VOA标准英语2012--Despite Burmese Reforms, Conflict Continues in Karen State

Despite Burmese Reforms, Conflict Continues in Karen State

There is a buzz in the air in Burma's Karen state as folks gather for the annual Karen Revolution Day in late January. Unlike the new freedom on display in the nation's capital, people here are marking a grim toll¹ of 63 years of fighting, instability and suffering. 

Karen state has the distinction of being home to the longest ongoing² armed conflict on the planet. Colonel Ner Dah Mya blames the Burmese army. 

“The SPDC have tricked us many times in the past. Looking back in history we have been cheated by them many times since the beginning of the Karen revolution. Right now if they are sincere for peace talks then they have to pull back their troops,” he said.

The political wing of the Karen resistance says attacks by the army have led to the displacement³ of nearly half a million people, and driven more than 140,000 refugees to nine camps along the Thai-Burma border. Despite the hardships, many remain committed to the cause.

Paw La Man, 65 years old, veteran soldier, fighting for 40 years. “I want the Karen people to have peace in our state. So I want the old and young generations to join and fight the Burmese soldiers together to protect our nation," he stated. "If we do not help each other against the enemy who else will come to help us? The Burmese are trying to steal our land from us so we have to get it back.”

At first, the Karen were fighting for independence and later, in 1976, they began pursuing semi-autonomy within a federal union. 

Karen political leaders have gone to the negotiating table at least five times seeking a cease-fire without success. Kaw Kee La, 21, says it is now a generations-long struggle. 

“Both of my grandfathers were killed by the Burmese soldiers ... When I heard that both of my grandfathers had been killed by the Burmese soldier I became very angry and wanted revenge. I am sad for what happened to them so I decided⁴ to pick up a weapon to fight,” he explained.

While Burma’s government carries out political reforms, the Karen people remain on alert, anxious to see if the government outreach will extend into the ethnic⁵ areas. 

1 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

2 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。

3 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。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 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。