2006年VOA标准英语-Burmese Opposition Sees UN Visit as Positi

By Ron Corben
Bangkok
21 May 2006

 
Aung San Suu Kyi (2002 photo)
  
Burma's political opposition¹, the National League for Democracy, is hopeful of progress on democratic reform after the three-day visit of a senior U.N. official. But there are still no signs of the release of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

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Burma's opposition National League for Democracy says it expects further steps will be made in the near term towards democracy, following the visit of a senior United Nations official.

Undersecretary-General Ibrahim Gambari, who concluded a three-day official visit Saturday, said he viewed the trip as a fact-finding mission, part of U.N. efforts to prompt democratic reform in Burma that has been stalled during the past two years. 

Ibrahim Gambari   
  
Gambari was allowed to have a 45-minute meeting Saturday with National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the U.N. official's guesthouse. It was the first time in two years that Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest, has been allowed to meet with a foreign official.

National League for Democracy spokesman Nyan Win says the visit gives the party hope for the future.

"We [were] surprised," he said. "We do not think Mr. Gambari will meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. We heard about this ... and I think the regime had changed their policy a little bit."
 

Ibrahim Gambari, left, meets with Senior Gen. Than Shwe, right, in Naypyidaw  
  
The meeting came after Gambari had visited the military government's senior general, Than Shwe. The government has been under severe international pressure because of its refusal to enact² democratic reforms, and some diplomats³ believe the generals allowed the meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi in a bid to reduce that pressure.

The National League for Democracy leader's current term of house arrest was extended six months in November 2005, and is due to expire on May 27. But Nyan Win, asked if he thought the events might signal her imminent⁴ release, said he had no idea.

"We do not know exactly," he said. "We are always expecting [the military] to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi - we are expecting always. No sign, no indication about release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi."

A political road map towards democracy set out by the government in late 2003 has stalled. A constitutional convention was convened⁵ last year, but the National League for Democracy boycotted⁶ the proceedings⁷, calling the convention a ploy⁸ designed to extend military rule in Burma.

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 enact   

vt.制定(法律)；上演，扮演

参考例句：

• The U.S. Congress has exclusive authority to enact federal legislation.美国国会是唯一有权颁布联邦法律的。
• For example,a country can enact laws and economic policies to attract foreign investment fairly quickly.例如一个国家可以很快颁布吸引外资的法令和经济政策。

3 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

5 convened   

召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The chairman convened the committee to put the issue to a vote. 主席召集委员们开会对这个问题进行表决。
• The governor convened his troops to put down the revolt. 总督召集他的部队去镇压叛乱。

6 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。

7 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

8 ploy   

n.花招，手段

参考例句：

• I think this is just a government ploy to deceive the public.我认为这只是政府欺骗公众的手段。
• Christmas should be a time of excitement and wonder,not a cynical marketing ploy.圣诞节应该是兴奋和美妙的时刻，而不该是一种肆无忌惮的营销策略。