2006年VOA标准英语-Rights Groups Call for Action in Thailand's Tro

By Ron Corben
Bangkok
25 October 2006

Human rights groups have called on the Thai government to release 58 men arrested two years ago during a military crackdown in the southern Thai town of Tak Bai.  Rights groups are challenging Thailand's new military rulers to act on promises to rebuild confidence after more than two years of conflict between Muslim communities and Thai security forces in the south.

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		Thai Muslim detainees in Tak Bai Province wait for their release in this 2004 file photo

Two years ago, a deadly security operation in the town of Tak Bai intensified¹ the conflict in Thailand's southern region.  On the anniversary, international rights organizations Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, called for the new military government to live up to its pledge of a fresh effort toward peace. 

Amnesty wants 58 detainees in Tak Bai released, and officials related to the death of 78 others held accountable.

The trouble started when a crowd gathered in front of the Tak Bai jail, where six men were being held for allegedly giving state weapons to Muslim insurgents².

When the crowd refused to disperse³, Thai soldiers started shooting, killing⁴ six men on the spot.

Video news film footage showed men stripped of their shirts, hands tied behind their backs, stacked in trucks. Four hours later, 78 men were dead.

Thai forensic⁵ scientist Porntip Rojanasunan, told VOA what she saw.

"On that day I was told to go down to the South to collect the DNA⁶ samples," she said.  "We went to the autopsy⁷ room and we saw a lot of bodies - I think 78 lying over each other in the room - in the autopsy room.  That is the first time that I saw [them]."

Porntip said many had been hit around the face area but the main causes of death were asphyxiation⁸ and heat stroke.  

 "The main issue is the institutionalization of impunity⁹," said Sunai Pasuk, a representative for Human Rights Watch in Thailand.  "No one has been punished in whatever ways.  The senior officials have simply been removed from the scene, and they are still in a position, they are still in important positions.  So this has set a standard of impunity."

Thailand's prime minister, retired¹⁰ General Surayud Chulanont, has said peaceful resolution of the violence in the southern, largely Muslim provinces is a priority of his government.  He has expressed support for releasing those detained in Tak Bai.  His cabinet has also approved the revival¹¹ of a joint¹² military and civilian¹³ security center to help promote reconciliation¹⁴.

The former government of Thaksin Shinawatra had abolished that body, and other avenues for dialogue.  Military coup¹⁵ rulers have said they ousted¹⁶ the Thaksin government in September, in part, because of its heavy-handed approach in the South.  The conflict has claimed more than 1,500 lives since early 2004.

1 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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

3 disperse   

vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散

参考例句：

• The cattle were swinging their tails to disperse the flies.那些牛甩动着尾巴驱赶苍蝇。
• The children disperse for the holidays.孩子们放假了。

4 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

5 forensic   

adj.法庭的，雄辩的

参考例句：

• The report included his interpretation of the forensic evidence.该报告包括他对法庭证据的诠释。
• The judge concluded the proceeding on 10:30 Am after one hour of forensic debate.经过近一个小时的法庭辩论后，法官于10时30分宣布休庭。

6 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

7 autopsy   

n.尸体解剖；尸检

参考例句：

• They're carrying out an autopsy on the victim.他们正在给受害者验尸。
• A hemorrhagic gut was the predominant lesion at autopsy.尸检的主要发现是肠出血。

8 asphyxiation   

n. 窒息

参考例句：

• Objective Inquiry into the heavy asphyxiation rescues measure of the new born. 摘要目的探讨新生儿重度窒息抢救的措施。
• Self-contained breathing apparatus(SCBA) may be required to prevent asphyxiation of rescue personnel. 可能要求有自给式呼吸器(SCBA)，以防止救援人员窒息。

9 impunity   

n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除

参考例句：

• You will not escape with impunity.你不可能逃脱惩罚。
• The impunity what compulsory insurance sets does not include escapement.交强险规定的免责范围不包括逃逸。

10 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

11 revival   

n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振

参考例句：

• The period saw a great revival in the wine trade.这一时期葡萄酒业出现了很大的复苏。
• He claimed the housing market was showing signs of a revival.他指出房地产市场正出现复苏的迹象。

12 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

13 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

14 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。

15 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

16 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。