VOA常速英语2007年-Detained Human Rights Official Warns Pakistan C

By VOA News
08 November 2007

A leading human rights activist¹ under house arrest in Pakistan says emergency rule may turn her country into the "next Burma."

Asma Jahangir, head of the Human Rights Committee of Pakistan, told VOA in an interview she fears President Pervez Musharraf's crackdown on his opponents may force dissidents to give up and result in the country becoming a dictatorship.

Jahangir also criticized the president's strategy of imposing² emergency rule to quell³ Islamic militants⁴. She said the move has emboldened⁵ extremists to gain strength because instead of fighting militants, Mr. Musharraf is focused on clamping down on pro-democracy activists⁶.

Jahangir also denounced U.S. reaction to Pakistan, saying the Bush administration is sending mixed signals by continuing to support him as an important ally to the United States. She said at a minimum, the U.S. should stop supporting General Musharraf morally and politically.

The human rights activist predicted that if Musharraf stays on as president of Pakistan, the country will eventually be run by a military government that protects militants.

1 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

2 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

3 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。

4 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

5 emboldened   

v.鼓励，使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Emboldened by the wine, he went over to introduce himself to her. 他借酒壮胆，走上前去向她作自我介绍。
• His success emboldened him to expand his business. 他有了成就因而激发他进一步扩展业务。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 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》