VOA标准英语2009年-Thai Military Says It Makes Progress in En

The military commander overseeing Thailand's largely Muslim southern provinces says security is improving as the army steps up efforts to "win hearts and minds" and end insurgent² attacks. But as political analysts³ say the drop in violence may be temporary.
　
Lt. General Pichet Wisaijorn, Commander Thailand's 4th Army Southern Provinces

Lieutenant⁴ General Pichet Wisaijorn says the violence has fallen significantly in four provinces that have seen the most bloodshed over the past five years.

Since 2004, more than 3,500 people have died in an Islamic insurgency⁵ in the provinces of Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani and Songkhla. While Thailand's population is predominately Buddhist⁶, the residents of those provinces are mostly ethnic⁷ Malay Muslims.

Pichet says improved security operations and intelligence gathering⁸ have eased tension in communities that once feared night-time attacks.

In a recent interview with reporters at the Sirindhorn Army camp in Pattani, Pichet said that people live more openly than in the past.

People, he says, would go home by seven o'clock at night but now feel secure enough to stay out later in the evening. Children also are less suspicious and more welcoming to the military. He says regional festivals are again becoming popular.

The military's strategy in the southern border provinces, Pichet says, is based on "winning the hearts and minds" of residents.

The Thai government is pressing for political solutions instead of military action to curb⁹ the insurgency.

Pichet blames a lack of trust between the armed forces and local communities for the problems but says the military now is in regular dialogue with local people.

And the general discounts views the insurgents¹⁰ are linked with international terror groups such as al Qaida or the Southeast Asian group Jemaah Islamiyah.

But there are doubts about the current policy.

Professor Surachart Bamrungsuk, a political scientist at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, says it is not certain the policy will contain the violence for long.

"When we talk about the situation in the south, I think it looks like a curve. It goes up and down," said Surachart. "In a certain period it looks better but in a certain period it's getting worse. At this time everything seems to be a little better than what we have seen last year - [but] when we have seen this kind of situation how long will it stay with us?"

The army has faced criticism over rights abuses in the south. Groups such as Human Rights Watch want the government to take action against army abuses and discrimination against southern Muslims.

Human Rights Watch says anger within the ethnic Malay community has been fueled by laws giving the army wide powers and blanket immunity¹¹ for misconduct and human rights violations¹².

This week the government approved creating a new body to oversee¹ development projects in the south, which the prime minister's office will control. The move marks a shift from military control over development efforts.

1 oversee   

vt.监督，管理

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts.士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Use a surveyor or architect to oversee and inspect the different stages of the work.请一位房产检视员或建筑师来监督并检查不同阶段的工作。

2 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

3 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。

4 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

5 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

6 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

7 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

8 gathering   

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。

9 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

10 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

11 immunity   

n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权

参考例句：

• The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
• He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。

12 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。