2006年VOA标准英语-United Nations Envoy to Burma Quits Over I

By Ron Corben
Bangkok
09 January 2006
 

Razali Ismail  
  
The United Nations special envoy¹ to Burma, Razali Ismail, has given up his post because of the military government's refusal to allow him into the country.  Burma experts say the move comes as no surprise and reflects the increasing isolation² of the hard-line Rangoon government.

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Malaysian diplomat³ Razali Ismail, appointed as U.N. special envoy to Burma in 2000, said Sunday it would be more difficult for the country to move toward national reconciliation⁴ and democracy if the United Nations is kept at arm's length.

Other senior U.N. officials, including the special envoy on human rights to Burma, Paulo Pinherio, have also been repeatedly refused access.

Debbie Stothardt, from the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma, says Razali's decision comes as no surprise.

"A lot of people were expecting this, his contract was due for renewal⁵ in December and it was quite clear the regime had no intention whatsoever⁶ of allowing him back into the country," said Ms. Stothardt.

Razali was last in Rangoon in March 2004, but left after failing to persuade the military to release Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the opposition⁷ National League for Democracy, who has been under house arrest for much of the past decade.

Stothardt says hopes had been high that Razali would be able to press for greater democracy in Burma.

"Many had hoped Razali's diplomacy⁸ would be a catalyst⁹ for positive change and ensure momentum¹⁰ for change in Burma," she added.

In 2002, the envoy did help secure Aung San Suu Kyi's release. But hopes for democratic progress evaporated when she was again detained in 2003.

Members of the Association of South East Asian Nations, led by Thailand, have attempted to build on Razali's diplomatic efforts by encouraging Burma to reconcile with the opposition and move toward political reform.

But Rangoon's failure to make substantial progress on its so-called road map to democracy, including a new constitution and fresh general elections, has drawn¹¹ widespread criticism from ASEAN.

Panitan Wattanayagorn, a Chulalongkorn University political scientist, says the refusal to allow Razali into Burma highlights the country's increasing isolation.

"As isolation increases I think more international organizations and other countries in general may try to even push further for the Burmese to open up - including China," he said. "I think is increasingly becoming concerned about Burma becoming isolated¹²."

The United States and other Western nations have tried to put Burma's human rights record on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council. However, other countries, such as China and Russia, have opposed the move.

1 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

2 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

3 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

4 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。

5 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

6 whatsoever   

adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么

参考例句：

• There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
• All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。

7 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。

8 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

9 catalyst   

n.催化剂，造成变化的人或事

参考例句：

• A catalyst is a substance which speeds up a chemical reaction.催化剂是一种能加速化学反应的物质。
• The workers'demand for better conditions was a catalyst for social change.工人们要求改善工作条件促进了社会变革。

10 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

11 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

12 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。