2006年VOA标准英语-UN Calls for Improvements to Human Rights

By Patricia Nunan
New Delhi
16 February 2006
 

Activists¹ of Nepal's agitating² seven political parties shout slogans to protest against the Nepalese army opening fire on protesters in Dang, February 9, 2006  
  
The United Nations human rights office in Nepal is calling on the leaders of the country's Maoist insurgency³ to do more to ensure that their soldiers respect rights. In a new report the U.N. also pushes the government to halt the arbitrary detention⁴ of its political opponents.

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Ian Martin, the head of the office of the U.N. High Commissioner⁵ for Human Rights in Nepal, says leaders of the Maoist insurgency are sensitive to how their human rights record is seen by the rest of the world.

Known formally as the Communist Party of Nepal, the Maoists have waged a 10-year campaign to overthrow⁶ the monarchy⁷. The group says it draws inspiration from the teachings of the late Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong.

More than 11,000 people have died in the insurgency, with rights abuses committed by both the Maoists and the government.

Recently, the Maoists formed an alliance with Nepal's mainstream⁸ political parties, which also oppose the government led by King Gyanendra.

Together, they are calling for international mediation⁹ with the government, and for the international community to supervise elections for a Constituent¹⁰ Assembly.

Mr. Martin says the alliance gives the U.N. increased leverage¹¹ for pressuring the Maoists to end abuses.

"That's their road map, they seek a significant role for the international community, and therefore they have to be concerned with how the international community views them," he said.

In a report released Thursday, Mr. Martin says while the Maoist leaders say they are committed to human rights, they must do more to ensure that their foot soldiers do not commit abuses.

The report also calls on the government to improve its rights record.

Last year, King Gyanendra dismissed parliament and arrested scores of political opponents. Last month, his government again arrested hundreds of critics in the build-up to local elections.

On Thursday, the government lifted restrictions¹² on mobile phones for the first time since the January crackdown.

Mr. Martin says the arrests have to stop.

"It's extremely unfortunate that the government has again detained hundreds of people under the public security act as it did under the state or emergency," said Martin. "These are arbitrary arrests, they're clear violations¹³ of human rights and so far we don't have a commitment that all of those who've been detained will be released."

King Gyanendra called the February 8 local elections as the first step toward restoring full democracy. But voter turnout was low because opposition¹⁴ parties boycotted¹⁵ the ballot¹⁶ and the Maoists threatened violence to stop voting.

The king has promised parliamentary elections next year, which his opponents have rejected, in favor of their own proposal for a constituent assembly ballot.

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 agitating   

搅动( agitate的现在分词 )； 激怒； 使焦虑不安； （尤指为法律、社会状况的改变而）激烈争论

参考例句：

• political groups agitating for social change 鼓吹社会变革的政治团体
• They are agitating to assert autonomy. 他们正在鼓吹实行自治。

3 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

4 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

5 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。

6 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

7 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

8 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

9 mediation   

n.调解

参考例句：

• The dispute was settled by mediation of the third country. 这场争端通过第三国的斡旋而得以解决。
• The dispute was settled by mediation. 经调解使争端得以解决。

10 constituent   

n.选民；成分，组分；adj.组成的，构成的

参考例句：

• Sugar is the main constituent of candy.食糖是糖果的主要成分。
• Fibre is a natural constituent of a healthy diet.纤维是健康饮食的天然组成部分。

11 leverage   

n.力量，影响；杠杆作用，杠杆的力量

参考例句：

• We'll have to use leverage to move this huge rock.我们不得不借助杠杆之力来移动这块巨石。
• He failed in the project because he could gain no leverage. 因为他没有影响力，他的计划失败了。

12 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

13 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。

14 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。

15 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。

16 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。