2006年VOA标准英语-Thai Coup Leader Promises to Hold Elections by

By Ron Corben
Bangkok
20 September 2006

 
Thailand's Army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin listens to a reporter's questions in Bangkok Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2006
  
The Thai army commander who led a coup¹ against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra says an interim² government will be appointed within two weeks and national elections will be held in a year. As Ron Corben reports from Bangkok, the commander also warned that Mr. Thaksin may face prosecution³ if he broke any laws.

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 Thailand's army chief, General Sondhi Boonyaratglin, who led the coup, says he will hand over power to an interim prime minister by early October.

General Sondhi on Wednesday said the coup leaders, known as the Political Reform Council, would stand back after two weeks.

He also pledged that elections would be held in October 2007, after a new constitution is written. The coup leaders revoked⁴ the 1997 constitution when they seized power Tuesday night.

Pasuk Pongpaichit, a political economist⁵ at Chulalongkorn University, says the outlook for democracy is reasonable.

"The announcement said they have no intention of ruling the country itself and they will return the country to democracy as soon as possible," Pasuk says.

 
Armed soldiers stand guard at the Thai Army headquarters near Government House after a bloodless coup in Bangkok
  
For now, the question is who will be chosen to lead the interim government. 

Thepchai Yong, a senior executive editor with The Nationmedia Group, says finding the right person to serve as prime minister is key.

"They need to come up with a prime minister who has credibility and is acceptable to the public," Thepchai says. "I think that's the most important task and they need to tell the public what their agenda - which should include a time frame for a general election."

The bloodless coup ended the Thaksin government after five and a half years. Mr. Thaksin, a telecommunications tycoon⁶ turned politician was elected prime minister in 2001 and again in 2005. His policies aimed at wooing the poor and rural residents had broad support. However, many urban, middle-class Thais considered him an authoritarian⁷ who abused his power.

Mr. Thaksin was in New York when the coup took place.

Sondhi said Mr. Thaksin was welcome to return to Thailand but also warned that members of the previous government may face prosecution over any alleged⁸ wrongdoing.

Many countries in the region expressed regret over the coup, which also made investors⁹ around Asia nervous. The U.S. State Department said it hopes the Thai people will resolve their political differences according to democracy and the rule of law.

Australia and New Zealand, both with strong trade links to Thailand, expressed disappointment. Canberra said democracy had been "destroyed" while New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark condemned¹⁰ the military takeover. 

The military said it launched the coup over concerns of growing disunity. Early this year, tens of thousands of protesters gathered each week to call for the prime minister to step aside over allegations of corruption¹¹.    

Many Thais feared that rising tensions between Mr. Thaksin's supporters and his critics could lead to a bloody¹² confrontation¹³. Thepchai at Nationmedia says many now hope that with Mr. Thaksin out of power, calm will return.

"Most people I have spoken to express relief that the uncertainty¹⁴ that has permeated¹⁵ politics has been cleared. At least we know the potential for violent confrontation is now over," Thepchai says.
 
Tuesday night's coup was the first in 15 years and the 18th successful or attempted military takeover since the country became a constitutional monarchy¹⁶ in 1932.

1 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。

2 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

3 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

4 revoked   

adj.[法]取消的v.撤销，取消，废除( revoke的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• It may be revoked if the check is later dishonoured. 以后如支票被拒绝支付，结算可以撤销。 来自辞典例句
• A will is revoked expressly. 遗嘱可以通过明示推翻。 来自辞典例句

5 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

6 tycoon   

n.有钱有势的企业家，大亨

参考例句：

• The tycoon is on the verge of bankruptcy.那名大亨濒临破产的边缘。
• The tycoon has many servants to minister to his needs.那位大亨有很多人服侍他。

7 authoritarian   

n./adj.专制(的)，专制主义者，独裁主义者

参考例句：

• Foreign diplomats suspect him of authoritarian tendencies.各国外交官怀疑他有着独裁主义倾向。
• The authoritarian policy wasn't proved to be a success.独裁主义的政策证明并不成功。

8 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

9 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

10 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

11 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。

12 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

13 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

14 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

15 permeated   

弥漫( permeate的过去式和过去分词 )； 遍布； 渗入； 渗透

参考例句：

• The smell of leather permeated the room. 屋子里弥漫着皮革的气味。
• His public speeches were permeated with hatred of injustice. 在他对民众的演说里，充满了对不公正的愤慨。

16 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。