swathes of territory in the north, where they run a virtual state.

Jehan Perera heads a peace advocacy group in Colombo, the National Peace Council. He warns that the conflict could deepen in the coming months.

"We are heading for an escalation⁵ in the crisis in the country due to the ongoing⁶ military operations," said Perera. "For one thing, there is going to be increased bloodshed, displacement⁷ and destruction of property. We anticipate a very brutal⁸ and bloody⁹ period ahead if the government does choose to attack the north."

The international community has been pressuring both the government and the rebels to resume peace talks that broke down last October, but analysts say they see no signs of either side returning to the negotiating table any time soon.

1 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

4 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。

5 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

6 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。

7 displacement   

n.移置，取代，位移，排水量

参考例句：

• They said that time is the feeling of spatial displacement.他们说时间是空间位移的感觉。
• The displacement of all my energy into caring for the baby.我所有精力都放在了照顾宝宝上。

8 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

9 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。