2006年VOA标准英语-Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Accused

By Barry Newhouse
Bangkok
08 August 2006
 

Thaksin Shinawatra (file photo)

Thailand's caretaker prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, is again drawing criticism from opponents, this time for allegedly using government resources to influence voters. The controversy² involves Mr. Thaksin's current tour through the country's north.

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Officially, the reason for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's trip through his rural political stronghold is to publicize his anti-poverty programs.

On Monday, officials accompanying him in the north of the country began handing out land deeds and cows to local farmers, supposedly as part of an effort to publicize the programs' successes.

The government's program calls for half a million or more cattle to be distributed over three years.

But the distribution of cattle during Mr. Thaksin's tour quickly drew criticism from politicians such as Likit Theerawekin, a former member of the prime minister's Thai Rak Thai party.

"Giving out a million cows - that is a policy which is risking violating electoral law, and it is unfair to the other parties that have no opportunity to do such a thing," he said.

The prime minister's office announced Tuesday that it would halt the government handouts³ during the tour. But that is not likely to silence some of Mr. Thaksin's critics, who regularly accuse him of abusing his office for political and financial gain.

Mr. Thaksin called early parliamentary elections for last April, after weeks of demonstrations⁴ in Bangkok demanding his resignation because of alleged¹ corruption⁵. The first vote in April was inconclusive, and a second round was eventually ruled illegal and nullified. New elections are now scheduled for October 15.

Both Mr. Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party and the opposition⁶ Democrat⁷ Party face possible dissolution because of election violations⁸. Several members of the election commission that oversaw⁹ the voting were sent to jail.

Although Mr. Thaksin has not said if he will run for parliament in October, many Thai political observers see the current trip as an unofficial launch of his re-election campaign.

Analysts¹⁰ such as Sombat Chantornvong, a political science professor at Bangkok's Thammasat University, also call it a typical example of Mr. Thaksin's heavy-handed political tactics.

"I think that every government tends to take advantage of being an incumbent¹¹. But the present government goes too far, and we have never witnessed anything like this," he said.

Mr. Thaksin stepped aside after the April votes were questioned, and handed power to his deputy. But he soon resumed his full duties, saying the country needed strong leadership.

Political analysts say despite his political troubles, he is still favored to win if he runs in October, with strong support from rural voters.

1 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

2 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

3 handouts   

救济品( handout的名词复数 )； 施舍物； 印刷品； 讲义

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts. 士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Even after losing his job, he was too proud to accept handouts. 甚至在失去工作后，他仍然很骄傲，不愿接受施舍。

4 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。

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 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。

7 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。

8 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。

9 oversaw   

v.监督，监视( oversee的过去式 )

参考例句：

• He will go down as the president who oversaw two historic transitions. 他将作为见证了巴西两次历史性转变的总统，安然引退。 来自互联网
• Dixon oversaw the project as creative director of Design Research Studio. 狄克逊监督项目的创意总监设计研究工作室。 来自互联网

10 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。

11 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。