VOA慢速英语--柬埔寨反对派称民主时机成熟

Self-exiled Cambodian opposition¹ leader Sam Rainsy says the European Union's proposal to limit trade with Cambodia could support democracy there.

He spoke² from Malaysia after both the EU and American officials called for Cambodia to ease restrictions³ on rights and freedoms.

The EU completed a first version of a report on Tuesday. Sam Rainsy said the report would be the basis for suspending trade privileges for Cambodia. The EU announced earlier this year that it was taking steps to decide if it would end unlimited⁴ and tax-free imports from the Southeast Asian nation. The EU said it was concerned that Cambodia was limiting human rights and labor⁵ rights.

The EU said it sent the report to Cambodian officials. It did not publish the report.

European Trade Commissioner⁶ Cecilia Malmstrom said on social media that Cambodia has one month to answer the EU's concerns. She said the EU will make a final decision in February of next year.

On Monday, U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Patrick Murphy called for the full restoration of former opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) president Kem Sokha's freedom. The party was dissolved in 2017 before national elections were held the following year.

On Sunday, a Cambodian court announced that it was releasing Kem Sokha from house arrest. He was arrested more than two years ago and charged with treason. He remains⁷ barred from political activity.

Murphy called for a "complete dialogue aimed at broad reconciliation⁸ so that...Cambodia can be on a path to full, multiparty democracy."

Kem Sokha's partial release suggests that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen may be seeking to satisfy critics, like the EU, by appearing to compromise. Hun Sen has detained many opposition supporters accused of plotting CNRP co-leader Sam Rainsy's return to the country.

The possibility of the EU withdrawing trade privileges from Cambodia could have a strong effect on the prime minister's hold on power.

Sam Rainsy spoke with reporters after a meeting with Malaysian lawmakers. He said, "If they don't want Cambodia to face an economic crisis, with hundreds of thousands of workers losing their jobs, they must restore democracy."

The EU started to reconsider its trade relationship with Cambodia after Hun Sen's ruling party won a huge victory in 2018 elections. The EU said that election was not free or fair because the country's Supreme⁹ Court had barred the CNRP.

Sam Rainsy said Tuesday that the timing¹⁰ is right for a peaceful movement against Hun Sen's government. He said Kem Sokha's release is evidence of pressure on the government.

Cambodia's deputy prime minister said on Facebook Sunday that Sam Rainsy was now permitted to enter the country but would face charges if he did.

Sam Rainsy said he would remain in the area.

"I will stay in the region because the situation can change very quickly, and I will go back to Cambodia," he said.

I'm Mario Ritter Jr.

Hul Reaksmey reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English with additional materials from Radio Free Asia and Reuters. Caty Weaver¹¹ was the editor.

Words in This Story

privileges –n. rights or benefits given to some people but not others

dialogue –n. a discussion or series of discussion that countries have to end disagreement

reconciliation –n. the process of getting two sides to become friendly again after a disagreement

1 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。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 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

4 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

5 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

6 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

7 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

8 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

9 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

10 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

11 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。