2006年VOA标准英语-Controversial Thai Prime Minister Resumes

By Ron Corben
Bangkok
23 May 2006

Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has resumed his duties after taking a leave of absence in April because of protests against his leadership. But opposition¹ parties say the embattled leader's return may trigger renewed political demonstrations².

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Thailand's outgoing Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrive at Government House in Bangkok on Tuesday, May 23, 2006   
  

Thaksin Shinawatra, who stepped aside as prime minister on April 4 after a controversial election and months of protests against his rule, returned to work Tuesday. Mr. Thaksin, speaking to reporters as he entered his office to chair a cabinet meeting, confirmed that he had resumed his duties as prime minister.

Seven weeks ago, the Thai leader made an emotional announcement on television saying he would not seek the post of prime minister in the next parliament. He handed over day-to-day powers to a deputy and left the country for several weeks.

However, a senior official in Mr. Thaksin's party and former government spokesman, Jakrapob Penkair, says Thailand's problems require Mr. Thaksin's attention.

"The prime minister has been concerned about the deterioration³ of certain issues, the southern situation, the economic slowdown - or what seems to be the confidence towards Thailand," said Jakrapob. "All these matters are the immediate⁴ concern and the prime minister would attend to them."

Mr. Thaksin's political problems began in January after his family sold nearly $2 billion worth of stock in the company he founded - in a tax-free but legal transaction. The sale prompted street protests demanding the prime minister resign because of allegations of corruption⁵ and abuse of power.

In an effort to quell⁶ discontent, Mr. Thaksin called snap elections for April 2. However, the vote was boycotted⁷ by the main opposition parties and was later nullified by Thailand's high courts.

The opposition Democrat⁸ Party Tuesday warned that the prime minister's return would trigger more turmoil⁹. Party spokesman, Ong-art Klampaiboon, says Mr. Thaksin should first answer the allegations against him.

"I think we still need the answer about corruption, conflict of interest, about the selling of the Shin Corp deals and many questions about this," said Ong-Art. "I think he has to answer these questions before he turns back. That's why he has no legitimacy¹⁰."

The Election Commission is also under pressure to resign because of its handling of the April 2 election. The commission has set a date of October 29 for the next vote but the date is not yet final.

In the meantime, analysts¹¹ like Thamassat University's Somphob Manarangsan, fear that Mr. Thaksin's return to government will revive the anti-government protests.

"I think that the conflict within Thai society becomes [is to] worsen again," said Somphob. "I think the process [is] against the comeback of Mr. Thaksin. I think the protests be [are] quite likely particularly from July."

But resolution of the Thai political crisis remains¹² on hold as the country prepares to mark the celebrations in June of the 60th anniversary of the reign¹³ of King Bhumipol Adulyadej - the world's longest reigning¹⁴ monarch¹⁵.

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 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

3 deterioration   

n.退化；恶化；变坏

参考例句：

• Mental and physical deterioration both occur naturally with age. 随着年龄的增长，心智和体力自然衰退。
• The car's bodywork was already showing signs of deterioration. 这辆车的车身已经显示出了劣化迹象。

4 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

5 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

6 quell   

v.压制，平息，减轻

参考例句：

• Soldiers were sent in to quell the riots.士兵们被派去平息骚乱。
• The armed force had to be called out to quell violence.不得不出动军队来镇压暴力行动。

7 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。

8 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

9 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

10 legitimacy   

n.合法，正当

参考例句：

• The newspaper was directly challenging the government's legitimacy.报纸直接质疑政府的合法性。
• Managing from the top down,we operate with full legitimacy.我们进行由上而下的管理有充分的合法性。

11 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

12 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。

13 reign   

n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势

参考例句：

• The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。
• The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。

14 reigning   

adj.统治的，起支配作用的

参考例句：

• The sky was dark, stars were twinkling high above, night was reigning, and everything was sunk in silken silence. 天很黑，星很繁，夜阑人静。
• Led by Huang Chao, they brought down the reigning house after 300 years' rule. 在黄巢的带领下，他们推翻了统治了三百年的王朝。

15 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。